Yosemite wants to increase entrance and campground fees

Yosemite National Park is floating the idea of raising its entrance fee from $20 a car to $30, and charging $1 to $4 more for family campground sites, a park statement released Monday says.

Other large national parks, including Yellowstone and Grand Canyon, are seeking entrance fee increases to $30 as well.

Yosemite says it hasn’t raised fees since 1997 and would use the $10 increase per vehicle that enters the park to pay for maintenance and more visitor services.

It also proposes a $15 charge for individuals without vehicles and $25 for motorcyclists; each currently pays $10. The price of an annual park pass would increase from $40 to $60.

The fee increase may be implemented as soon as early 2015, the statement says.

“The additional revenue from the fee increase will be used to enhance visitor services, including repair and maintenance of park facilities, restoration and rehabilitation of visitor service buildings, additional park programs and transportation services, and increase resource protection,” the statement says.

Family campground sites inside the park cost $5 to $20; Yosemite could increase them to $6 to $24. “The park will utilize comparable campground rates and public feedback to determine if an adjustment to campground fees is warranted,” the statement says.

How can you weigh in? There’s a 30-day comment period that opened Monday and continues through Nov. 20. Additionally, the park will hold an open house 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Yosemite Valley Auditorium.

Comments may be sent via email or by U.S. mail to: Superintendent, Attention Proposed Fee Increase, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389.