Everyone else has said exactly what I was thinking but let me add something to that. I have noticed that although it has always been a policy of mine to leave a place better than I found it, many people are not that respectful of the beauty of nature and require someone else to clean up their messes. That requires a person to work for a wage. That wage needs to be paid somehow. Fees for entry is the answer. There are also numerous other expenses involved in the upkeep of public places. Please keep these things in mind when you see God's Creations and appreciate the people who labor to keep it beautiful for you and happily pay the small fee.
Pretty things require money to maintain.
It takes money to make the beauty accessible to folks, to maintain the roads and trails, pick up trash visitors leave behind and operate a sewage treatment plant. There will be, however 6 entry fee-free days during 2021: Monday, January 21: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Saturday, April 17: 1st day National Park Week Wednesday, August 4: 1st Anniv. Great American Outdoors Act Wednesday, August 25: National Park Service Birthday Saturday, September 25: National Public Lands Day Thursday, November 11: Veterans Day
National parks. 1000s of visitors. Are you going to clean it up? Nope. So pay the fee. Someone else will clean it for you to see God's creation nice and clean.
The same reason they charge for any public services.
Agreed ... I'm sure indians felt that way when visitors came here initially.
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