PARK CITY, Utah — Beginning January 1, 2026, international visitors to some of the most popular national parks in the United States, including Zion and Arches in Utah, will face significantly increased entrance fees. The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced a new fee structure that will require non-U.S. residents to pay $250 for an annual America the Beautiful Pass, which is more than triple the $80 fee for U.S. residents. Visitors who choose not to purchase this annual pass will incur an additional charge to enter 11 of the nation's most visited parks. Zion and Bryce Canyon are part of the new pricing strategy, which mandates that international visitors pay an extra $100 per person on top of the standard entrance fees. Other parks included in this surcharge are Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Acadia, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, and Sequoia & Kings Canyon. Alongside the fee changes, the Department of the Interior plans to introduce new digital passes and updated designs for annual passes, with expanded access for motorcycle riders. This initiative is described as a significant modernization of access to national parks in decades. The Department stated that all America the Beautiful passes, including various types such as annual, senior, military, access, and fourth-grade passes, will be available in a fully digital format through Recreation.gov starting in 2026. This will allow visitors to purchase and store their passes on mobile devices, linking them to physical cards to streamline entry and reduce wait times at park entrances. Additionally, the National Park Service will update graphics for annual passes, which will be available in both digital and physical formats. New validation tools and staff training will support the digital system. To promote accessibility, a series of resident-only fee-free days will be introduced in 2026, including Memorial Day and Independence Day weekend. The changes also include provisions for motorcycle riders, allowing entry for two motorcycles per America the Beautiful pass. Revenue from the new fee structure will be reinvested in national parks, supporting visitor facilities and maintenance projects. The impact of these higher fees on visitation patterns at Utah’s national parks remains uncertain, especially given existing reservation and shuttle systems in place to manage crowding.