Park Fee increases?

jgram2

Has anyone seen this?
http://rvmiles.com/massive-fee-increases-proposed-national-parks-2018/

Sharon_is_SAM

 It's a big jump, maybe will see less of an increase in the end.  We do need more funds to maintain our parks.

jkjenn

Let's try to keep this politics free. We are going to have a lot of different opinions on this.

Michigan_Mike

I believe the parks are our national jewels and a nominal fee increase could be put into place given the number of people who visit them annually.  Obviously no one likes fee increases, but preserving them for future generations is necessary.  The roads take a beating from vehicles and travel buses, etc. and when you visit places like the Grand Canyon, etc. you can easily see that some of the railings, steps, etc. are pretty dated and in need of replacement.   

Says a seasoned travel in possession of a geezer pass!  

Am wondering, are tourist buses charged one fee for entry or do passengers pay individual entry fees when entering?        

ScottG

I agree with Mike, provided the fees get applied directly to the preservation and maintenance of the parks.

Most of Acadia (one of the affected parks) used to be real easy to access without a pass. In recent years, however, the NPS has stepped up both education and enforcement. Correlated with that effort, I've also noticed a whole lot more trail maintenance and other improvements.

Another goal may be to stem the even increasing vehicle traffic and encourage people to use services like Acadia's extensive (and free) Island Explorer bus service.

Ultimately, the consumer will decide what a commodity is worth. However, judging the by the throngs who flock to the park's main attractions on a high summer day, the market is in no danger of collapsing!   

ericnliz

@Michigan_Mike, I refer to my pass as a well-seasoned traveler pass.
@ScottG, I'm thinkin' 'ya hit the nail RIGHT on the head with your comment about the direction the fees are applied....maintenance & preservation. Seems they get mis-guided & mis-applied more times than not. Sad, but true.

dsatwork

If you can still get a National pass for $80 that gives you access to parks with an entry fee of $70 seems like a real bargain now. I'll be keeping my eye on this one.

ChanW

Whoa! I checked that link out. 
That's s hefty increase!

I thought the definition of the national park system was 'to preserve and to make the wild lands of America available to all', according to it's charter or something. Maybe I'm in fantasy-land.
So much for access for all.

Roamey

Last year in Acadia National Park at Jordan Pond Teahouse. A tree trimming service was there trimming a tree by the tables. (Behind me)



This year, same place, the tree has been ripped out along with everything else. Supposedly putting down new sod where the tables were before.  Smells funny to me. 


Also on one of the trails under improvement, all the tree roots running across the trail were cut out, making it easier to walk. This is preserving nature??  Funds well spent?

Michigan_Mike

Try trimming a few branches from a tree in your campsite in any NP when a ranger is walking by and see what occurs.  I'll bet that prior to any of this tree trimming or root removal it was discussed heavily and debated as most parks want to keep things as is, intact and will only make these changes if it is a liability issue or creates a danger to the public.   

I've often wondered why they would allow people to climb an antiquated cable trail (or whatever it is) up a rock face like half dome without requiring tourists to be strapped in via a safety lanyard, trained, etc.  

Okay, I'm getting a bit off topic here but you get my drift!    

ScottG

Don't know what's goin' on there, @Roamey, but I do know that maintenance, accessibility, and preservation do not necessarily all refer to the same thing.

With regard to national parks, preservation is obviously balanced against the other objectives.

Now, if you're really looking for that "forever wild" experience, check out Baxter State Park next time you are in the area.  ;-)

Tammara

I agree, the parks really need to funds for repairs and maintenance (and hope that the revenue from the funds remains with the parks).

The increase is only during peak season. Peak season would run from May 1 to Sept. 30 in these parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Denali, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Olympic, Sequoia Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.

The peak season would run from June 1 to Oct. 30 at Acadia, Mount Rainier, Rocky Mountain and Shenandoah. And Joshua Tree’s peak season would be from Jan. 1 to May 31.

Personally, I like to avoid these parks when they are are really busy.  Most of my visits to Yosemite (only 3 hrs away) have been in Oct/Nov and March/May. However, some of these parks (like Denali) can only be accessed during peak season, depending on the weather. (Zion valley opened Memorial Day weekend the year I visited due to late snows.)

