Reader: National Park passes don't cover fee areas popping up at Colorado National Forests

Plenty of readers were surprised to learn (from Patricia Calhoun's recent post) that merely stopping to take a photo at Mount Evans scenic byway will cost a visitor $10. But one commenter was well aware of the situation -- and notes that it's not an isolated incident...

By Michael Roberts

August 12, 2011

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Plenty of readers were surprised to learn (from Patricia Calhoun's recent post) that merely stopping to take a photo at Mount Evans scenic byway will cost a visitor $10.

But one commenter was well aware of the situation -- and notes that it's not an isolated incident.

Crandle writes:

I purchase a national park pass annually that is advertised as a pass good for accessing national forest as well as other public lands. What they don't tell you is that these new "fee areas" popping up all over colorado's national forests are not covered by the park pass. The fee areas are run by private businesses that are making a profit off a public resource. Grrrrrr...

For more memorable takes, visit our Comment of the Day archive.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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