The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is moving forward with plans to implement fees at several campsites within the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA).
This includes those at the Big Dominguez and Potholes campgrounds, as well as sites within the Gunnison River Special Recreation Management Area. The exact timeline for when the fees will be charged has not yet been determined.
The BLM proposed these fee plans last summer, with the goal of using the generated revenue to fund the maintenance and improvement of current and future campsites.
According to a BLM news release, the fees will help the agency manage resources in the area. Zack Kelley, the acting manager of the Dominguez-Escalante NCA, stated:
“We will use the fees we collect in the NCA to directly manage resources in that area. Revenues will help us maintain public facilities and services; replace aging infrastructure; protect natural resources; improve visitor health and safety; and develop new recreational opportunities.”
In addition to the campground fees, day-use and dispersed camping areas will remain free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The BLM’s announcement also included a notice in the Federal Register, marking the beginning of a six-month notice period. As a result, the fees cannot take effect until at least July 14.
For the Gunnison River sites, the BLM has already begun limiting camping to designated sites. These sites are still available on a first-come, first-served basis, but a reservation system is planned for the future.
The reservation system and fee implementation for the Gunnison River sites will not occur until the 2026 boating season. Kelley explained that adding new campsites to the Recreation.gov reservation system is a time-consuming process.
While the BLM has not set a specific date for when the fees will begin at Big Dominguez or Potholes campgrounds, the agency plans to conduct public outreach before any fees are implemented.
The proposed fees for these campgrounds are $20 per night per site, with each site accommodating up to two vehicles and no more than five participants, including both people and animals. For larger sites, additional vehicles will be charged $10 each.
The fee structure for the Gunnison River sites includes a $20 per night fee for groups of up to five participants, $50 per night for groups of six to 14 participants, and $100 per night for groups of 15 to 25 participants.
The BLM also anticipates a service fee for online reservations.
The fees at Big Dominguez and Potholes will be classified as expanded amenity fees for developed campgrounds.
The BLM has plans to eventually establish expanded amenity fees at about 70 future designated campsites across the NCA as additional amenities are developed.
Kelley noted that there are currently no immediate plans to expand campsites at Dominguez-Escalante, and the need for additional sites remains uncertain.
