Public comment site is back online for Rocky Mountain NP-7-26-21

Public comment site is back online (submission extended through July 26) - Long-Range Day Use Visitor Access Strategy In Rocky Mountain National Park

7/26/2021

The Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website experienced technical issues this past week that were out of the park's control. The PEPC system came back online today, July 22. Submission of comments for this phase has been extended from July 19 through July 26.

Day Use Visitor Access Strategy - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

9 Comments

Gretchen Cole

7/26/2021 01:21:12 pm

As a resident of Estes Park it pains me to have a required ticket entry for RMNP. I currently hold a senior pass and I feel this should give me access. I also feel that as a resident , local ,state and Federal taxpayer I should have access to the facilities at any time. I photograph as well and often there are atmospheric conditions which would enhance my photography yet unless these conditions occur after the allowed hours I have no access. This is a constant frustation. I do however want the park preserved and understand the need to protect it. I have been around RMNP since 1983 and I have seen the changes. Perhaps along with the senior gate pass you could have a local residents pass that could help with this matter. I know I am not the only person this effects. I purchased property to have access to RMNP and would like to be able to enjoy it fully. Thank you for your time.

Janell Jennings

7/26/2021 03:51:02 pm

We moved to Estes Park to be able to enjoy the RMNP whenever possible . It has been more than a disappointment to not be able to enjoy the park when we live here. There should be a special pass for permanent Estes Park residents. Otherwise why would anyone want to live here and put up with the tourism? I am, however, in favor of some kind of program that would limit the number of people entering the park. It is discouraging to see how most have little to no regard for nature and have no thought of following park rules. Up the fees to pay for more Rangers!!

Tami Bebber

7/26/2021 07:12:54 pm

I visited RMNP the last day before time entry started for the summer. There were people everywhere, parking was difficult and it wasn’t a very enjoyable day. I also visited every day over Memorial Day weekend with timed entry. It was a much better experience. I saw more wildlife then any other visit to the park which I believe is do to the decreased crowds. I also visited last year during timed entry. I would ask you to continue with timed entry as I believe it is a benefit to both visitors and the park itself.

Marilyn Sunde

7/26/2021 07:22:32 pm

I visited the park this summer and I think the timed entry is helping with the crowds. However, I think it needs simplified back to one timed entry for the whole park. The two different timed entries are just way too confusing.

Catherine Millis juvonen

7/26/2021 07:33:13 pm

I have had trouble every 1st of the month getting the timed entry. My internet is not fast enough. I feel like it is penalizing those without the extra money fir fast internet services. I have tried right at 10am MT and can’t get what I need. Please do not require timed entries for locals or fir those with limited means.

Tiffany

7/26/2021 08:33:49 pm

I believe the timed entry is doing what it is supposed to be doing. It should stay. I also think permanent residents of the surrounding area should have a way to always enter the park with no timed entry pass. I am not a local.

Teresa

7/26/2021 09:20:17 pm

Population has dramatically increased since the park was established. Significant increases to facilities and staffing should be made to accommodate the increases, including the recent increase in demand. Instead, with Covid, the park restricts access. Wrong direction. While you’d like to protect the park more, the increased population and traffic should increase accommodations and access, requiring more funding, more staff, and more facilities. The park belongs to the taxpayers. Stop trying to restrict the owners from their property. If you can’t properly fund, it’s like being a slumlord who won’t make needed investments. And locals deserve no special treatment. It belongs to all taxpayers equally.

Sil Bailey

7/26/2021 11:03:42 pm

I absolutely love the timed ticket system! Does it require a bit of advance planning? Yes, but it certainly beats the seemingly endless lines and gridlock on the park roads which I saw as recently as 2019. People have no problem planning and reserving plane travel, rental cars, lodging, and more, but view having to reserve a time to visit RMNP as some sort of infringement on their rights.

However, there need to be some revisions to the timed ticket reservation system. It seems to be human nature to try to beat the system and that is exactly what many are doing. Multiple accounts created by individuals using several different emails on various devices are making the reservation system a joke. I’ve heard of people getting two or three reservations for the same day. There also seem to be some who get timed tickets for nearly every day of the month “just in case” they might want to visit the park. Requiring people to purchase their entry pass at the same time that they reserve a timed entry would keep many from doing this. Last year, my Recreation.gov account was connected to my senior pass. Many do not view paying and possibly losing $60 or so to have a timed ticket as a big deal.

Lastly, if the timed tickets are not supposed to be transferable, why are the rangers not asking for identification? While I don’t know this for a fact, I imagine some are selling their timed tickets for amounts well over the $2 they originally paid for them.

Something needs to be done to preserve and protect our National parks. I simply do not understand the attitude held by many that as taxpayers they should be allowed unlimited access to these treasures.
We are loving our National parks to death!

Elizabeth

7/27/2021 10:53:40 am

While it is not the most convenient, I believe the timed entry approach is helping provide an enjoyable experience with fewer crowds and less disturbance to wildlife. As with most things, implementation would benefit from some tweaking. For example, provide a lane with a working scanner for those that have an annual or senior pass can scan both the pass and times entry via automation to aid in the long lines at entry gates. Another consideration is to provide open time entry for long-term/year round residents of Estes Park and Grand Lake, and make the times entry for all of the park and not complicate things with the BLC special entrance with different times. Finally, I feel more funding should be allocated for additional Rangers to be available at higher traffic locations to ensure good stewardship of the tundra and engagement with wildlife because even with timed entry in place it does stop poor judgement and clueless behaviors.
It was a joy seeing so much more wildlife following a break from human entry (courtesy fire and Covid closing the park for awhile), The National Park Service is doing the right thing in coming up with solutions to protect all the things we love about the park, while also making it possible for admirers to experience it first hand. Not an easy task!

Public comment site is back online (submission extended through July 26) - Long-Range Day Use Visitor Access Strategy In Rocky Mountain National Park

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