Death Valley visitors could soon pay more to camp, hike

Josh Murphy and his wife, Chandler Murphy, of Canada, have their photo taken at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center at Death Valley National Park in California on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae

Damage from Tropical Storm Hilary is shown on state Route 190 on the way to Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park in California on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

A damaged portion of state Route 190 east of Furnace Creek at Death Valley National Park in California. (National Park Service)

A damaged section of state Route 190 east of Furnace Creek at Death Valley National Park in California. (National Park Service)

Large chunks of state Route 190 on the road to Furnace Creek at Death Valley National Park in California were damaged by floodwater, which eroded away material under the road. (National Park Service)

Flood damage on state Route 190 between Zabriskie Point and Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park in California is shown Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. (National Park Service)

The National Park Service is proposing fee increases for several Death Valley National Park campsites and backcountry hiking permits for the first time in six years.

Death Valley has not changed campground fees since 2017. Approved fee increases could be enforced as soon as February, the park service said in a news release.

The park service said the fee increases would help fund maintenance, visitors services, educational programs and flood repairs for Scotty’s Castle and remodeling Dantes View.

Severe flood damage from Tropical Storm Hilary in August has left Death Valley closed for over a month. Scotty’s Castle, which was severely damaged by a 2015 flood and a 2021 fire, had its reopening pushed back to 2025 following Hilary.

The park expects to partially reopen on Oct. 15 with the reopening of its main highway, state Route 190.

The park service plans to increase or add fees for the following campsites and permits:

— Stovepipe Wells Campground: From $14 to $18 a night

— Furnace Creek Campground: From $22 to $30 a night

— Furnace Creek Campground RV Site: From $36 to $44 a night

— Texas Spring Campground: From $16 to $20 a night

— Mesquite Spring Campground: From $14 to $20 a night

— Sunset Campground: From $14 to $18 a night

— Backpacking permit for Cottonwood Canyon-Marble Canyon Hiking route: Now free with a $10 proposed permit fee

— Backcountry Roadsite Campsite at Echo Canyon Road, Hole in the Wall Road, Greenwater Valley Road, Cottonwood Canyon Road and Marble Canyon Road: Now free with a proposed $10 a night fee

The public can provide feedback on the proposed fee increases at parkplanning.nps.gov/deva11 until Oct. 25.

Contact Taylor Lane at tlane@reviewjournal.com.