California State Parks announced today that camping fees and entrance fees at state parks – including Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park – will increase on Monday, August 17.
“In these dire economic times, we can no longer afford to keep our fees at their current levels,” said State Parks Director Ruth Coleman in a release. “The people of California understand that by charging more, we will be able to keep more parks open and preserved for these and future generations.”
The exact fee increase at the local parks had not been released as of August 11, however, state wide, day-use fees increased from $3 to $5 and camping fees increased from $11 to $21.
Campsites in Henry Cowell and Big Basin are currently priced at $25 per night. A $10 increase would increase the camping fee to $35 per night.
Day use parking is $7 per vehicle and will also likely rise.
The money generated from the increase will not raise revenues enough to sustain the park system and the parks continue to look for private partnerships, park leaders said.
The fee increase came in the wake of the signing of the state budget.
The budget signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in July, made $14.2 million in cuts to state parks, that would have resulted in the closure of an estimated 100 of the state’s 279 parks.
