I have a trip to Western Colorado planned for the last week of June. I will be staying at Westcliffe for a few days with friends, then had planned to go to Dillon for a night, then to Estes Park by way of the Rocky Mt. National Park, with a night in Loveland.I just happened to check the website for the RMNP and noticed this new requirement for entry:Reservations required to enter Rocky Mountain National ParkFrom May 28 through October 11, 2021, visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park will need a timed entry permit and an entrance pass to recreate in the park. Click "more" for details.This "Timed Entry Permit" costs $25. My Senior Pass gets me into the park, but I have to pay and have a reservation to get in.I guess I'm living in a bubble. My last trip to RMNP was 2004, just drove on Hwy 34 straight through the park.I don't usually travel much during the summer months, mostly local trips, so maybe I'll just wait and go out of season. Less traffic suits me better.

Yep, they figured out a new way to make money from the NP’s we have already paid to use!And it’s not just RMNP either!

Basically a means of crowd control. Number of visitors to most all parks has soared over the years to the point the parks are becoming hard to manage, crowd wise. Far different from 2004.

Not just RMNP. Necessary unfortunately due to the number of visitors. My only objection is the entry is no longer no charge to senior pass holders as was promised when I purchased the senior pass.

dodge guy wrote:Yep, they figured out a new way to make money from the NP’s we have already paid to use!And it’s not just RMNP either!To be clear, the parks are not making any money off this. The fee is $2 and it goes to the contractor that operates the reservation system. The park could pay the fee instead, but that would mean even less money for the parks themselves as the contractor still expects to be paid. Same deal for the folks that are upset about this being charged to annual and geezer pass holders. This is a fixed cost to the park per visitor, would you prefer they take it out of their operating and maintenance budget?

FWC wrote:dodge guy wrote:Yep, they figured out a new way to make money from the NP’s we have already paid to use!And it’s not just RMNP either!To be clear, the parks are not making any money off this. The fee is $2 and it goes to the contractor that operates the reservation system. The park could pay the fee instead, but that would mean even less money for the parks themselves as the contractor still expects to be paid. Same deal for the folks that are upset about this being charged to annual and geezer pass holders. This is a fixed cost to the park per visitor, would you prefer they take it out of their operating and maintenance budget?I would prefer there was no one telling me when and what time I could enter the park. That goes against why the NPS was created! “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people”! As of last year and this year, they have taken that away from the US (and visitiors from other countries) citizens!

What's up with Rocky Mt. National Park entry? | Good Sam Community

FWC
Explorer
Jun 09, 2021
okhmbldr wrote:

According to the RMNP website the fee is $25.00. Maybe $2.00 goes to the contractor.
2015-2019 they averaged about 4.4 million visitors.
2020 was limited to 3.3 million guests. About 70% of the visits will be during the months the fee is collected.
(Allow about four guests per vehicle and the fee will equal about $70 million this year).

$25 is the entrance fee to the park, this is not new and unless you have a pass (either annual or geezer) you have always had to pay this at the entrance station and still do this year. What is new is that you have to book ahead and pay a $2 reservation fee. You still have to pay $2 even if you have a pass, this is the part of the fee that goes to the contractor.

Based on the estimate above, the park is actually loosing money by reducing visitation, however the experience will be better for the visitors.
okhmbldr
Explorer
Jun 09, 2021
FWC wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
Yep, they figured out a new way to make money from the NP’s we have already paid to use!

And it’s not just RMNP either!

To be clear, the parks are not making any money off this. The fee is $2 and it goes to the contractor that operates the reservation system. The park could pay the fee instead, but that would mean even less money for the parks themselves as the contractor still expects to be paid.

Same deal for the folks that are upset about this being charged to annual and geezer pass holders. This is a fixed cost to the park per visitor, would you prefer they take it out of their operating and maintenance budget?

According to the RMNP website the fee is $25.00. Maybe $2.00 goes to the contractor.
2015-2019 they averaged about 4.4 million visitors.
2020 was limited to 3.3 million guests. About 70% of the visits will be during the months the fee is collected.
(Allow about four guests per vehicle and the fee will equal about $70 million this year).
FWC
Explorer
Jun 09, 2021
The issue was that some of the most popular parks were becoming so crowded that the visits were no longer enjoyable.

We have entrusted the NPS to manage the parks for the 'benefit and enjoyment of the people' but also to 'preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources' within the parks.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jun 09, 2021
FWC wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
Yep, they figured out a new way to make money from the NP’s we have already paid to use!

And it’s not just RMNP either!

To be clear, the parks are not making any money off this. The fee is $2 and it goes to the contractor that operates the reservation system. The park could pay the fee instead, but that would mean even less money for the parks themselves as the contractor still expects to be paid.

Same deal for the folks that are upset about this being charged to annual and geezer pass holders. This is a fixed cost to the park per visitor, would you prefer they take it out of their operating and maintenance budget?

I would prefer there was no one telling me when and what time I could enter the park. That goes against why the NPS was created! “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people”! As of last year and this year, they have taken that away from the US (and visitiors from other countries) citizens!
FWC
Explorer
Jun 09, 2021
dodge guy wrote:
Yep, they figured out a new way to make money from the NP’s we have already paid to use!

And it’s not just RMNP either!

To be clear, the parks are not making any money off this. The fee is $2 and it goes to the contractor that operates the reservation system. The park could pay the fee instead, but that would mean even less money for the parks themselves as the contractor still expects to be paid.

Same deal for the folks that are upset about this being charged to annual and geezer pass holders. This is a fixed cost to the park per visitor, would you prefer they take it out of their operating and maintenance budget?
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 09, 2021
Not just RMNP. Necessary unfortunately due to the number of visitors. My only objection is the entry is no longer no charge to senior pass holders as was promised when I purchased the senior pass.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jun 09, 2021
Basically a means of crowd control. Number of visitors to most all parks has soared over the years to the point the parks are becoming hard to manage, crowd wise. Far different from 2004.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jun 09, 2021
Yep, they figured out a new way to make money from the NP’s we have already paid to use!

And it’s not just RMNP either!

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