ZION NATIONAL PARK — The entrance fees for Zion National Park will increase beginning Jan. 1, park superintendent Jock Whitworth announced Friday.

The fee for a private, non-commercial vehicle will rise from $20 to $25. The fee for an individual, age 16 or older — including pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists — will increase from $10 to $12. Each park pass is good for seven days.

The fee for an annual pass to Zion will rise from $40 to $50.

"The monies that the park collects from these increased entrance fees will go directly toward benefiting the visitors through improved services and facilities," Whitworth said in a press release.

This is the first time the park has increased fees since 2000. According to the press release, the fee increase will bring the park into line with other national parks, many of which increased fees in 2006.

Also on Jan. 1, the park will begin selling a federal recreation lands pass, which combines existing recreation passes from five federal agencies into one. For $80, the pass offers access to multiple federal recreation sites for 12 months. A lifetime senior pass is available for just $10 for those 62 and older.