While many public lands are still open amid the government shutdown, visitors should expect to find a mixed bag when it comes to what services are still available.
Starting Wednesday, many government services ground to a halt, including the agencies that manage federal public lands such as national parks and national forests, as well as campgrounds, interpretive centers and historic sites.
The Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, offered detailed contingency plans for the shutdown. Those plans offer a look at what people can expect when it comes to access and visitor services at recreation areas.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the U.S. Forest Service, did not publicize a contingency plan. The agency instead broadcast a highly politicized message about the shutdown at the top of all national forest websites.
Here’s what we know about current public access and services on federal lands:
Will national parks and forests still be open?
Publicly accessible federal lands generally remain open to the public during a government shutdown. As a rule of thumb, park areas that are locked or secured during non-business hours will be locked or secured for the duration of the shutdown, while areas that are usually open will remain open.
Additionally, many services on federal public lands are managed by private concessioners, which typically keep services running during a government shutdown. Explor Crater Lake, which manages lodging, camping, dining and retail at the national park, has said that it will continue to operate those services as usual.
Other national park sites will have mixed access: The John Day Fossil Beds and Oregon Caves will both likely remain open but won’t offer tours or visitor services, according to the Statesman Journal, while the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Astoria will be closed.
Will recreation areas be maintained?
The answer to that question is not entirely clear, and could vary from place to place.
According to the Department of the Interior, park sites where fees are collected will use the money to provide “basic visitor services” including restrooms and sanitation, trash collection, road maintenance, campground operations, law enforcement and emergency operations – at least as long as that money lasts.
Park areas that don’t collect fees must develop cost estimates to keep those services running, according to the National Park Service memo, and could discontinue services if the funding isn’t approved. Signs will be posted notifying visitors of any services that aren’t available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture did not provide any public information about its maintenance plans for national forest sites.
When will services resume?
Federal public lands employees will resume regular work on federal public lands starting on the first workday after the government shutdown ends, according to the Department of the Interior.
What about websites and social media pages?
Federal public lands websites and social media accounts will not be updated during the shutdown, according to the agencies. That includes all trail reports and road conditions. The National Park Service said an exception will be made for emergency communications.