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Contact: Colleen Bathe, 435.834.4400
Bryce Canyon National Park Announces Fee Increases for 2007
Bryce Canyon National Park — Bryce Canyon National Park’s Superintendent Eddie Lopez has announced that the park is increasing its entrance fees in 2007. The increased revenues will pay for expenses related to transportation and the operation of the shuttle bus system.
The shoulder seasons (spring and fall) have become busier each year, escalating traffic into the park. By increasing funds available for the Transportation System, park management intends to increase the shuttle service. In 2006, the shuttle operated from May 26 through September 10. Statistically, visitation in September is at least as high as the summer months, sometimes higher. The proposal is to extend the shuttle later in the season and operate longer hours on a daily basis. The increase in shuttle service will benefit the visitors by providing a much needed service, saving them from circling parking lots and waiting in lines at the entrance station. By providing the shuttle bus system, the park is encouraging visitors to use alternative transportation, save fuel, increase safety on park roads and help with air quality.
Eighty percent of revenue collected is retained in the park for infrastructure maintenance, trail improvement, visitor facilities, and an in-park-shuttle system.
The park entrance fee will increase from our current entrance fees of $20.00 per vehicle to $25.00 per vehicle. Per person fees will increase from $10.00 per person to $12.00 per person.
While making presentations at community meetings, town boards and city councils, NPS officials were surprised that many local residents were not aware of the $30.00 Bryce Canyon Annual Pass. Due to concerns about the proposed increase of the Bryce Canyon National Pass from $30.00 to $50.00 voiced at the town board meetings, park management made the decision to keep the price of the Bryce Canyon Annual Pass at $30.00 for one more year.
The new interagency pass program for access to national public lands was announced on December 6 by the Deputy Secretary of the Interior and the Under Secretary of Agriculture. The new program combines the benefits of existing recreation passes from five federal agencies into one comprehensive pass, the “America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass,” or the annual Interagency Pass.
The new pass program covers recreation opportunities on public lands managed by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the USDA Forest Service. It replaces the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and the Golden Access Passports as well as the National Parks Pass. All existing passes will remain valid until expired, lost or stolen.
The new annual interagency pass will cost $80 and is designed for visitors to enjoy multiple federal sites. The pass offers unlimited coverage of entrance and standard amenity recreation fees for one year from the date of purchase.
A lifetime senior pass for U.S. citizens 62 or over for a onetime $10 fee and a free lifetime access pass for citizens with permanent disabilities continue as part of this program. A new free pass has been added for people who volunteer a minimum of 500 hours at these land management agencies.
Sales of the new pass will begin in January 2007 and will be available locally at Bryce Canyon National Park. For more information about the Interagency Pass program visit https://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/feesandreservations or ask at the visitor center.
Park Passes make Excellent Gifts The announcement of the new Interagency Pass program makes December 2006 the last opportunity to buy a “soon to be retired” National Park Pass. As of December 31 the $50 National Park Pass, good for unlimited entrance to National Parks across the country, will be replaced by the new Interagency Pass. Any National Park Passes bought by December 31, 2006 will be valid through December of 2007. These passes are available at Bryce Canyon during regular operating hours of the entrance stations. Annual Passes for Bryce Canyon National Park, good for 12-months, are still available for $30. Either of these passes would make an excellent gift for family and friends.
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Last updated: February 24, 2015