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Glacier National Park proposes campground fee increases – Daily Montanan [1]

['Keila Szpaller', 'More From Author', '- August']

Date: 2023-08 

Glacier National Park is proposing campground fee increases from 30% to 67% for front country sites, the park announced Wednesday in a news release.

For example, as proposed, a standard tent reservation in peak season for Apgar, Fish Creek, Many Glacier, and some other campgrounds would go from $23 a night to $30, according to a memo about the proposal.

At Kintla and Bowman, the fees would go from $15 to $25 a night.

However, group fees at St. Mary are proposed to decrease from $60 a night to $40.

The proposal outlined in an August memo details current rates and proposed rates. Reservations for hiker/bikers for the primitive/dry season in Many Glacier would no longer be available, according to the memo.

“Those sites have had very minimal use over the years,” a Glacier spokesperson said in an email.

In the news release, Glacier said the last “major fee rate change” took place in 2007. It is taking public comment on the new proposed fees through Sept. 8, 2023.

In the memo, the park said the proposed increases come out of extensive research of local campground rates and market rates in surrounding areas.

“Recreation fees provide a vital source of revenue for maintaining and improving facilities and visitor services,” the park said. “Projects funded by recreation fees include trail and campground repairs and improvements, increasing accessibility, and facility restoration.

“By increasing fees, Glacier National Park will continue to be able to provide and improve services that directly benefit visitors.”

The park said changes are scheduled to take place in most front country campgrounds in 2024 and at Apgar group sites in 2025.

“Glacier is a popular front country destination with a high demand for campsites,” the park said in the news release.

The park said increases will generally run from $3 to $10 depending on the type of site, although some group sites could go up $30.

The park said public engagement is important, and people can submit comments at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/GLACCampgroundFees or via mail to:

Glacier National Park

Office of the Superintendent

PO BOX 1

West Glacier, MT 59936

The park also directed people here PEPC link for more information about this project.

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