When I bought my annual pass last month at Lava Beds National Monument, I asked if it was good for Yosemite and Olympic (currently at $30). Yep. All of the parks, monuments, etc. in the NPS system. 

KBaggins1

We bought the 80.00 year long pass and even at the old prices considered it a great deal. We bought it in CO and it was good for the state parks there too. We hope to get more use out of it before it expires next september.

dsatwork

KBaggins1 said:

We bought the 80.00 year long pass and even at the old prices considered it a great deal. We bought it in CO and it was good for the state parks there too. We hope to get more use out of it before it expires next september.

That is interesting, do different states take the national parks pass for their state parks? or is it only if it's purchased in that state?

TerryV6

Some states are cutting park budgets, wanting them to “pay their own way”, with the thought that people who use them should pay for them.  That requires fee increases.  That argument could be used for the public school system.. 

No opinion from me on this..  You can’t pin this on me copper!

ChrisandAlexis

@dsatwork, I know in California, the annual national park pass does not include entry to state parks. You have to buy another annual pass for state parks.

TerryV6

I believe my wife bought us the "lifetime" senior pass...  ( I think...)

dsatwork

ChrisandAlexis said:

@dsatwork, I know in California, the annual national park pass does not include entry to state parks. You have to buy another annual pass for state parks.

Yes, I know that California doesn't, I just assumed nobody else did either. We camp all over the South West, so I need to find out which states offer something free with the national pass.

jgram2

The US NPS Senior Pass -a lifetime pass-increased from $10 to $80 in August 2017. It is for citizens over 62 years of age. While it doesn't count in Oregon State parks, it sure is nice to have! Especially with the NPS increases being considered. Of course, now I feel even more guilty because I agree that our national parks need more $$ for maintenance. 

dsatwork

Twojgrams said:

The US NPS Senior Pass -a lifetime pass-increased from $10 to $80 in August 2017. It is for citizens over 62 years of age. While it doesn't count in Oregon State parks, it sure is nice to have! Especially with the NPS increases being considered. Of course, now I feel even more guilty because I agree that our national parks need more $$ for maintenance. 

Just consider yourself grandfathered, grandmothered, grandparented (pick the term that fits you best) in.....

jgram2

Oh yeah. I just want to get to the National Mall before it gets its own entrance fee! Oops! Did I say that out loud? must not give anyone any ideas.

ChanW

Yep, NY State surprised me one day this summer, when I asked if my 'senior' National Parks pass would get me a discount at the state park we were entering. They let us in for free! 
Being 'old' is great!

dsatwork

ChanW said:

Yep, NY State surprised me one day this summer, when I asked if my 'senior' National Parks pass would get me a discount at the state park we were entering. They let us in for free! 
Being 'old' is great!

Nice benefit

jkjenn

And, again, the "geezer pass" folks make me pine for old age....

jkjenn

I agree, though, the maintenance backlog is in the billions of dollars and something has to be done. By targeting these parks you might also help cyrb the overcrowding in those parks. 

Cuyahoga Valley and Great Smoky Moubtain, as well as many National Monuments are always free.

The NPS has experienced record attendance and we are, to some degree, at least, "loving our parks to death."

I prefer to hike and ahoot on NFS and BLM land due to the overcrowding and thr more dog friendly rules.

jgram2

@jkjenn -just keep breathing girl, you'll get there.

dsatwork

jkjenn said:

And, again, the "geezer pass" folks make me pine for old age....

Me too, I'll be 60 next month and I never wanted to be 62 so bad in all my life.

jgram2

And you too @dsatwork, just stay on the right side of the grass! Don't worry, these little axioms collect like dust, a precursor if you will, as we enter our dotage!

dsatwork

@Twojgrams Yikes I had to look up dotage...I didn't know it existed 5 minutes ago and now officially hate that word! the period of life in which a person is old and weak. I got a cold that has been dragging on for 3 weeks but OLD AND WEAK? REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

jgram2

Oh Lordy @dsatwork! I meant the royal we (meaning me) not the common we, meaning you and me! You are not in your dotage! just keep saying that over and over.

dsatwork

Click Click Click I'm not in my dotage...I'm not in my dotage...I'm not in my dotage...I'm not in my dotage...I'm not in my dotage...I'm not in my dotage...