Your Dollars At Work

Your Fee Dollars

80% of the fees you pay when you enter the park or stay at a campground come back to Pictured Rocks specifically for projects that enhance your experience and protect park resources. The next time you visit you may notice new wayside exhibits, renovated visitor center buildings, repaired trail bridges, and improved accessibility features like benches with backs and arm rests. These are just a few of the projects at Pictured Rocks that are funded by your fees. 

 

Thank you for your support!

Your entrance fee and other recreation fees go toward many projects and services at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that could not be funded otherwise. Pictured Rocks is permitted to collect these fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA). This act authorizes Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to keep up to 80% of the fees collected. The remaining revenue is generally distributed to park that do not collect fees but have similar needs, and to fund other service-wide initiatives.

 

Many portions of the North Country trail have been improved with entrance fee dollars.

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How Are Entrance Fees Used?

Visitation to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has more than doubled during the past decade. This increase of visitation has caused immense wear and tear on aging park facilities - like septic fields and trails. In order to ensure Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is an enjoyable, clean, and accessible experience for all visitors, the park began charging an entrance fee in March 2022.

 

Your tax dollars fund initiatives like protecting the federally threatened Pitcher's thistle.

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How Are Tax Dollars Used?

Your federal taxes are used in nearly every area of park operations. From law enforcement to biological research, your tax dollars are crucial to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Although tax dollars cover many aspects of park operations, rising costs, increased visitation, and aging facilities often cause the park to require additional funds generated from entrance fees.

 

Entrance fees helped rebuild the Miner's Beach stairs after major storm damage.

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Completed Projects Using Your Fee Dollars

• Completed renovation of the Munising Falls Visitor Center and public restroom facilities.
• Competed renovation of the Grand Sable Visitor Center
• Replaced vault toilet facilities at Grand Sable Visitor Center and Log Slide Overlook
• Provide Au Sable Lighthouse tours and visitor services
• Repaired the Miners Castle septic field, creating new toilet facilities and maintaining existing ones.
• Repaired the Miners Beach stairs following major storm damage.
• Maintain campgrounds.
• Designed and installed new interpretive and information panels around the park.
• Reconstructed 12 boardwalks along the North Country Trail between Sand Point and Miners Castle.
• Replaced the foot bridge crossing the Hurricane River in the picnic area.
• Renovated the Twelemile backcountry cabin to be rented by the public

Future Projects Using Your Fee Dollars

• Replace and repair stair structure with viewing platform to improve visitor accessibility at Twelevemile Beach day use access
• Create an accessible, self-guided visitor experience to explore maritime exhibits in Sand Point Boathouse
• Replace bridges for Munising Ski Trails system
• Replace aging and outdated interpretive and information panels throughout the park.
• Repair trails to meet and provide more accessibility standards.
• Repair and Rehab Miners Castle Upper and Lower viewing platforms
• Replace Miners Castle comfort station roof and facia
• Restore and maintain historic structures throughout the park

 

Grant funding allowed the park to purchase an accessible fishing dock for Grand Sable Lake in 2022.

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Other Sources of Funding

Grants
The park applies for grant funding for a variety of projects every year. These include:

• Purchase of a new accessible fishing dock at Grand Sable Lake.
• Funding for staff to present educational programs to local schools, provide in-park field trips for students, and reimburse bus transportation for schools that could otherwise not afford the trip.
• Offer new interpretive programs for visitors like "Fishing with a Ranger"

Commercial Authorization Use (CUA) Fees
A percentage of fees paid to Pictured Rocks by commercial businesses that operate within the park (such as boat cruises and kayak tours) is used to pay for seasonal employees and to fund various projects.

 

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