Pictured Rocks Considers a Change in Park Fees
Have you been to all five of Michigan's National Parks? I've only been to two of them and it's been years. Well, there may be some changes coming to one of them but they'd like your opinion first.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore wants your thoughts on adding an entrance fee and the potential increase for camping and their lighthouse tours.
Why fees will increase at Pictured Rocks
Susan Reece, the park's chief of interpretation tells MLive that the fee revenue would help improve trails, campgrounds and address parking issues.
We want to keep parks affordable. But there’s a lot of work we have to do in our park, and entrance fees can help.
According to the National Park Service and MLive, at least 80 percent of the fees collected will go towards your visiting experience and the other 20 will go towards other parks. They have also compared the fees at other federal, state and county parks and campgrounds with Pictured Rocks' to develop a reasonable price.
Fees will be introduced in phases
If given the go ahead, the fees would start in January 2022, and be phased in over three years.
Phase 1, Jan. 1, 2022, would include the following changes:
- $12 seven-day vehicle pass
- $7 per-person walk-in and boat-in fee
- $10 motorcycle pass
- $22 annual park pass
Phase 2 changes that would occur on Jan. 1, 2023:
- $18 seven-day vehicle pass
- $11 per-person walk-in and boat-in fee
- $15 motorcycle pass
- $33 annual park pass
Phase 3 changes effective of Jan. 1, 2024
- $25 seven-day vehicle pass
- $15 per-person walk-in and boat-in fee
- $20 motorcycle pass
- $45 annual park pass
The park also plans on increasing the camping fees and Au Sable Light House Tour fees. For more information, visit MLive's website.
Did you know there are several Free Entrance day's at National Parks every year? For a full list of dates, click here.
Pictured Rocks is currently accepting public comments on their proposed entrance fees.
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