Among the wonders of Natural Bridges National Monument is Sipapu Bridge/Colleen Miniuk-Sperry
National Park Service officials are proposing to more than double the entrance fee for Natural Bridges National Monument, a small, fascinating, off-the-beaten-path unit of the National Park System in southern Utah.
The current fee for a single vehicle is $6, while the proposed fee is $15. If you hike or bike into the monument, it could cost you $7 to enter, more than twice the current $3 charge. Motorcyclists would see their entrance fee more than triple, from $3 to $10, under the plan that would take effect next year if approved. Camping fees, currently $10 per night, would not change.
'Revenues from entrance and camping fees are used to improve facilities, infrastructure, and visitor services,' said Natural Bridges National Monument Superintendent Jim Dougan in a press release. 'We want to keep the park as affordable as possible while ensuring the best possible experience for visitors.'
Revenues that would be raised through the higher entrance fees would be used to pay for road signs, trail work, and unspecified infrastructure improvements, the release said.
Public comment is being taken on the proposed fee increase through January 2 via mail, at Fee Increase Proposal, HC-60 Box 1, Lake Powell, Utah, 84533, or via fax at 435-692-1111. Acceptance of on-line comments was pending.
Comments
So they are not accepting online comments either?
Above comment is clearly a knee-jerk reaction without bothering to find out anything about the park. Natural Bridges is "off the grid" - the park generates its own electricity, has no cell service, etc. I don't know if they even have access to the Web, but if they do, bandwidth is likely very limited and expensive. So, in this case, taking comments by mail is very reasonable.
Doesn't sound like SmokiesB has ever been to this park, so unless he has plans for a future visit, he doesn't really "have a dog in this fight," other than his general philosophical bent toward criticizing the NPS at any possible opportunity.
6 USD surely was a massive bargain for this beautiful little gem. 15 USD sounds reasonable to me.
I've not yet made it Natural Bridges, but hope to do so. Among other virtues, it's renowed for some of the best night sky experiences in the country.
I cannot imagine going to Utah to visit National parks with out a Parks Pass (America the Beautiful annual Pass to all National Parks) so the point is mute.
More than "is this a terrible percentage of increase" my question would be "is $15 a reasonable fee"? It doesn't sound onerous.
Without opening a debate as to how pricing in the nps system should be established I don't think it is unreasonable to question a 300% increase.
And, wild one, I don't think a $15 admission fee is unreasonable.
It is also reasonable to question your basic math, as $15 is 250% of $6, not 300%.