Entrance fees going up at Glacier

The cost of enjoying Glacier National Park is set to go up beginning this fall with a planned increase in entrance fees and some campground fees.

The Park annual pass fee will increase from $35 to $45 beginning Jan. 1, 2016, then increase to $50 on Jan. 1, 2017.

According to a Park press release, the Park had proposed increasing the annual pass from $35 to $60; however the final increase was lowered based on feedback from a civic engagement process. The last time park entrance fees at Glacier were increased was in 2006.

Weekly pass prices also are going up.

The summer seven-day vehicle entrance fee will increase from $25 to $30. Summer fees are charged from May 1 to Oct. 31

A seven-day vehicle pass in winter will increase from $15 to $20. Winter fees are charged Nov. 1 to April 30.

A motorcycle entrance fees will increase from $10 per person to $25 per motorcycle. An individual on a bicycle or hiking will now pay $15, up from $12.

The Park notes that the fee increases do not affect other passes with the America the Beautiful- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program, including the $80 interagency and $10 senior passes, and the free access or military passes.

Some Glacier campground fees will go up, as well.

A single night at the popular Many Glacier Campground will now cost $23, starting in May 2016, up from $20 per site.

A first-come-first-serve group site will be $60, and a reserved group site will be $65.

Beginning in May 2016, the federal reservation system will also be used for approximately half of the camp sites at the Many Glacier Campground. The remaining sites not included on the reservation system will be first-come first-serve.

Fees for walk-in backcountry permits are also set to increase, from $5 to $7, starting in 2016. Reserved permits will increase from $30 to $40.

Park officials anticipate that all of these fee changes combined could generate an additional $500,000 annually for the Park, depending on the number and type of entrance passes and camping permits sold.

The funds generated by fees are used for interpretive programs at campgrounds, the backcountry campsite reservation program, repair and restoration of trails, restoration of wildlife habitat, improvement and replacement of restroom facilities, preservation and maintenance of roads, and shuttle bus operation and maintenance.