Editor's note: This updates with Grand Teton's proposed fee increases.

Yellowstone National Park officials, seeking to cover more of their bills, are proposing sweeping changes in their fees, from higher entrance fees to backcountry user fees. If all the proposals were instituted, it would generate roughly $3 million for the park, which currently spends about $4 million a year in existing fees on projects ranging from campground upgrades to road repairs.

At the same time, Grand Teton National Park a short distance down the road also is proposing to boost its fees, with a week-long pass proposed to cost $30 (up from $25).

Yellowstone, though, is proposing the most significant changes in fees.  

Under current legislation, 80 percent of the revenue from entrance fees is allowed to remain in the park and used on projects which benefit park visitors. Currently, visitors pay $25 for a 7-day pass for a single, non-commercial vehicle entry into both Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, with the current cost of an annual two-park pass at $50.

Yellowstone officials are proposing to offer a 3-day Yellowstone-only pass for $30. A 7-day pass good for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton would be available for $50. An annual pass to Yellowstone only will be $60. Those entering the park by motorcycle or snowmobile are currently charged $20 for a 7-day pass honored at both parks. The proposal is to offer a 3-day Yellowstone only pass for $25 and a 7-day pass for $40 honored at both parks.

Individuals who enter the park on foot, bicycle, skis, or as snowcoach passengers currently pay $12 for a 7-day pass. That would be increased to $15 for 1-3 days in Yellowstone, or $25 for 7 days at both parks.

The Interagency Pass rates will remain the same: Annual ($80), Senior ($10), Access and Military ($0).

These proposed changes would result in additional annual revenue of approximately $3 million for Yellowstone, where officials say the money would be used to continue or enhance projects such as Yellowstone cutthroat trout restoration, maintenance for the park’s seven campgrounds, preservation maintenance on park roads, improved restroom facilities, reconstruction and rehabilitation of trails including Tower Falls, and a new North Entrance Station facility.

Additionally, the park is proposing to institute a fee for overnight backcountry permits to help recover costs associated with the park’s backcountry program. In the past, Yellowstone has not charged an overnight backcountry permit fee, but a reservation fee, currently $25, has been charged since 1996.

The proposed backcountry camping permit fee would be $3 per person (age 9 and older) per night with a maximum party limit of $15 per night for backpackers. Stock groups would be charged $5 per person per night with no maximum fee limit. The current $25 fee for trips reserved more than 48 hours in advance would remain the same.

Users would be able to purchase an Annual Backcountry Pass for $25 which would exempt that individual from the per-person per-night fee.

Additional revenue from overnight backcountry permit fees would be used to help to sustain the current level of service that visitors expect and ensure that Yellowstone can continue to provide service at multiple locations throughout the park.

The current revenue stream from advance reservations covers 17 percent of the cost to operate all backcountry offices, while the proposed fee is expected to raise backcountry fee revenue to approximately 43 percent of the cost to operate backcountry offices.

The public is encouraged to attend one of the following public meetings to learn more about the proposed fee changes:

- Tuesday, November 11 in Cody, Wyo.: Holiday Inn at Buffalo Bill Village 6:30-8:00 pm

- Wednesday, November 12 in Jackson, Wyo.: The Lexington 6:30-8:00 pm

- Tuesday, November 18 in Bozeman, Mont.: Hilton Garden Inn 6:30-8:00 pm

Comments may also be hand-delivered during normal business hours to the mailroom in the park’s Administration Building in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, at one of the public scoping meetings, or mailed to: Management Assistant Office, Attn: Entrance Fee Proposal, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190.

Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or in any other way than those specified above. All comments must be received by midnight MST on Friday, December 5th, 2014.

Grand Teton officials say the proposed increases are part of a larger National Park Service initiative to update entry fees that have been in place since 2006 in national parks across the country. As a first step toward potential fee changes, Yellowstone and Grand Teton will conduct a public open house on Wednesday, November 12, at the Lexington Inn on North Cache in Jackson, Wyoming from 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m.  Public comments will help determine how, or if, fee changes would be implemented at Grand Teton. The comment period will be open for 30 days from November 5 through midnight December 5, 2014.

The current Grand Teton fee structure, in place since 2006, includes:

• $25 for a 7-day pass to enter both Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park by private vehicle
• $50 for a Grand Teton/Yellowstone Annual Pass valid for one-year entry into both national parks
• $80 for an Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to all fee areas on federal lands
• $12 for a 7-day pass to enter both Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park by foot/bicycle 
• $20 for a 7-day pass to both Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park by motorcycle

Proposed fee changes would include: 

• $30 for a 7-day pass to enter only Grand Teton National Park by private vehicle
• $50 for a 7-day pass to enter both Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Park by private vehicle
• $60 for a Grand Teton National Park Annual Pass valid for one-year entry into Grand Teton only
• $80 for an Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to all fee areas on federal lands
• $15 for a 7-day pass to enter only Grand Teton National Park by foot/bicycle
• $25 for a 7-day pass to enter only Grand Teton National Park by motorcycle 

Entrance fees are not charged to persons under 16 years of age, or to holders of the following interagency passes:  Interagency Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($10), Access Pass or Military Pass ($0).

“National parks have historically provided an affordable and memorable vacation experience for individuals and families.  When compared to other vacation or recreation areas, national parks offer a bargain for many travelers,” said Grand Teton National Superintendent David Vela.  “National parks have also struggled to keep pace with increasing costs of providing the best possible visitor experience and therefore, we are looking at a modest fee change that will address the expense of providing important visitor services while keeping pace with the cost of doing business.

"Revenues from entrance fees are used for a variety of critical needs at Grand Teton, including trail improvement, road and pathway resurfacing, restoration of wildlife habitat, and stabilization of historic buildings.”

In the past, entrance fee revenues have supported the multi-phase restoration of the Kelly hayfields to improve wildlife habitat for bison and elk, the printing and distribution of park brochures for visitor information and education, road improvement and trail renewal projects.

Anyone wishing to provide public comment about the proposed restructure of park entrance fees should send written comments to: Superintendent, Grand Teton National Park, P.O. Box 170, Moose, Wyoming 83012, or submit comments online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/GRTEchangestofees. Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or in any other way than those specified.

Changes to the fee structure are proposed to become effective May 1, 2015.