would you pay $41 to enter a National Park?

I don't doubt it a bit. People go nuts over seeing wild animals. The article you reference actually states that people on average would pay an additional $41 to see bears. That would make the entrance fee to Yellowstone $66.

If all the National Park fees and money raised inside of the parks stayed with the parks, there wouldn't be a need to raise the entrance fees and at the same time the parks would be better maintained. The biggest problem being that most of the money that the parks themselves generate goes back to Washington D.C. and squandered on other budget items. :M

Doesn't one of the Natl Park Access cards cover these places.

I know I have used my SENIOR PASS to get into the NATL FOREST areas like SKYLINE DRIVE in VA, The Indian Ruins near Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon in AZ, etc...

It also gives me 50% on camping fees in these areas.

Roy Ken

No. I wont pay $25.00 and I can afford to. What happened to a family going low buck? Many things are already priced out of their reach.

The national Senior Pass does cover entrance fees into Yellowstone, but not fees to get eaten by bears. That is covered by you Medicare hospital insurance. Or, SS death benefits. It also covers part of the camping fees at some COE areas.

3oaks wrote:
If all the National Park fees and money raised inside of the parks stayed with the parks, there wouldn't be a need to raise the entrance fees and at the same time the parks would be better maintained. The biggest problem being that most of the money that the parks themselves generate goes back to Washington D.C. and squandered on other budget items. :M

Untrue. Since 2004, the Recreation Enhancement Act allows most funds generated by recreation fees at federal sites to remain with the unit and agency generating the funds.
Link

If you are not aware of it, the fees for National Parks access goes directly to Washington and into the general budget. Meanwhile, the budget for National Parks is being cut more and more, down to the point that there is very little or no maintenance staff, and fewer Rangers. At at least one major National monument, visited by thousands daily, there is no handicap access to restrooms or the biggest part of the monument. The equipment is there, but is not used due to the cost of maintenance. So, if you want to see our National parks, you better do it before they are all sold to private companies and the price will really go up then! Most visitor facilities and shops are already being run by private contractors,and volunteers working for free.

RoyB wrote:
Doesn't one of the Natl Park Access cards cover these places.

I know I have used my SENIOR PASS to get into the NATL FOREST areas like SKYLINE DRIVE in VA, The Indian Ruins near Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon in AZ, etc...

It also gives me 50% on camping fees in these areas.

Roy Ken

We buy the Annual Pass too. Don't recall, but I think it's around 60-80 bucks.

Yellowstone's kinda like Disnyland; It doesn't matter what the cost is, people will pay it. If you want sticker shock, take a family of 4 to Disneyland. Better have 4-5 bills with you.

The article wasn't very in depth nor did it have a whole lot of facts, other than what was based off of a survey. I couldn't spare the time to make the trek to Yellowstone this year. I'm not sure I agree with $25 to gain entry, but I know how I feel about $66. As far as bears, it isn't Jurassic Park, and I don't expect a refund if I can't see a bear.

What happened to a family going low buck? Many things are already priced out of their reach.

Despite the government's pseudo inflation calculations, everything is quickly being priced out of reach. Get used to it. So much for it being cheaper to buy stuff new than move it. That's why we are moving everything we own to Georgia, including open containers of cleaners, etc. We are about to be on fixed income, and everything is going up.