Arizona State Parks and Trails is a self-sustaining agency, not reliant on general funding (taxpayer dollars) to operate the 33 parks. This is different from the way other state park systems and the National Park Service operate. Staffing at the parks, maintenance, and general operational expenses are all paid for with revenue raised through entrance, camping and tour fees. Additional parks opening, amenities added, and park visitation increasing – along with inflation – means that the agency has not been able to increase the number of rangers in parks or tackle deferred maintenance projects – non-emergency work that maintains the infrastructure in the parks. The agency had not raised prices across all parks since 2012.

Revenue earned from the increased fees will help keep parks open and operating and may be used to enhance the visitor experience with options like increased hours of operation, additional programming like guided hikes and interpretive walks, and infrastructure improvements like restroom/shower buildings, ramadas, and campground improvements. In order to continue to provide great customer service, clean restrooms, amenities that campers love, and staff to keep visitors safe, the agency needs to increase the amount of revenue it receives.

Previously, Arizona State Parks and Trails offered two annual passes - one at $75 with restrictions on parks and holidays, and another at $200 with no restrictions. The agency now only offers the $200 pass. The pass is a convenience for people who visit the parks often. For a single person visiting every weekend, the $200 pass is still only $3.85 per visit, compared to the $10 single entrance fee. For a group of four adults visiting weekly, it is only $.96 per visit! For people who are unable to afford the new pass price, there is still single entrance pricing. Again, all revenue generated from the pass goes directly back to the parks - for things like trail maintenance, clean restrooms, and staffing. The pass pricing supports that.

Arizona State Parks and Trails owns more than 1,100 buildings and structures, including historic buildings like those at Fort Verde, Tombstone Courthouse, Tubac Presidio, Riordan Mansion, Yuma Territorial Prison, Colorado River, McFarland, and Jerome state historic parks. Along with infrastructure for plumbing, campground electrical wiring, and roads or parking lots, the list of deferred and proposed projects reaches more than $135 million. Additionally, the agency also maintains prehistoric archaeological sites such as those at Homolovi and Lyman Lake state parks. The total number of agency staff, including rangers, park managers, administrative and those within the State Historic Preservation Office, is only 260.

Michelle Thompson
Deputy Assistant Director
Arizona State Parks & Trails