Are National Parks closing because of pandemic?

[fayliss]

We are heading from upstate New York to Bryce and the Grand Canyon in a couple of weeks. Have been hearing rumors that some parks may close. Has anyone heard anything? Thanks

Fayliss

[RockDodger]

You know how rumors go. I would just go to the Department of Interior website and check the National Park status every couple of days. State parks should be posting their conditions also. Good luck and have fun!

[TitanMike]

I would expect to find the same situation as we found when the Government shut down just over a year ago. Parks themselves closed but some camping areas were still open with zero services (garbage not picked up and toilets locked).

I just visited a local Forest Service Ranger Station this afternoon and there is a fresh sign in the door saying "Closed until further notice" with a number to call. My guess is this will be the norm for Parks as well.

I just checked the WA State Park website and they are saying parks will be open but with some restrictions.

Group reservations may be restricted,interpretive centers etc closed, and people limited in park offices. They are going to window transactions only and encouraging online reservation/payment rather than having to interact with staff.

[JayArras]

I received this from Custer State Park in South Dakota today:

We have chosen to remain open and will do so until the powers that be tell us we can't. Please be assured you can make reservations with the confidence you are getting our very best rates available with zero advance purchase penalties and cancellation fees. We recognize these are unsettling times, and whether you are traveling now or in the future, we want you to know that your safety and wellbeing are our priority. If you need to travel and if it makes sense for you to stay with us, we welcome you with open arms; we will take excellent care of you.

[rsdata]

We are heading from upstate New York to Bryce and the Grand Canyon in a couple of weeks. Have been hearing rumors that some parks may close. Has anyone heard anything?

personally I would go, but have a backup plan for a different campground just in case... plenty to see in that area of the country even IF you do not get into those two parks... I recall a number of years ago I ran into huge snow banks covering back roads as late as mid-May in southern Utah.

[Blank]

Have a reservation at Lake Havasu State Park for April 1-15. Talked to them today. They are open, and have no plans yet for closing. They have increased their cleaning and disinfecting processes in the public areas. Said please call a couple days ahead for up to date info. Full refund of fees up to 24 hours ahead.

[Cahriad]

Today, Grand Canyon is in self service mode and all the facilities are open with some restrictions on group videos in the cinemas and ranger talks. Looks like this will be the future for awhile.

[jwfrede]

Originally Posted by fayliss

We are heading from upstate New York to Bryce and the Grand Canyon in a couple of weeks. Have been hearing rumors that some parks may close. Has anyone heard anything? Thanks

Fayliss

You may have problems just getting there with some states saying all non essential businesses must close. If they just posted no services and closed the bathrooms things would be ok for those who know how to do a little boondocking. But my concern is that they will just lock the gates.

Please keep us posted how this works out.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

Florida State parks just closed.


We were planning a trip to Texas in April. Would have been gone about a month. $400 plus in reservations already made. Checking that cancellation policy!



Does not look good. It is only going to get worse before better. Hate to get stranded. Even Walmart may chase you out haha



Good Luck all.

[BigRockr]

Www.rootlessliving.com has a great list of open/closed CG's (and they update it)

[Wolf26]

Affective 3/20/2020 Florida State Parks closed for 60 days. That's ridiculous.

[medalguy]

I work for NPS and this was just released. Plan on a lot of closures because the staff are NOT happy with the huge influx of visitors. It's hard to keep distance in a small visitor center, and it's always been dangerous handling currency and credit cards from visitors. Talk about germy!

Press Announcement:

National Park Service is Modifying Operations to Implement Latest Health Guidance
WASHINGTON - The National Park Service (NPS) is taking extraordinary steps to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. The NPS is modifying operations, until further notice, for facilities and programs that cannot adhere to this guidance. Where it is possible to adhere to this guidance, outdoor spaces will remain open to the public.

“The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is the priority of the National Park Service,” Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt said. “Park superintendents are empowered to modify their operations, including closing facilities and cancelling programs, to address the spread of the coronavirus.”

“The NPS is working with federal, state, and local authorities, while we as a nation respond to this public health challenge,” NPS Deputy Director David Vela said. “Park superintendents are assessing their operations now to determine how best to protect the people and their parks going forward.”

The NPS urges visitors to do their part when visiting a park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick.

For high-risk populations, such as the elderly and people with underlying conditions, we ask that they take extra caution and follow CDC guidance for those at higher risk of serious illness.

Updates about the NPS response to the coronavirus will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations.

[jboczek]

State parks in Illinois are closed until further notice. No mention of when they'll be opened back up.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by jwfrede

You may have problems just getting there with some states saying all non essential businesses must close. If they just posted no services and closed the bathrooms things would be ok for those who know how to do a little boondocking. But my concern is that they will just lock the gates.

Please keep us posted how this works out.

They'll do that when people start to just burn their garbage in the fire pits or worse yet, just leave it stacked on the picnic tables.

The general rule when parks aren't staffed is to pack out your own garbage but some just don't have any manners and those are the ones that cause the total closures.

Some of our parks that have vault toilets have to have the doors locked because there are a few campers that throw their trash into the toilets when they don't find a garbage can.

[T508537]

Death Valley closed all campgrounds.

[Justice12t]

Looks like Arches NP campground is closed right now also.

[TomatoMan]

For Immediate Release: 3/17/2020
California State Parks Temporarily Closes All Campgrounds in the State Park System: Non-campground outdoor areas of parks, including trails and beaches remain open.
Contact:
Newsroom@parks.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California State Parks announced today the temporary closure of all campgrounds in the state park system to support state and local efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
As of today, non-campground outdoor areas of parks, including trails and beaches, remain open. Visitors are reminded to practice social distancing and maintain at least six feet between other visitors and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Restrooms also remain open, and visitors are advised to take soap for hand washing and alcohol-based hand sanitizers when water is not available.
Most importantly, State Parks recommends that everyone follow precautionary guidance issued by the California Department of Public Health, public local health agencies, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when recreating in the outdoors.
Last week, State Parks temporarily suspended guided tours and large events, and temporarily closed facilities such as visitor centers and museums.
State Parks is monitoring the COVID-19 situation carefully and is committed to following the state’s updated policy on social gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19. For the most up-to-date information on how State Parks is supporting the state’s COVID-19 efforts, please follow State Parks on its social media platforms: Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.

[Theb2b]

Another email, this one from USACE for a campground reservation that is now cancelled, May 8th - 10th.

Coralville Iowa.

[badger5301]

Hope this ends soon Theb2b, we are booked there for two weeks the end of May.

[bcmcdonald]

It wouldn't hurt my feelings if they closed the National Parks. The parks can operate in a safer manor, like limiting group events, but that does nothing for the towns close to the parks. We live across the road from Rocky Mountain National Park. Our closest place to buy groceries, etc., is Estes Park. Frankly, I'm a little leery of going to the Safeway when I still see plates in the parking lot from Washington state, Texas and others. This Safeway is the most profitable in their entire chain and therefore the most stocked. I was in there yesterday and noted that a lot of the shelves were either empty or sparsely stocked. Their condition now is lower than the flood in 2013 where Estes Park was cutoff from all roads except for traffic over Trail Ridge Road. Commercial traffic over TRR is normally prohibited, but those rules were relaxed until the other routes into Estes were opened. I haven't seen TP or hand sanitizer in Safeway for 3 weeks. Everyone stay safe whether you stay home or travel!