News Release

Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments Seek Public Input on Proposed Entrance Fee Increases

Date: August 23, 2017
Contact: Jeannine McElveen, 435-692-1234
Contact: Amy Tendick, 435-719-2100

The National Park Service is seeking public comment on several changes to entrance and campground fees under consideration for Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments in 2018.

We propose to increase park entrance fees at Natural Bridges National Monument on January 1, 2018, to comply with the 2014 National Park Service standard pricing model for Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) fees, as shown in the table below. The increased revenue will be used to fund deferred maintenance and other visitor service projects.

	Vehicle	Per Person	Motorcycle	Southeast Utah National Parks Annual Pass*
Current Rates	$10	$5	$5	$50
Standard Pricing	$15	$7	$10	$50

*Southeast Utah National Parks Annual Pass includes entrance to Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments.

In addition, beginning January 1, 2018, we propose to reinstate entrance fees at Hovenweep National Monument in accordance with the 2014 National Park Service standard pricing model for FLREA fees as shown in the table below.

	Vehicle	Per Person	Motorcycle	Southeast Utah National Parks Annual Pass*
Standard Pricing	$15	$7	$10	$50

*Southeast Utah National Parks Annual Pass includes entrance to Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments.

Visitation to Hovenweep has increased almost 60% from 2014 when the decision was made that entrance fees collected were not sufficient to cover cost of collecting those fees. A new analysis was completed that showed anticipated revenue resulting from the increased visitation would now be sufficient to collect fees. These fees will provide funds for deferred maintenance and visitor service projects.

Also, beginning March 1, 2018, we are proposing to increase camping fees at Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments from March 1 to October 31 each year.

	March 1 - October 31	November 1 - February 28
Current Rates	$10	$10
2018 Rates	$15	$10

Camping fees have remained at $10 since at least 1998. Costs, including supplies and labor, have risen. Comparability rate studies are underway to ensure that park campground rates do not undercut business at private campgrounds in nearby communities. Increased camping fees will provide additional revenue to fund campground operations and deferred maintenance projects.

Recent projects completed with FLREA funds at Natural Bridges include rehabilitation of the Owachomo and Sipapu trails, installation of new benches at overlooks and the visitor center, painting of the visitor center, and replacement of the carpet in the visitor center. Recent projects completed with FLREA funds at Hovenweep include rehabilitation of the Holly trail, replacement of the water well, and replacement of gutters on the campground restroom. Most projects were completed by employees hired from local communities.

Comments regarding these fee increase proposals may be submitted electronically on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at:
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/nabr_fee_increase_2018
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/hove_fee_increase_2018

Written comments may be sent to
National Park Service,
Natural Bridges National Monument, Attn: Superintendent,
HC60 Box 1,
Lake Powell, Utah 84533

or to

National Park Service,
Southeast Utah Group, Attn: Planning and Compliance Coordinator,
2282 S. West Resource Blvd,
Moab, Utah 84532

Feedback from these comments will determine how, or if, fee changes will be implemented.

Deadline for comments on the proposed fee increase is September 22, 2017.

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 NPS employees care for America's 417 national park units and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and natural and cultural resources and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter at www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.