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Proposal to Change Wilderness Permit and Group Camping Fees
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park » Proposal to Change Wilderness Permit and Group Camping Fees » Document List
The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to change wilderness permit fees for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (BLCA) and group campsite fees for Curecanti National Recreation Area (CURE). Park managers are seeking public comment on fee changes. The proposed fees would take effect in January 2025 (Wilderness Permits and Group Camping Fees).
BLCA and CURE fee staff members have just completed wilderness permit and group campsite comparability studies for the parks' wilderness routes and group campgrounds park-wide. Although intended to be conducted annually, these studies have either not been conducted (wilderness permits) or conducted a decade-or-more ago (group campsites). Comparable wilderness permit costs vary widely, and are uniformly higher than current Black Canyon permits. Significant price increases have occurred at most comparable group campgrounds in the intervening years. The proposed fees bring the parks into closer alignment with wilderness permits and group campgrounds. Based on comparability studies, the group camping fee for Elk Creek Group Campsite would be $120 per night, the group camping fee for Red Creek Group Campsite would be $60 per night, and wilderness permits for routes originating from the South Rim of Black Canyon would be $6 plus $4 per person, with a single permit limit of four (4) individuals per permit.
The 2004 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) authorizes the National Park Service to charge fees for recreation amenities at National Park units. 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 (80%) of the fees collected at BLCA and CURE 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.
BLCA and CURE fee staff members have just completed wilderness permit and group campsite comparability studies for the parks' wilderness routes and group campgrounds park-wide. Although intended to be conducted annually, these studies have either not been conducted (wilderness permits) or conducted a decade-or-more ago (group campsites). Comparable wilderness permit costs vary widely, and are uniformly higher than current Black Canyon permits. Significant price increases have occurred at most comparable group campgrounds in the intervening years. The proposed fees bring the parks into closer alignment with wilderness permits and group campgrounds. Based on comparability studies, the group camping fee for Elk Creek Group Campsite would be $120 per night, the group camping fee for Red Creek Group Campsite would be $60 per night, and wilderness permits for routes originating from the South Rim of Black Canyon would be $6 plus $4 per person, with a single permit limit of four (4) individuals per permit.
The 2004 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) authorizes the National Park Service to charge fees for recreation amenities at National Park units. 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 (80%) of the fees collected at BLCA and CURE 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.