The Star-Tribune staff | Posted: Friday, December 8, 2006 12:00 am
It will soon cost more to spend time on America's public lands, including those in Wyoming, the Interior department announced this week.
A new interagency pass which allows people to visit places like Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area and a host of other sites will soon be available to the public for $80.
This means a visitor could see Bryce Canyon, Zion and Flaming Gorge, conceivably, in one day, using the pass. They won't need to get different ones for different parks, the department announced.
That's up from the $20 annual fee to use a place such as Flaming Gorge. But the new pass will allow multiple uses, the department contends.
Critics of the hike include Sen. Craig Thomas of Wyoming, who said budgetary shortfalls need to be addressed in ways other than passing the increase along to customers.
For more on this story, see Saturday's edition of the Star-Tribune.