Scott W. Parson, state parks and recreation board chairman, said the board is very concerned about setting fees so as to maximize public access while using them to balance supply and demand.

It is exploring setting lower entrance fees at water-based parks to make them less expensive for non-boaters, such as families that want to swim, picnic, fish from the shore or bird-watch.

A few years ago, legislators reasoning that people, not cars, visit state parks, discussed charging per person rather than per vehicle. Parks officials opposed the idea because they believed it would discourage people, especially families, from patronizing the parks.

The division at one point charged a per-head fee at some of its sites but was hit with a barrage of complaints.

"I think the way we do it now is more family friendly," Tullius said.

Utah charges more to enter state parks than surrounding states, except Arizona, where daily vehicle fees range from $3 to $10.

Colorado parks charge no more than $7, with most at $6. Idaho has a flat rate of $4 for all of its parks. Wyoming charges residents $2 and nonresidents $4 to enter its state parks. Some, including Hot Springs State Park, charge nothing, even for visitors who want to soak in the 104-degree natural tubs.

Montana residents pay nothing when visiting state parks in that state. An optional $4 registration fee on light vehicles subsidizes the free entry. The state does charge for camping and fishing access.

National parks, state parks and national forests struggle with thin budgets and long to-do lists to maintain deteriorating facilities.

"They're aging and definitely need some attention," Tullius said of state facilities. "We have a lot of critical needs."

The Legislature allocated $2 million to its state parks division last year, $800,000 of which will be spent to upgrade restrooms.

State parks administrators are in the midst of doing an inventory of all parks' maintenance and renovation needs. The tab has hit $105 million, and Tullius expects it will top out at $200 million. Tullius has no delusions about the Legislature coming up with that kind of money.

The National Park Service also has an ambitious plan to upgrade its parks, but it would rely heavily on private donations. It unveiled a plan a week ago to leverage tax dollars with philanthropists' money through a matching grant program. Of the 201 proposed projects totaling $369.9 million nationwide, three are in Utah, at Zion, Glen Canyon and Cedar Breaks.

American Fork Canyon, Flaming Gorge and Mirror Lake Highway are the only U.S. Forest Service areas in the state that charge admission, if you will.