Overnight backcountry use at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will carry a fee under this proposal/NPS file

The National Park Service is proposing to charge fees for wilderness permits on the South Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado and increase group campsite fees for Curecanti National Recreation Area.

Park managers are seeking public comment on the fee changes, which will take effect in January if approved.

NPS fee staff recently completed fee compatibility studies for wilderness permits and group campsites. The study demonstrated that comparable wilderness permit costs vary widely but are typically uniformly higher than current Black Canyon permits. Additionally, significant price increases have occurred at most comparable group campgrounds in recent years. The proposed fees would bring both parks into closer alignment with comparable wilderness permits and group campgrounds. 

The 2004 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act authorizes the National Park Service to charge fees for recreation amenities at national parks. The law requires that recreational fees are appropriate to the benefits and services provided, and comparable to fees charged by others in the local area for similar benefits and services. Eighty percent of the fees collected at Black Canyon and Curecanti will remain at the parks to fund projects such as the rehabilitation of trails, upgrades to campgrounds, and improvements to water, sewer, and solid waste systems. The remaining twenty percent will be utilized agency wide. 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park changes: The wilderness permit fee will be $6 plus an additional $4 per person per permit. To minimize resource impacts and maintain wilderness character, wilderness use permits will be issued for no more than three nights and for a group of up to four people per night. Wilderness permits will be available online only, and not in-person at the Black Canyon visitor center. Advanced planning is needed. All permit holders will still be responsible for paying the park entrance fee. 

Additionally, Black Canyon will be transitioning all wilderness use permit reservations to www.recreation.gov. All day and overnight use of Black Canyon’s South Rim wilderness routes, including Warner, Gunnison, and Tomichi, will be available for reservation on www.recreation.gov beginning in January 2025. 

Curecanti National Recreation Area changes: Under this proposal, the Curecanti group campsite at East Elk Creek, which can accommodate up to 50 individuals, would have a nightly fee of $120.  The smaller group campsite at Red Creek would have a nightly fee of $60. 

Comments on the proposed fee changes are being accepted at the parks’ planning website from June 28 through July 29.

Mailed comments can be sent to: Superintendent, RE: Fee Proposal 2024, Curecanti National Recreation Area, 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230.