Despite its popularity, the current recreation fee and reservation system don’t come close to covering what it costs the Forest Service to manage the Maroon Bells Scenic Area.
Entry fees to access Maroon Bells generate about $220,000 in revenue each year,
but the agency spends about $600,000 to manage it, “resulting in a $380,000 funding gap not covered by the fees,” Forest Service spokesperson David Boyd told The Denver Post.
