Cummins Falls Permit System Going Well

The Cummins Falls State Park’s gorge access permit system has run smoothly since the park reopened in May.

Park Manager Ray Cutcher said one good thing about limiting access to the gorge is fewer rescues and accidents.

“The number has not been as big a number as it has been in the past,” Cutcher said. “Fewer people would indicate, you know, dictate that there’s going to be fewer accidents. But people still, I’d say there’s probably the same percentage of people that are having those incidents.”

Cutcher said gorge access numbers could increase once the park doesn’t have to comply with COVID-19 guidelines. Since May only 150 permit carriers per day are allowed in the gorge.

“It’s been doing what we had planned for it to do,” Cutcher said. “It’s been helping us to have control over the number of people going in the gorge and keep it manageable. It helps people’s experience to be more what they had thought it would be like coming to a state park and going into a natural environment instead of being shoulder to shoulder and having to stand in line going down a trail.”

Although maintaining visitor safety is easier, Cutcher said the job for staff members has become more difficult.

“We have to keep up with the permits and check permits, and educate people about what’s going on and about the use of the permit system,” Cutcher said. “There’s work involved there and it takes more people, but it’s not chaos like it has been at times in the past.”

To purchase a $6 gorge access permit, visit the Cummins Falls website.