I was a little suprized today when parking at Monadnock HQ that NH State Parks are now charging $1 for kids under 12 yrs old. The ranger I spoke to mentioned it is a new policy for state parks and the rangers themselves didn't seem to like the idea at all.
Monadnock kids no longer hike free.
- Thread starter brianW
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NH_Mtn_Hiker
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All the more reason to enter at the Gilson Pond entrance and and hike up via the Birchtoft Trail. 
RoySwkr
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NH state parks are supposed to be self supporting. Under the old fees, it was $12 for 2 adults & 2 teenagers to hike Monadnock. It is probably fairer to charge young kids $1 than to hike the fees for teenagers even more.
Under the new Monadnock Master Plan, they are moving the family camping to Gilson Pond and will charge fees there, in fact they will charge fees at all trailheads and ban roadside parking if they can get property owners to agree.
A separate committee is working on fees for trailheads in Franconia & Crawford Notches. Talk to your legislator now if you don't want this to happen.
Your time is comingNH_Mtn_Hiker said:All the more reason to enter at the Gilson Pond entrance and and hike up via the Birchtoft Trail.
Under the new Monadnock Master Plan, they are moving the family camping to Gilson Pond and will charge fees there, in fact they will charge fees at all trailheads and ban roadside parking if they can get property owners to agree.A separate committee is working on fees for trailheads in Franconia & Crawford Notches. Talk to your legislator now if you don't want this to happen.
Barbarossa
Active member
Last month when Dr Wu and I were on Pack Monadnock we found a sign about 1/4 mile from the summit of S Pack. It indicated that we were entering a state park and should be prepared to pay the entrance fee. That is the reason that I always park at North Pack and walk the ridge; to avoid payment!
I know that NH state parks put Massachusetts state parks to shame, but do you guys have to start charging for everything?
I know that NH state parks put Massachusetts state parks to shame, but do you guys have to start charging for everything?
I did ask about a season pass and when they told me it was $100 for a family pass (two adults, two kids w/ additional people charged) I was taken back a bit. THEN I was informed that it was not good on weekends/holidays at Hampton Beach and a few other state beaches.
I tend to hike early to avoid the crowds and I have found notecards on my windsheild asking me to stop and pay on the way out.
I tend to hike early to avoid the crowds and I have found notecards on my windsheild asking me to stop and pay on the way out.
WhiteMTHike
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RoySwkr said:
What about the parking passes that we purchase for the WMNF? Don't those count?
Frosty
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True.RoySwkr said:
That's the way it has to be in a state without a sales tax or state income tax. The only alternative is to support the state parks by collecting a general tax.
I really don't see the problem with use fees. I know some pay $30 or more in gas to drive up to the Whites, drop another $40 or more for lunch/dinner, but grouse about paying a few dollars for the very thing they drove up for.
About the only thing I might question is the arrangement of fees. I would much rather have a family rate, and would prefer kids free and teens in a family group cheap, even if it meant that adults like me paid more. I think the outdoors is good for kids, and getting them into the woods at a young age will pay society dividends in the future.
And, sorting of like baiting game, get them hooked on hiking at a young age so they return often as adults. They will be generating years of income by paying adult fees for the rest of their lives
David Metsky
Well-known member
The National Forest and the State Parks have little to do with each other. In fact, people often park in the State Park lots to avoid buying a WMNF parking pass.WhiteMTHike said:What about the parking passes that we purchase for the WMNF? Don't those count?
To keep NH taxes low, user feeds are going to be needed. The parks need to get money from somewhere.
-dave-
>>Under the new Monadnock Master Plan, they are moving the family camping to Gilson Pond and will charge fees there, in fact they will charge fees at all trailheads and ban roadside parking if they can get property owners to agree.<<
Any idea on when this might be implemented?
I'm planning to make my first trip up Monadnock in June. As of now, are there any trailheads other than Park HQ and Old Toll Road at which are fees collected? Gilson Pond, as I understand, currently charges only during peak fall weekends.
The proposed plan RoySwkr mentioned answered some of my other questions. For anyone interested, here is the link:
http://www.nhparks.state.nh.us/ParksPages/Monadnock/MMP040103/monadnockmasterplanch1Final.pdf
Any idea on when this might be implemented?
I'm planning to make my first trip up Monadnock in June. As of now, are there any trailheads other than Park HQ and Old Toll Road at which are fees collected? Gilson Pond, as I understand, currently charges only during peak fall weekends.
The proposed plan RoySwkr mentioned answered some of my other questions. For anyone interested, here is the link:
http://www.nhparks.state.nh.us/ParksPages/Monadnock/MMP040103/monadnockmasterplanch1Final.pdf
forestgnome
New member
Frosty said:
Collecting a general tax...bad; user fee....good
No sales tax or state income tax...good. Another crazy idea is...LIMIT SPENDING!!! Keep it simple and cheap. If you want an interpretive program to teach people the difference between a birch and a spruce, then the price will be $20.00 per hiker, and so on...
User fees (and limited spending) are the fairest ways to support the parks, IMO.
