NP annual pass question

[jkahler]

I may be going to IR in May and was wondering about the NP annual park pass since I'm also going to Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton and maybe Rocky Mtn NP in August.

When you make reservations (via Grand Portage) to go to IR, is the fee included already or do you pay it when you get to the island? I was there 2 years ago but I don't remember how it worked. Could I request the annual pass then or should I purchase it ahead of time via the NPS site?

[Nick]

User fees are collected on the IR Queen. They are added to your bill if you take the Voyageur. That said, if you are planning on doing more that 12 days, get the IR pass. It is less money than paying the daily fee.

[bobonabike]

Note that the National Park Service $80.00 "Interagency Annual Pass" is not valid at Isle Royale. Isle Royale charges a fee of $4 for each day you are on the island. There is an Isle Royale $50 "Individual Season Pass" good at Isle Royale only, so as Nick noted, if you'll be on the island 13 days or more during one year (that would be nice!), the IR annual pass is the better deal. http://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/f ... ations.htm

[MikeT]

You can purchase the season pass by calling the headquarters in Houghton and doing it over the phone with a CC. Last year they did not get them in until March. When you make your reservation with the Voyageur, just tell them you have a season pass and they may ask to see it when you board.

[Nick]

Have now used the Voyageur's new automated reservation system, there is no opt-out for the user fee. But, I e-mailed Don and he fixed the charges right away. The usual great service.

From a purely selfish standpoint, I don't like the on-line reservation. Part of the fun of calling in a a registration on a cold mid-February Saturday is getting to talk to Don for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes and catching up on everything that's gone on the past year. Inefficient as heck from a business plan standpoint, but great from a PR standpoint. Sigh, technology marches on....

[MikeT]

I couldn't agree more Nick. It is nice talking to a human, finding out the latest and, in the spring and fall, there are too many travel variables to be considered.

[jkahler]

Note that the National Park Service $80.00 "Interagency Annual Pass" is not valid at Isle Royale. Isle Royale charges a fee of $4 for each day you are on the island. There is an Isle Royale $50 "Individual Season Pass" good at Isle Royale only, so as Nick noted, if you'll be on the island 12 days or more during one year (that would be nice!), the IR annual pass is the better deal. http://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/f ... ations.htm

Thanks, that's what I needed to know. I'm only planning a 4 day trip (Feldtmann loop) to IR this year so I'll just pay the user fee.