It’s official: the impasse in Washington has led to a government shutdown, and all national parks will be closed, including Yosemite. Apparently the Tioga Road will remain open to through traffic, but no parking will be allowed. “Through” roads are supposed to remain open, but it’s unclear at this point whether that means any other roads will be open in Yosemite besides the Tioga Road. Visitors staying in campgrounds or hotels within the park will have 48 hours to vacate.
There’s not much information coming from the park, no doubt because most of the park service employees have just been furloughed! I’ll let you know if I get any further information.
— Michael Frye
I just checked the Joshua Tree NP web site and it is down, with a message saying they are closed due to the federal shutdown.
Totally disgusting.
Yes, it’s ironic that because of the government shutdown we can’t get much information about the government shutdown.
They are just children being silly.
Indeed!
I had reservations but will cancel them for now. They offered a coupon at Groupon that I took advantage of. Not sure if I’ll get the refund now. I guess what has to be…has to be. Thank you for the notice of NP being closed. It didn’t occur to me that this would happen.
Not sure who you made your reservation with Bill, but I hope you can get a refund.
Looking at road contitions info of caltrans it states that Hwy 120 (Tioga Pass) is closed.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi?roadnumber=120
When I called the Yosemite phone number and checked for road conditions they said that the road for thru traffic will remain open. Not sure why CalTrans posted 120 is closed.
I’m not sure either Enrico. All of Yosemite’s main highways are open to through traffic, including 120, 140, and 41, but there’s no stopping allowed.
How ironic and sad that the first day of Yosemite’s forced closure happens to be on her 123rd birthday! Should we regard this as a rest for the Park or a very sad birthday spent in silence?? I hope the closure will be brief but who knows what will happen with those silly congressmen’s power decisions. I feel badly for those employees in the park who rely on their paychecks to survive.
Carol, maybe we’ll think of it as a rest day for the park. 🙂 I also feel bad for the park employees, and all the government employees, and for everyone else who will be affected economically by the shutdown, which includes just about everyone in Mariposa, Oakhurst, Groveland (as if they didn’t have enough trouble from the fire), and Lee Vining, not to mention all the other towns and businesses located in and near national parks and monuments.
Somewhat ironic that the Google doodle is celebrating the park’s 123rd anniversary on the same day as this news.
Having just returned from 2 weeks in the park, I can only say how sorry I feel for all the fabulous park staff who were so friendly and helpful during our stay. It is the little people who get hurt when the morons in Washington puff out their chests.
And lets not forget all the tourists flocking to the US’s national parks from all over the world. A great look for America, not.
Robert, as Carol said above, maybe the park gets to rest on its birthday.
I’m glad that you found the park staff to be friendly and helpful during your visit. I think they are, usually. 🙂
This is a sad day when people (Washington)can’t come together for the good of all people and for what keeps us connected with nature and ourselves. I would like to know whether or not, the people that made this decision have ever stepped foot in a national park and experienced the beauty of nature. There are so many other ways to cut spending, but geeze lets take it from the National Parks. Brings tears to my eyes……
It is a sad day Sally, for so many reasons.
This is upsetting on so many levels. I don’t understand how public land can be shut down. Nature enthusiasts should take this opportunity to occupy Yosemite and other national parks.
Upsetting indeed Alena.
I’d love to hear from High Sierra locals what the status will be of National Forest areas and trails. I’m spending next week in the area and had planned to go to Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, etc., but now know to avoid them as long as the budget impasse is in effect. But I’d also planned to spend time in National Forest lands….so could I for example hike the Bishop Pass trail, Whitney Portal, or any other trails in the Eastern Sierra? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Information online so far is sketchy at best.
Wish I could help BWP, but online information is pretty limited so far. It doesn’t help that the forest service website is down. You might try finding local news sources online for Lone Pine or Bishop.
It breaks my heart to know what our government is doing to our National Parks. I hope this to be a temporary and not a permanent decision. Thank you Michael for keeping us informed.
Martin, This is definitely temporary, and it’s not a decision. The entire U.S. government is shut down except for certain things that are considered essential. The ability to visit national parks is not considered essential, or at least not as essential as some other things, so the parks are closed until Congress agrees on a budget.
Thank you so much Michael, I am happy this is only temporary and not permanent. National Parks are a wonderful place to visit with our families and cameras, too. As a photographer, I love to take pictures of nature, and what a better place to do this than our beautiful National Parks.
Hello Michael,
I am not sure how things work in the U.S but In Ontario Canada if we walk or bike in there is no charge.
This is ridiculous what the government is doing to it’s people they were elected to serve. It appears they are only serving their own need for power.
I hope the citizens of the U.S remember what their government has done to them when the next election comes around.
Well, if people walk into the parks they really have no way to stop you as they have no staff to do so.
From your neighbors to the North, we are thinking of you and we hope this ends sooner rather than later.
Take Care Michael
Mark
Hi Mark,
When the national parks are open you do have to pay a fee I think if you hike or bike in, but the fee is less than if you drive. I don’t actually know — I’ve never walked or biked in to a national park. But with the parks closed by the government shutdown there’s no hiking or biking or anything allowed. And the law-enforcement rangers are still on duty, as they’re considered essential. They’re working without pay for the time being. And they can and will stop you if they see you trying to walk in somewhere you’re not supposed to go. The gates to the park are not actually closed now, because all the major through roads have to remain open. You’re allowed to drive these roads, but you’re not supposed to stop.
And I agree that it’s ridiculous what the government is doing!
I came through Yosemite from Lee Vining and both Highways 120 and 140 were open for through traffic. but all the pull-outs and parking areas were blocked off and you were told at the entrance that no stopping was permitted. The burned area on 120 extends from near Crane Flat to six miles east of Groveland.
I met several European tourists over on the East Side that had planned to spend several days in Yosemite and were stuck looking for some place else to go. So I told them about Bodie, Lundy Canyon, Little Lakes Valley, the Alabama Hills and the Bristlecone Pine forests. Of course the situation in Death Valley is the same as Yosemite: through traffic only.
I sure hope all the Republican photographers are happy!
Jack McBride
Jack, I totally agree with your last comment. But regardless of our photography brethren’s political affiliations I will be glad when this foolishness is over. The public lands are our rightful heritage as Americans and its a shame we can’t enjoy them to the fullest.