Study Finds National Park Permit System Skews Toward Higher-Income Visitors

A recent U.S. National Park Service analysis of more than five million reservation records from seven parks shows that permits awarded weeks or months in advance, or through competitive lotteries, were disproportionately claimed by visitors from higher‑income ZIP codes. The findings suggest that hunters without the resources to plan far ahead or pay higher fees may face increased difficulty securing backcountry hunting permits, prompting calls for a more equitable reservation process.