Three popular Colorado state parks increased their entrance fees as of Jan. 1.
The parks include State Forest, 75 miles west of Fort Collins; Chatfield; and Golden Gate Canyon. Fees for single-day passes increased by $2 and now cost $12, according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife news release.
The daily pass increase at State Forest and Golden Gate Canyon was approved by a legislative bill that allows Jackson and Gilpin counties, respectively, to receive the $2 fee increase for maintenance of county roads associated with access points into and out of the state parks.
The increase at Chatfield will help fund water quality projects in and upstream of the reservoir.
The price of the Keep Colorado Wild pass will not be affected by the daily fee increases.
The $29 Keep Colorado Wild pass is automatically charged to those registering their vehicle. You must opt out of purchasing the pass during vehicle registration or you will be charged this amount.
The $29 fee is more than 60% off the regular price of an annual state parks pass. If purchased, your vehicle registration card serves as your state parks pass, which is valid for one year or until the current vehicle registration expires.
In its first fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2024, the pass generated $39.7 million to support Colorado state parks and outdoor first responders, Colorado Parks and Wildlife stated in an August news release.
The bill that allowed for the pass to be added to vehicle registration allocates funding for various programs. Of that $39.7 million, the first $32.5 million went to state park maintenance and development, the next $2.5 million went to search and rescue teams, and $1 million went to to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) The remaining amount went to wildlife projects and outdoor educational programs.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: These 3 popular Colorado state parks see entrance fee increase