Parks need more money. I believe in paying my way but asking for these kind of hikes will result in fewer visitors and more conflict overall. What the park may gain in additional revenue they'll pay for in negative externalities.
Park officials claim they're raising rates to keep up with the other parks - nice one guys! I do think Glacier National Park needs a good, solid budget, but we're talking about raising possibly $500,000 in additional revenue, which is really petty cash and I think will only help them spend more money on mostly frivolous stuff and simply avoid the real, visible issues that it's users want changed - like the road system?
I hope I'm wrong. I hope they rebuild the Many Glacier Road, put new tires on the aging trucks, and keep buying more cool gear, and vehicles.
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| More visitors will help Glacier National Park spend more money! Photographers photographing a fly-fishing model in two medicine lake during a photography workshop. I was "lucky" enough to encounter them on a trip up two medicine last year. |
I'll pay to play because I live here, but the truth is, I dont like the fact that our Nation is skipping out on paying for the management of one of it's true treasures. I suspect Teddy Roosevelt would have figured out a way to take the money from the banksters and put it toward building and maintaining our America Hermitage and legacy. . .
Here's the actual press release asking you for your comments on fee hikes (you'll be amazed, we're not talking about a few bucks, they are proposing to hack you hard)! Or, maybe the tactic was, "go-high," settle for a little less so it looks like we really care about you.
Sorry for the cynicism, but I've earned the right to be cynical . . . I know there are better ways to pay for the management of our national treasures. I also don't like that the NPS can just go get more money from it's visitors when they feel like it.
I'll tell them NO, no increases at all - forget it!
Park Seeks Comments on Proposed Fee Increases
New Boat Launch Fee and Campground Fee Included
WEST GLACIER, MT. –Glacier National Park is requesting public comment on a proposal to increase the park’s entrance fees for the first time in nine years, implement a motorized boat launch fee, and increase the camping fee at the Many Glacier Campground.
The proposal includes increasing the summer vehicle 7-day entrance fee from $25 to $30, with the winter fee changing from $15 to $20. The individual hiker/biker summer 7-day entrance fee would change from $12 to $15, and the winter fee would remain at $10. The 7-day entrance fee for a motorcycle would increase from $12 per person to $25 per motorcycle in the summer and from $10 per person to $15 per motorcycle in the winter. Summer season fees are charged from
May 1-October 31, and winter fees are charged November 1-April 30 of each year.
The annual park pass would change from $35 to $60. This pass allows for unlimited access to the park for one year from first time of use.
The proposed fees are consistent with other larger national parks.
If approved, all changes in entrance fees at Glacier National Park would be implemented in May, 2015. The last time park entrance fees at Glacier National Park were increased was in 2006. Prior to that, the summer vehicle fee was $20 and the annual park pass was $30.
The proposal does not affect other passes with the America the Beautiful- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program, including the $80 interagency and $10 senior passes, and the free access or military passes.
A new boat launch fee is being proposed that will support managing the boat launch facilities in the park. The fee would be for all motorized boats that access park waters. The proposed fee is $10 for a 7-day permit or $40 for an annual permit. Revenue would help with boater education, monitoring, and improvements to boat launch facilities. If approved, it is anticipated this fee would be implemented in May, 2015. Boat inspections for aquatic invasive species (AIS) would still be required.
The park proposal also includes increasing the camping fee at the Many Glacier Campground from $20 to $23, and utilizing the federal reservation system for approximately half of the camp sites. The remaining sites not included on the reservation system would be first-come first-serve. This fee change would be consistent with the other reservation campgrounds in the park, Fish Creek and St. Mary Campgrounds. If approved, this fee and the reservation system would begin summer of 2016.
Another fee change would be for group campsites in the park. The proposed fee is $65 per group reservation site and $60 for first-come first-serve group sites. The current fee structure is $53 per site for the first nine individuals and $5 for each additional person for a reserved site, and $50 for a first-come first-serve group site. Group camping sites are located at St. Mary, Apgar, Many Glacier and Two Medicine. Some are available by reservation and some are first-come first-serve. If approved the proposed fee change would begin May, 2015.
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) is the legislation that allows the park to collect entrance and camping fees, and retain 80 percent of the collected revenue. The remaining 20 percent is distributed throughout the National Park System. Basic park operations are funded by direct appropriations from Congress.
It is anticipated that the proposed fee changes could potentially generate approximately an additional $500,000 annually for Glacier National Park, depending on the number and type of entrance passes and camping permits sold. The funds generated by fees would be used for projects that enhance visitor services and facilities, including interpretive programs at campgrounds, the backcountry campsite reservation program, repair and restoration of trails, restoration of wildlife habitat, improvement and replacement of restroom facilities, preservation and maintenance of roads, and shuttle bus operation and maintenance.
Glacier National Park is an economic driver in the state of Montana and surrounding region. A National Park Service report shows that approximately 2.2 million visitors to Glacier National Park in 2013 spent $179 million in communities near the park supporting 2,824 jobs in the local area.
Public feedback on the proposed fee changes should be submitted to the park by December 19, 2014. Comments can be emailed by visiting http://parkplanning.nps.gov/
Note- Please see chart for quick overview.
Glacier National Park
Proposed Fee Changes
November 2014
Fee Description
|
Length Covered
|
Current Rate
|
Proposed Rate
|
Implementation Date
|
Entrance- Vehicle
Summer
|
7 day
|
$25
|
$30
|
May 2015
|
Entrance- Individual Summer
|
7 day
|
$12
|
$15
|
May 2015
|
Entrance- Motorcycle
Summer
|
7 day
|
$12 per person
|
$25 per motorcycle
|
May 2015
|
Entrance- Vehicle
Winter
|
7 day
|
$15
|
$20
|
November 2015
|
Entrance- Individual
Winter
|
7 day
|
$10
|
$10
|
November 2015
|
Entrance-Motorcycle
Winter
|
7 day
|
$10 per person
|
$15 per Motorcycle
|
November 2015
|
Glacier Annual Pass
|
1 year from month of first use
|
$35
|
$60
|
May 2015
|
Many Glacier Campground
|
1 night
|
$20 per site
|
$23 per site
all sites
|
Summer 2016
50% on reservation system
50% first-come
first-serve
|
Group Campsites Park-wide
|
1 night
|
$50 per site
first-come
first-serve
$53 per site
with reservations
(for first nine individuals, with $5 for each additional person)
|
$60 per site
first-come
first serve
$65 per site
with reservations
(flat rate)
|
May 2015
|
Boat Launch Fee
|
7 day
|
None
|
$10
|
May 2015
|
Boat Launch Fee
|
1 year from month of purchase
|
None
|
$40
|
May 2015
|
Sincerely, Tony
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