Opposition to higher national park entrance fee succeeds in stopping Interior Department’s plan

TACOMA, Wash. — The Interior Department is backing down from a plan to impose steep fee increases at popular national parks in the face of widespread opposition from elected officials and the public.

The plan would nearly triple entrance fees at 17 of the nation’s most popular parks forcing visitors to pay $70 per vehicle during the peak summer season.

Most of the parks affected by the plan are in the West, including Mount Rainier and Olympic parks here in Washington.