Paying Fees to enter a National Park.....

[looking4alady]

I don't know how many this e-mail will apply to (but I'm assuming that there are National Parks in each of the provinces).

Here in Alberta, one of the big ones is Banff National Park. If you're going to go to Banff and spend the night, you need to pay a fee at the gate when you enter the park. For example, myself and a ladyfriend paid $51 for three nights. You receive a receipt and must tape it onto your windshield for the duration of your stay.

While we were in Banff, we met some friends who had been there for the week. When I asked my friend if he paid his gate fees, he quickly responded "nope, I just drove by the gate and since the hotel I'm staying in has underground parking, they aren't able to check my vehicle and ticket me". Upon hearing this, I was po'd. My ladyfriend knew it as well and I bit my tongue at saying something. This person has the money to afford to stay in Banff for a week with his family (2 adults/2 kids), eat out every night, and take in various events, movies, shopping, etc., but he chooses not to pay the gate admission fee. When he is in town, he leaves his van in the parkade and walks where ever he has to go.

So....I'm pissed...here, me being the honest guy, pays the gate admission fee..and there are others who drive by the gate with no feeling of guilt.

I just wanted to air myself..and see if anybody else has had similar experiences.....

My two cents......

 

[busdriver]

I see people not paying park fees all the time.Even tour companies try not paying the fees.Money collected goes toward maintaining the park ,so that we could enjoy visiting national prks.Park rangers do check for passes ,not so much during winter and spring.In summer they go to all the hot spots to check.

 

[TheRater]

Park wardens can and do investigate underground/locked parking.

- TR

 

[HeMadeMeDoIt]

Quit your whining! If you had figured out a way to get away with it you would've done the same as your buddy.

 

[FuZzYknUckLeS]

Paying to enjoy mother nature is fucking bullshit.

 

[Photodude]

I have ditched the gate fee when I couldn't pay, or didn't have the cash too.

But that was as a broke, broke, college student, I also haven't paid when I was just driving through but noticed I needed a washroom break.

But if I were to have the money and afford to go to Banff hotel for a week then I easily can afford a three day pass.

And for all of you outdoors junkies, you can get a pass and enjoy the park year-round for a reasonable price. . . .

 

[OTBn]

And for all of you outdoors junkies, you can get a pass and enjoy the park year-round for a reasonable price. . . .

exactly - something like $60 for an annual pass.

Parks Canada does work within an allotted budget; over and above fee revenues help to support visitor services/facilities.

L4L - take solace in the fact you helped to invest in the parks future... in it's legacy for future generations.

 

[mick_eight]

parks

The grand canyon in Arizonaas of 2wks ago is 25 buks, which is 30 here.

 

[The Lizard King]

And for all of you outdoors junkies, you can get a pass and enjoy the park year-round for a reasonable price. . . .

I pay over $100k a year in taxes...I think that's a more than reasonable price to pay. If you pay taxes in Canada, that should be your entitlement to enjoy the land as long as you do so responsibly.

 

[Lesbian Hunter]

Paying to enjoy mother nature is fucking bullshit.

Who do you think should pay for park maintenance?
Who do you think should pay for park staff?
Who do you think should pay for the trails and roads through parks?

 

[Randy Whorewald]

Who do you think should pay for park maintenance?
Who do you think should pay for park staff?
Who do you think should pay for the trails and roads through parks?

Agreed - its a user pay system. That money is needed to operate the parks. I don't know how much they take in but I'm sure some of our tax dollars are also required. I don't find the fees to be an unreasonable amount of money considering some of those parks are among the nicest on the planet.

 

[FuZzYknUckLeS]

Who do you think should pay for park maintenance?
Who do you think should pay for park staff?
Who do you think should pay for the trails and roads through parks?

Who do I think? Well, I think the ones that should be paying should be the companies that are harming our planet, by way of environmental fines. As it is, that isn't likely to happen, so I say, make the corporations pay for it anyhow by letting them set up shop in designated areas, for a hefty lease. You know, like at those fantastic rest stops they have spotted all over the parks. Besides, an extra hot, no foam latte tastes just as good, if not better, in the great outdoors!

 

[jimmy hoffa1971]

Reality check..

So you hated paying $51.00 for a park pass for three nights? Why not get an annual one?? Even the family rate of $123.80 is not that bad. It is, I guess, if all you want to do is go to the Parks once a year. However, if you ski, camp, hike, enjoy nature, or love the outdoors, it is a good investment.

Personally, I have bought annual park passes for the past 8 years. For me, it is an incentive to use it, and to go. That way it pays for itself, and after the second 3 day weekend I spend there, I am enterring for freee. Let's see..2 trips to the mountains to enjoy the outdoors?? I think I can manage those in a twelve month period.

Fees for National Parks, be it in Canada or the US, are a necessity, as their use and resources are being utilized more and more each year. There is alot of work that goes into the maintenance of these places so that we can enjoy it. How cheap is it to maintain the trails in Banff?? Jasper?? Not just the ones around town, but the many, many miles that are in remote locations. Who should pay for repairs that are necessary when some idiot damages a bear pole or a picinic table? If you go to the Grand Canyon, and hike to the bottom, take some cash... It may sound stupid, but the beer at the bottom is ice cold, and refreshing. Who would buy that beer, if the actual cost to get it there (on the back of a mule) was added? The fees can also help to offset the operating costs in the remote areas..

Do you whine and complain that the price of gas in the parks is higher than outside of them?? Did you complain about the 3 nights of higher hotel costs?? Did you complain at the higher cost of dining for 4 days - or did you do the McDonald's plan? Even the chain restaurants are higher in the parks. Cost of doing business there. Very minimal costs, if you ask me, to be able to enjoy some of nature's best it has to provide.

 

[looking4alady]

Jimmy.....

I had no problem paying the fees...I have been to Banff before and had expected it. I do agree that these fees are needed for the maintanance, etc., of the parks and feel glad that they are going to be used for that. The point was that there are those of us who are honest and stop at the gate to pay the fee, while there are those of us who drive by it without thinking twice. I also know and expect the other higher related fees (stores/restaraunts, etc.,) and do pay accordingly.

As "TheRater" says, I'm glad to hear that they check underground parkades, etc. My friend and his family have been going to Banff for a week for the past 5 years, so hopefully they don't keep getting away with this on a continuous basis.

Just another note, I choose the "Bed and Breakfeast" route when I'm in Banff. I've stayed in two nice places over the past couple of years and when you factor in the price of a breakfeast at a restaraunt, paying for a B & B isn't that bad ($75 to $95/night).

My two bits.....

 

[jimmy hoffa1971]

Looking..

I am not sure what the fine is if you get caught without a pass... All I know, is I'd rather pay it, and know I am ok with coming and going, and parking where ever I want to. Especially for em, who enjoys back country camping, my truck will sit at a trailhead for 1-2 weeks. The last thing I'd want to find, after I hike out and want to get home for a shower and sleep in my own bed, is my truck to be towed. Not sure if your friend has to hide his vehicle the whole time he is there. If so, that msut make for an enjoyable trip...

 

[looking4alady]

Funny thing Jimmy....

He does hide his vehicle for the duration of the trip......but there were a couple of times that he had to take it out as he had to transport his family and in-laws, so what he did is he borrowed a paid receipt from another family friend, who had driven up, paid, but then wasn't driving that day. So that friend was gracious enough to give him her receipt, only to be fool enough to pay her hard earned money for someone else to use her receipt.

I totally agree with your camping scenario...I think anybody would be po'd to find out that their vehicle was gone when they got back, for a simple thing like not paying for gate fees !