The federal government’s shutdown had an immediate impact, that will be increasingly felt for however long the shutdown continues, on the National Park Service. According to the AP, parks remain “generally” open, but services are pared back, facilities may be closed, and most staff are furloughed. This follows what has already been a tumultuous year that has seen deep staffing cuts and high visitation. The agency is leaning on limited fee revenue and skeleton crews to keep access open while protecting life and property — a trade-off that will vary widely by site.
Certain states working to keep parks open
Utah officials said the state will support keeping its “Mighty 5” (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion) accessible during the lapse, though visitors should expect minimal services.
Colorado leaders plan to keep parks operating during peak fall travel, citing the economic importance of Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Great Sand Dunes during leaf peeping season. According to Axios, 10 percent of annual visits to Rocky Mountain National Park come in the fall. Services are limited, but access continues.
Montana’s Glacier and the Montana side of Yellowstone are also open to visitors, with visitor centers, some restrooms, and other amenities shuttered as staffing drops. Safety and emergency response remain in place.
Yosemite, Lassen, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon in California are remaining mostly open during this shutdown — trails, roads, restrooms, and campgrounds are accessible, though many visitor centers and services are closed or reduced. In Yosemite, concessionaire services (lodging, shuttles) are running for now, but federal staffing is minimal, and facilities like visitor centers are largely closed.
Not all states are backstopping federal sites. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said the state will not spend taxpayer dollars to prop up Grand Canyon operations, a contrast with past shutdowns. The park remains physically accessible, but most services are curtailed.
“Excepted staffing will be held to the amount needed for the protection of life, property, and public health and safety, and will be based on the assumption that the NPS is conducting no park operations and providing no visitor services,” a National Park Service contingency plan laid out.
Local conservation leaders and former park officials have called for full closures during shutdowns, warning that under‑staffed access invites vandalism, ecological damage, and safety hazards.
What visitors should expect
Open-air areas, roads, and trails are generally accessible; indoor attractions and staffed facilities can be closed, and ranger-led programs are largely paused. The Liberty Bell pavilion in Philadelphia is closed despite the broader “open” posture — a sign of how uneven the experience may be from park to park. Travelers should check individual park alerts before setting out.
During the 2018–19 government shutdown, the longest in US history at 35 days, most national parks remained open but with little or no staffing, leading to significant problems. Overflowing trash, vandalism, and damage to fragile ecosystems were widely reported, including illegal off-road driving in Joshua Tree National Park that destroyed protected desert plants. Afterward, conservation groups and former officials warned that keeping parks accessible without adequate staffing exposes both natural resources and visitors to lasting harm.
