Backpacking fees are changing at Grand Teton National Park/NPS file
The fee structure for backpacking permits at Grand Teton National Park will change early next year, when permits will cost $20 with an additional $7 per person per night charge.
The change is seen as a way to make backcountry permit fees more equitable between large and small groups. The current rate is $45 for advanced reservations and $35 for walk-up permits, regardless of the group size or number of nights.
Approximately 30 percent of backcountry camping permits will be available on Recreation.gov for advanced reservations beginning January 10, 2024, at 8 a.m. MST for the 2024 camping season, which runs May 1 through October 31. Starting May 1, 2024, the remaining 70 percent of backcountry camping permits will be available one day before the start of the trip as “walk-up” permits and must be obtained in-person at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, Colter Bay Visitor Center or Jenny Lake Ranger Station permit offices. Advanced reservation permits must be picked up in-person by 10 a.m. the day of the trip or the permit will be cancelled and made available to others.
Additional benefits through the Recreation.gov system include allowing reservation holders to modify their permit reservations to add or subtract the number of people in the party or the nights stayed. When advanced reservations are cancelled or modified on the website, those dates will become available for others to reserve online throughout the summer. The $20 backcountry camping permit fee is non-refundable. The nightly per person fee is refundable when the permit is cancelled, or the number of people is modified at least five days prior to the permit start date.
The backcountry permit system is vital to providing an outstanding visitor experience. The revenue from backcountry permit fees allows the park to offset a portion of the costs associated with visitor use management while continuing to provide high-quality, high-demand backcountry visitor experiences. Backcountry camping permit fees allow staff to provide safety and route information, patrol campsites and provide visitor services, aid in search and rescue efforts, maintain and improve trails, campsites, facilities and other amenities that directly enhance the visitor experience. Another benefit of the backcountry permit system is the park has the ability to designate specific camping areas, limiting impacts on the backcountry environment.
Begin planning your next backcountry adventure in Grand Teton at go.nps.gov/tetonbackcountry.
Comments
Inreasing fees to cover recreation.gov which does nothing to help the parks is beyond the pale. How many crimes can the NPS commit before our public lands become... public again?
I spilled blood and a lot of effort for the NPS and the publics greater good. I did not slave so Bill Gates could profit. this will only demoralize the NPS staff further
"The backcountry permit system is vital to providing an outstanding visitor experience" I realize this is an NPS press release but seriously? No fee has ever enhanced anyone's visitor experience. The NPS has lost its soul in their quest for more fees. Sadly, the public is used to and we are so overly taxed, folks have just resigned themselves to these weekly increases. The "they need the money" crowd hasn't looked at budget appropriations and where the tax dollars are actually spent in the NPS system. Let me give you the Cliff notes, It's not in the backcountry. It's where the cars and people are. Not deep in the wilderness which is how the NPS is supposed to be operating in the first place. Ah, pesky rules.
I was helicoptered out to Idaho Falls last summer ($85,000 for the 65-mile ride), but no hard feelings; I'm going to try for the Grand again next summer. The small increase in fees doesn't trouble me. A movie ticket costs more than that these days.