Glacier May Charge For Backcountry Camping

The tradition of free backcountry camping in Glacier National Park could be coming to an end.

A proposal to begin charging campground use fees, in addition to entrance fees, could be approved as early as this week, said Roger Semler, the park’s wilderness manager.

Three backcountry fee alternatives have been given to Superintendent David Mihalic, including a preferred alternative that would collect $5 per camp site per night. Two other alternatives include charging a flat $10 fee for all trips, regardless of length of stay, and charging $4 per person per night.

“We haven’t received approval on any of the alternatives as yet,” Semler said, “but the bottom line is there will be additional fees.”

The move to charge for backcountry camping permits follows an experimental program that allows parks to keep a large portion of all fees collected, rather than turn the money over to the federal treasury.

The program allows parks to generate their own revenue for repairs and upgrades, Semler said.

Campground fees likely would be collected only from June 1 through September.