Bandelier seeks public input on proposed camping fee increases; reservations for Juniper Campground. Courtesy/NPS 

BANDELIER News:

Bandelier National Monument is seeking public comment on proposed increases in expanded amenity fees for Juniper Campground and Ponderosa Group Campground.

The park also is proposing to make a portion of Juniper Campground reservable through Recreation.gov. Fees at Bandelier for individual campsites last changed in 2005 and group campsite fees last changed in 1995.

Bandelier proposed camping fees for individual and group campsites:

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) is the legislation that 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. Camping fees collected at Bandelier stay in the park and are used on campground upkeep, maintenance, and management. These fees are also used on projects that directly improve the camping experience for park visitors.

Some projects that have been completed using camping fees:  

• Campsite Maintenance and Upkeep – Hazardous tree and vegetation removal in and around campsites annually with work performed by youth work crews;
• Improved Accessibility – Installed new concrete walkways surrounding comfort station A and B in 2022;
• Visitor and Wildlife Safety – Installed bear boxes in every campsite in 2020;
• Comfort Station Rehab – Comfort stations rehab, upgrade of interior and exterior in 2017; and
• Infrastructure Rehab – Road and drainage rehabilitation, installed new lift station in Loop C, and replacement of all signs in 2009.

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 also is 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 Oct. 1, 2023, 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 March 26 to April 24 via the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at:  

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/band115502

Additionally, for those without internet access, comments may be submitted through postal mail:

Bandelier National Monument
Attn: Fee Office
15 Entrance Road
Los Alamos, NM 87544

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, 2023.

For more information about Bandelier National Monument, visit www.nps.gov/band, Facebook and Instagram.

About Bandelier:

The purpose of Bandelier National Monument 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.