Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico is seeking public comment on proposed increases in expanded amenity fees for Juniper Campground and Ponderosa Group Campground.
The park is also proposing to make a portion of Juniper Campground reservable through Recreation.gov.
Bandelier is proposing to increase camping fees for individual campsites and group campsites.
The proposed fees are $20/night for individual campsites at Juniper Campground, and $50/night for group campsites at both Juniper and Ponderosa Campgrounds.
These proposed campground fee increases are based on comparable fees for similar services in nearby campgrounds.
Under the proposed fees, Bandelier will continue to offer half-priced camping for Interagency Senior pass holders and Interagency Lifetime Access pass holders.
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) allows the park to collect expanded amenity fees such as camping fees.
This law allows parks like Bandelier National Monument to retain nearly 100 percent of fees collected in the park for use on projects that directly enhance the experience of park visitors.
The proposed camping fee increases are necessary to improve and maintain a high-quality camping experience.
While basic park operations are funded by direct appropriations from Congress, the expanded amenity fees collected by the Bandelier are used to support new projects and the ongoing maintenance of campgrounds that directly enhance the visitor experience.
Bandelier is also proposing to make a portion of Juniper Campground available for advanced reservation through Recreation.gov.
Camping Loop A (15 sites) will remain non-reservable all year, available to day-of-campers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Camping Loop B (15 campsites) will be reservable year-round, and Camping Loop C (19 campsites) will be made reservable March through October. Loop C is closed annually November through February.
Allowing advanced reservations of campsites will provide 24/7 ease of reservations; offer park visitors the convenience and flexibility to plan their trip ahead of time and make changes to reservations when needed; and provide peace of mind knowing a campsite is waiting when they visit Bandelier.
A partial reservation system will also help reduce the administrative burden placed on park staff, allowing for that time to instead be spent on improving and expanding visitor services as well as enhancing visitor safety and resource protection in Bandelier.
Bandelier National Monument is proposing the new camping fees go into effect October 1, with the launch of online reservations for Loop B & C campsites to begin in late summer or early fall 2023.
Public engagement is an important part of Bandelier’s planning process. The park invites the public to submit comments from March 26 to April 24 via the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website.
Comments may also be submitted through postal mail to the Fee Office at the park’s address.
Comments on the park’s related social media posts will not be officially accepted. All public comments must be received through PEPC or postal mail by April 24.
Bandelier National Monument’s purpose is to protect, preserve, and interpret an outstanding portion of the Pajarito Plateau, including one of the largest concentrations of Ancestral Pueblo archaeological sites in the American Southwest.
The park provides opportunities for people to connect with and enjoy a diversity of cultural and natural resources, striking scenery, wildlife habitats, remnants of a volcanic landscape, and wilderness. For more information about Bandelier National Monument, visit www.nps.gov/band.
The proposed camping fee increases and reservations at Bandelier National Monument could have an impact on nearby private campgrounds. If the fees and reservation system at Bandelier become too expensive or inconvenient for visitors, they may choose to camp at private campgrounds instead.
On the other hand, if the improvements to Bandelier’s camping experience through the increased fees and reservation system are successful, it could attract more visitors to the area and potentially benefit nearby private campgrounds as well.
Visitors may choose to extend their camping trip and explore other nearby camping options.
It is important for nearby private campgrounds to monitor the situation and adjust their own services and fees accordingly to remain competitive.