Colorado state parks fees going up this fall

Associated Press

Friday, June 22, 2007

The cost of visiting state parks and registering snowmobiles and off-highway vehicles in Colorado will rise starting next fall.

A daily vehicle pass for most state parks will rise $1 to $6 on Sept. 1, the Colorado State Parks Board said Friday.

At four popular Front Range parks — Cherry Creek, Chatfield, Boyd Lake and Eldorado Canyon — the summertime fee will rise $1 to $7 beginning in 2008. The higher fee will be in effect from May 1 to Sept. 30; at other times, it will be $6.

Annual pass prices rise $5 to $60 starting Nov. 15 and will be valid for a year starting when it is purchased. Under the current system, a pass is valid during the calendar year in which it's purchased.

The fee for an annual pass for additional vehicles will rise $5 to $25. That pass will also switch to the rolling, 12-month system.

Aspen Leaf annual passes, for people 64 and older, will rise $3 to $30 starting Nov. 15 but will remain on a calendar-year basis as required by state law. Aspen Leaf additional-vehicle passes will rise $5 to $15.

Snowmobile registration fees will rise $10 to $30 starting Oct. 1. Off-highway vehicle registration fees rise $10 to $25 effective April 1.

Parks board members cited state funding cuts for raising fees, including a $750,000 reduction in fiscal 2007-2008. They said lawmakers encouraged them to increase fees to make up the difference.

They said proceeds from the state Lottery are earmarked only for construction and land acquisition, and they needed more funds for park operations.

Board members said they reviewed all their options before deciding on the fee increases.