Tag Archives: national parks

Yosemite Proposed Entrance Fee and Campground Fee Increases

The 50 percent fee increase, which would take effect Jan. 1, is part of a new Obama administration proposal to raise fees at 130 of America’s 401 national parks.  Why close the parks when it’s so much easier just to price them out of the reach of Americans who already support them through taxes?

30 Day Public Engagement Period Begins Today

Yosemite National Park is proposing to increase entrance fees into the park.  The single vehicle entrance fee would change from $20 to $30 for a seven day pass.  The park’s annual pass would increase from $40 to $60.  The current rate of $10 per individual or motorcycle would increase to $15 for an individual and $25 per motorcycle.  Interagency Passes, which are honored at all federally managed land units, are not affected by the proposed fee increase and will remain at $80 for the regular pass, $10 for the Senior Pass and free for the Access and Military passes.  The current park entrance fees have been in place since 1997, when a seven day pass was increased from $5 to $20 per vehicle.  According to the U.S. Bureau of labor and Statistics, $20 in 1997 is equivalent to $29.64 in 2014.  This fee change will allow Yosemite to maintain consistent revenue while adjusting accordingly for inflation.

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2015 National Park Free Entrance Days

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee waived* dates in 2015:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 19
  • Presidents Day weekend – February 14-16
  • Opening weekend of National Park Week – April 18-19
  • National Park Service Birthday – August 25
  • National Public Lands Day – September 26
  • Veterans Day – November 11

Remember: out of 401 national parks only 133 of them charge an entrance fee.  Get outside!

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise (per NPS).

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Only 133 of our country’s 401 national parks usually charge an entrance fee. So start Planning Your Visit!

If you’re planning a trip that includes multiple national parks, you might consider the $80 annual pass that provides entrance to all national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and many other Federal lands-more than 2,000 in all. The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is offered free to all active duty military members and their dependents. Information on these and other pass options is available online. Continue reading →

Take a hike with Street View through U.S. National Parks and Parks Canada

On Wednesday, Google launched a collection of images from more than 44 national parks and historic sites across the United States and Canada after travelling through the destinations earlier this year.

From Google Maps Product Manager, Evan Rapoport:

What do tents and hiking boots have in common? You don’t need either to start exploring or planning your next adventure to some of the best national parks and historical sites across North America.

Working with the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada, our Street View cars, trikes and Trekkermapped more than 44 locations with beautiful, 360 degree panoramas.

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NPS Introduces Healthy Food Policy For National Parks

Vacation. The time to let go, relax, and enjoy the scenery. Go where you want, eat what you want … no, wait, can’t to that anymore.

The National Park Service has announce a new ‘healthy food policy’ as part of the “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” initiative. New food standards and ‘sustainable’ food guidelines will now change what you can eat at our national parks.

What is the “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” initiative? Another nonsensical government program … brought to you by the same people who think taking trash cans out of national parks will ‘encourage people to take their trash with them.’

According to the NPS website, “Healthy Parks Healthy People” is a holistic approach to promoting the health and well-being of people and the sustainability of the planet.

Healthy Parks, Healthy People US  is a National Park Service initiative working to reintegrate human, environmental and ecological health into the mission of public parks and public lands.

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