National Parks Will Stay Open in These States During a Government Shutdown

Visitors to many U.S. National Parks have until Sunday, October 1, to complete their trip, before the parklands close amid the impending government shutdown.

On Friday, September 29, the Department of the Interior announced that the entire National Park System will shutter this coming Monday, October 2, if the U.S. House of Representatives fails to ratify a budget agreement to fund the federal government. Congress has until midnight on Saturday, September 30, to agree on the deal.

The decision adds clarity to speculation that the federal government would fund limited operations at the parks, as the Trump Administration did during the most recent shutdown from 2018-19. This time around, there is no plan to keep them open.

“At NPS sites across the country, gates will be locked, visitor centers will be closed, and thousands of park rangers will be furloughed,” the Interior Department said in a release. “Accordingly, the public will be encouraged not to visit sites during the period of lapse in appropriations out of consideration for protection of natural and cultural resources, as well as visitor safety.”

The NPS will continue to fund skeleton crews of safety officials at these parks—law enforcement, border surveillance, firefighters, among other positions—but most workers associated with customer-facing jobs will be furloughed. Visitors will also still be allowed to visit some federal parks that cannot restrict visitor entrance—the National Mall in Washington D.C., for example.

But all is not lost for vacationers hoping to visit some parks. Leaders in some U.S. states have announced plans to use state funds to keep parks open. But there’s a catch for states that choose this route: the Interior Department said it will not reimburse any cash used to fund federal lands during the shutdown. Below is an updated list of states and national parks that may remain open amid a government shutdown.

Arizona

On September 20 Arizona governor Katie Hobbs said she would use state lottery funds to keep Grand Canyon National Park open amid a shutdown. “The Grand Canyon is a pillar of our state and provides good paying jobs for hundreds of Arizonans while showcasing one of the seven natural wonders of the world to those who visit,” Hobbs said. “I am proud to offer resources to keep the park open and am committed to ensuring Arizonans are protected from Washington’s failure.”

Hobbs’s statement doesn’t mention the state’s two other national parks: Saguaro and Petrified Forest. Outside has reached out to Hobbs’ office for additional information.

Colorado

Governor Jared Polis issued an executive order on Thursday, September 28, instructing the Colorado Department of Natural Resources to develop a plan to fund federal lands amid a shutdown. This includes the state’s four national parks: Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison.“Closure of our national parks and federal lands would adversely impact Colorado communities, businesses, workers, and the outdoor recreation economy, which rely on tourist and visitor traffic,” reads the order.

October is prime leaf-peeping season at Rocky Mountain National Park, and a contingency plan could allow tourists to see the aspen trees change color.

Utah

Governor Spencer Cox has promised to step in and fund the state’s five national parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. A state representative told The Salt Lake Tribune that it has set aside $5 million to run the parks, and the cash comes from the governor’s office of economic opportunity. How long the cash will fund the parks is yet to be seen. During the 2013 shutdown, The New York Times reported that the bill to operate Arches National Park alone was $7,662 a day.

But visitors to the parks shouldn’t expect the same level of service and manpower. According to The Tribune, some visitor centers man shut down, and trash and bathroom cleanup will be less robust than normal.

This is a developing story and Outside will update the list as more states announce contingency plans for federal parklands. 

Adam Roy, Alison Osius, and Jake Stern contributed to this report.