Doubled Denali -- park fees to double in 2005

Valley Life editor

Starting in January, the cost of visiting one of the country's most heralded spots will cost you twice as much.

Denali National Park -- one of the most visited places in Alaska -- is doubling the entry fee from $5 to $10 on Jan. 1, 2005. Additionally, to apply for one of the 1,600 annual Denali Road Lottery passes will cost $10. Previously, there was no fee to apply. The fee for the permit for lottery winners is $35.

The increased fees, allow the park to take care of some much-needed repairs, restorations and construction projects. Park officials estimate the fee increase will bring in $1 million for projects (see box).

The new fee structure also requires all park users -- from flightseeing guests to dog mushers -- to pay the $10 entrance fee.

"A lot has been made of the flightseeing issue, but in reality, many of the people on the flightseeing tours have probably already paid their park entrance fee [which are good for seven days] or are going to go to the park as part of their visit and would have paid then," said Kris Fister, a public affairs officer with the park.

The entrance fees for those not entering the park at the entrance, such as flightseeing visitors, will be collected at the Talkeetna Ranger Station, Fister said.

"We're trying to make it as easy for everyone as possible," she said.

The road lottery application fee is what has been generating some buzz. This year, the road will open to 400 cars a day, for four consecutive days starting Sept. 17. Winners get to travel the entire park road, not just the first 15 miles that is open the rest of the year.

"We've applied twice and didn't get one of the passes, so why should I keep applying if it is going to cost me $10 and I don't get to go anyway?" asked Jill Broughton, who said her family usually makes one trip to the park every summer. "Raising the entry fee is fine, but I don't think they should charge to apply for the road lottery."

Fister said the park typically receives between 16,000 and 18,000 applications, and each one has to be processed. The new fee is a cost-recovery measure, she said.

"Certainly, the intent isn't to limit the number of applications we receive or to eliminate anyone from applying," Fister said. "Not at all. We're just trying to cover the costs associated with the lottery program. We were at the sportsman shows in Fairbanks and Anchorage talking to people, and people were very understanding.

"This is going to allow us to add some staff to make the process a lot easier," Fister said.

The increase in fees is taking place when the park is unveiling two new facilities at the park's entrance. The Murie Science and Learning Center will open later this year, and the visitor center, with a gift shop, food court and trail system, is scheduled to open next spring.

Around 360,000 visitors come to Denali National Park and Preserve each year. Eighty percent of the fees collected stay in the park.

"And the other 20 percent that goes into the national pot often comes back for projects we have going on," Fister said.