Entrance fees at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument haven't increased since 2005/NPS

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona is considering higher entrance and camping fees. It would be the first increase to the park’s entrance fees since 2005. In addition, the monument plans to charge $5 for a popular van tour on Ajo Mountain Drive.

Under the proposed new fees, which are up for public comment through July 19, seven-day entrance would cost $20 for vehicles (up from $12), $15 for motorcycles (up from $12), and $10 for walk-in/bicyclists (up from $4). Sites at the Twin Peaks Campground would increase from $16 to $20 per night, with sites at the Alamo Canyon Campground rising from $10 to $12. Group camping would change from $5 per person to a flat fee of $50 per night.

"The increase in fees would allow the park to continue to protect, preserve, improve facilities and services, and share the special places here at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument with current and future visitors," Acting Superintendent Rijk Morawe said in a release. "Increasing the fees will bring the park into compliance with the current nationwide National Park Service fee structure and address many unfunded needs to improve the overall visitor experience."

Entrance fees at Organ Pipe Cactus are used to improve accessibility, rehabilitate trails and trail signs, develop new exhibits for the Kris Eggle Visitor Center, update interpretive wayside signs, replace shade ramadas at picnic areas, and install new picnic areas with shade structures. Recently, fees were used to upgrade the Alamo Canyon Campground to make it wheelchair-accessible. Upcoming projects include constructing accessibility walkways, replacing two shade ramadas, replacing and updating trail and interpretive signs at several trails, removing encroaching vegetation from Quitobaquito Pond, repairing and preserving the historic Gachado Ranch House, and repairing asphalt parking lots.

Beginning this fall, reservations for the Twin Peaks Campground will be made using recreation.gov. The increased camping fees will help defray the cost for the service and convenience of online booking.

The park is also proposing a new $5 charge for the Ajo Mountain Drive van tours that are typically offered January through March. The popular three-hour tour, currently free, can accommodate up to 10 visitors and is led by a member of the park staff. If this $5 fee is adopted, the money would be used to offset park expenses for the tour.

To comment

• Deadline: July 19, 2017
• Online: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ORPI_Fees
• Mail: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument; Attention: Superintendent; 10 Organ Pipe Drive; Ajo, AZ, 85321
• In person: Kris Eggle Visitor Center, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument