New fees are set to be implemented at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area in western Colorado. The changes include new permits for wilderness access and increased charges at group campsites.
Permits for South Rim wilderness routes – Tomichi, Gunnison, and Warner – will now require reservations made in advance through recreation.gov. The permits will cost $6 plus $4 per person on the trip. Reservations for trips between May and October will be available starting in April, while trips between November and April will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Black Canyon Visitor Center.
In Curecanti National Recreation Area, group camping fees will also be increasing at East Elk Creek and Red Creek. Nightly charges at East Elk Creek, accommodating between nine and 50 people, will be $120. Red Creek, accommodating between nine and 20 people, will have charges of $60 per night.
The changes are intended to bring both parks in line with comparable wilderness permits and group campgrounds. The collected fees will fund projects such as trail rehabilitation, campground upgrades, and improvements to water, sewer, and solid waste systems. 80% of the fees will stay within the two parks, while the remaining 20% will be spread across the National Park Service.
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