With more than 100 units of the National Park System that charge fees of some sort, keeping track of proposed fee increases is not easy. Among the latest is one from Golden Gate National Recreation Area, where officials are proposing higher fees or visiting Muir Woods and Alcatraz, along with higher parking fees for the NRA and the Presidio.

Golden Gate officials are accepting public comment on the proposals through December 19. The current and proposed park fees are listed below. You can comment on them here.

Muir Woods
Current Fee: $7 Entrance Fee (includes $2 State Park fee); $20 Annual Pass
Proposed Fee: $10 Entrance Fee; $40 Annual Pass

Alcatraz
Current Fee: $1 Expanded Amenity Fee
Proposed Fee: $2 Expanded Amenity Fee

Existing Presidio Fee Parking
West Bluff Lot & Battery East Lot
Current Fee: $1 per hour/$6 per day
Proposed Fee: $1.20 per hour/$7 per day

Proposed New Fee Parking - Golden Gate Bridge & Presidio
Northwest Bridge Lot, Merchant Road Lot & Langdon Court Lots
Current Fee: $0
Proposed Fee: $1.20 per hour/$7 per day

Muir Woods

The proposed increase is part of a national effort to standardize entrance fees of similar park types across the country. Entrance fee revenue will support a number of improvements at Muir Woods, including rehabilitation of sections of the hillside trail, construction of a creekside boardwalk and trail system including interpretive waysides and improvements to the entry facilities.

Visitors will not be subject to the entrance fee if they are under 16 years of age or hold the Muir Woods annual pass, the America the Beautiful National Parks pass or the Federal Recreational Senior, Access or Military passes. Those hiking in from adjacent state park trails also would not be charged an entrance fee. Currently a $2 fee for Mt. Tamalpais state park is collected at Muir Woods entrance; however this fee will be phased out when the Muir Woods Entrance fee is increased to $10. Additionally, all fees at Muir Woods will be reevaluated if the National Park Service implements a reservation system or parking fees in the future, with the intent of ensuring a reasonable total cost to park visitors.

Alcatraz

GGNRA has not increased the expanded amenity fee for Alcatraz Island since its introduction in 1998. Currently the total price for an adult ticket is $30 ($1 expanded amenity fee, $19 boat transportation, and $10 audio tour fee). Fee revenue will support facility and landscape structural stabilization projects so that visitors can continue to access and tour these areas on Alcatraz Island.

Paid Parking on the Presidio & Northwest of Golden Gate Bridge

To remain consistent with parking fees implemented by the Presidio Trust in the area of the Presidio that it manages, GGNRA is proposing to increase existing parking fees and introduce new fees at certain Presidio lots managed by the National Park Service. The park proposes to increase rates at the West Bluff and Battery East lots to $1.20 per hour and $7 per day, with the ability to increase in the future to $2 per hour and $11 per day consistent with Presidio Trust rates as they may rise. GGNRA also proposes to implement the same rates at two new paid parking lots on the Presidio at the Golden Gate Bridge Merchant Road and Langdon parking lots, as well as one new paid parking lot northwest of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Marin Headlands.