Anyone who wants to climb in 2026holiday Anyone planning a trip to Yosemite Valley or the Rocky Mountains should expect higher costs. U.S. government leads The eleven largest national parks will introduce a $100 surcharge for non-Americans starting in the new year.
US national parks like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Rocky Mountains attract more than 330 million visitors annually. To generate more revenue, the US government is introducing an additional fee at the eleven most popular national parks starting in the new year. This also applies to the climbing mecca of the USA. Yosemite is affected.
"America First" – also on El Capitan
The following applies from January 1, 2026: Foreign tourists aged 16 and over must be paid per visit to the affected parks Pay an additional $100 (around €86) on top of the regular price of around €30. Alternatively, an annual pass is available for purchase for $250.
With the price increase, the US Department of the Interior is implementing a decree issued by President Donald Trump in July. Linked to the slogan "America First," the new rules are intended to ensure affordable access for American taxpayers. Additional revenue of $55 million per year is expected in Yellowstone National Park alone.
According to the Interior Ministry, the national parks are to use the money for nature conservation and maintenance. At the same time, the government announced plans in recent months to cut spending on the national parks by more than a third in the next fiscal year.
The additional fee applies in these national parks.
The following national parks are affected by the additional fee starting January 1, 2026: Acadia (Maine), Bryce Canyon and Zion (Utah), Everglades (Florida), Glacier (Montana), Grand Canyon (Arizona), Grand Teton and Yellowstone (Wyoming), Rockies (Colorado) as well as Sequoia & Kings Canyon and the Yosemite National Park (California).
The new regulation affects climbers and boulderers in several national parks. Yosemite Valley is the most famous climbing spot in the USA – Zion National Park and the Rocky Mountains also offer many popular climbing and bouldering areas. With entry fees of around $135 per day, climbing vacations in the USA will be extremely expensive for non-Americans starting in 2026.
Tourism in the USA is declining overall.
Overall, international visitor numbers to the USA are declining – this applies particularly to tourists from Europe and Asia. In the first half of 2025, 3 million fewer visitors came to the country than in the previous year. According to surveys, the reasons are the general political uncertainty in the country and increased costs.
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Credits cover photo: Pixabay/Peter Perhac