As Many National Parks Close, Trump Administration Offers Competing Message - Forbes

As Many National Parks Close, Trump Administration Offers Competing Message - Forbes

Yosemite National Park is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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While the Trump administration has not called for a shutdown of our 62 U.S. national parks, it’s happening anyway, albeit slowly and in a piecemeal fashion.

Seven of the 10 most-visited national parks are now closed.

Around the country, health officials are calling for more national parks to shut down. Last week, Utah’s health department asked for the closure of Arches and Canyonlands national parks, per the Salt Lake Tribune. Both parks remain open, though some facilities have closed.

The parks that remain open are newly free of charge, thanks to a decision to waive entrance fees made by the Trump administration on March 18. “This small step makes it a little easier for the American public to enjoy the outdoors in our incredible national parks,” Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said at the time.

“Warnings on the National Park Service website and closed park facilities are not enough to deter people,” according to a statement from Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association, a group that advocates on park policy issues. “In fact, the visitors are still coming in droves. Parking lots are full and attractions are too crowded as people try to seek respite in this incredibly stressful time.”

Earlier this week, local governments and the Navajo Nation requested for federal officials to shut down Grand Canyon National Park as COVID-19 cases grow in surrounding areas, but to no avail. Pierno called the government’s refusal to close the Grand Canyon “beyond reckless.”

A warning to those still planning to visit a national park: Good luck finding a place stay. On March 20, Xanterra Travel Collections, the concessioner that operates many national park lodges across the country, closed most lodges until May 21, 2020. And even at those national parks that are still open, both lodges and campgrounds are often closed.

Here’s the current situation at America’s top 20 most popular national parks:

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park: All park areas, except the Foothills Parkway and the Spur, are closed through April 6.
2. Grand Canyon National Park: The park is open with limited services and entrance fees are waived. National park lodges are closed. Some campgrounds and trails have been closed.
3. Rocky Mountain National Park: The park has been closed since March 20.
4. Zion National Park: The park is open and entrance fees are waived. But most park facilities and services are closed, including the Angels Landing Trail, campgrounds, visitor centers, the Zion Lodge, and the shuttle service. Ranger programs and park film showings are cancelled. Trail rides are allowing groups of less than 10.
5. Yosemite National Park: The park has been closed since March 20.
6. Yellowstone National Park: The park has been closed since March 24.
7. Acadia National Park: The park has been effectively closed (all park roads, facilities, restrooms, carriage roads, campgrounds, visitor centers, and visitor services) since March 26.
8. Grand Teton National Park: The park has been closed since March 24.
9. Olympic National Park: The park has been effectively closed (all park roads, facilities and campgrounds) since March 24.
10. Glacier National Park: The park is open and entrance fees are waived. The Apgar Visitor Center and Bookstore are closed. In-person visitor information is suspended. Glacier Park National Lodge is closed until May 15.
11. Joshua Tree National Park: Entrances are closed to cars but the park remains open to bicycles and hikers. Entrance fees are waived. Visitor centers and public restrooms are closed.
12. Bryce Canyon National Park: The park is open and entrance fees are waived. The visitor center is closed and the ranger program is cancelled.
13. Cuyahoga Valley National Park: The park is open and entrance fees are waived. The Boston Mill Visitor Center is closed. All programs are cancelled.
14. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: The parks have been closed since March 25.
15. Arches National Park: The park is open and entrance fees are waived. The visitor center is closed and the ranger program is cancelled. Backpacking permits are not being offered.
16. Mount Rainier National Park: All park roads are closed to vehicles. Backcountry areas remain open to dispersed recreation. All park visitor centers, lodges, shops, and restaurants are closed.
17. Shenandoah National Park: The park is open and entrance fees are waived. Appalachian Trail huts, shelters, and cabins are closed. Most trails are open. All visitor centers and restrooms are closed. The backcountry is closed to overnight camping through April 30. 
18. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: The park has been closed since March 22.
19. Badlands National Park: The park is open and entrance fees are waived. Roads, trails and campgrounds remain open. Visitor centers and entrance stations are closed.
20. Great Sand Dunes National Park: The park is open and entrance fees are waived. The visitor center and store are closed.

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2020-03-27 15:42:39Z
https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2020/03/27/as-many-national-parks-close-trump-administration-offers-competing-message/

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