Grand Canyon National Park Accessible to Public during Partial Government Shutdown

January 1, 2019

News Release Date: December 22, 2018

Contact: Nicole Koehlinger, 928-638-7958

Contact: Robin Martin, 928-638-7958

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - During the partial shutdown of the federal government due to the lapse of appropriations, national parks will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures. Park roads, lookouts, and trails at Grand Canyon National Park will remain accessible to visitors. Visitor services provided by park concessioners and other entities will also remain open and operational, including lodging, restaurants and food service, grocery stores, retail locations, bicycle rental, concessioner provided tours, and park shuttle operations.

National Park Service (NPS) staffed visitor centers and contact stations will not be open and no NPS ranger lead programs or tours will be provided. NPS social media and websites are not being monitored or updated and may not reflect current conditions. Entrance stations to the park will be open but will not be staffed with NPS personnel. Most public restrooms in the park will remain open for visitor use.

The park’s Backcountry Information Center will be closed. Visitors with previously issued permits for backcountry camping or river trips on the Colorado River may proceed as permitted but no new permits will be issued during this time. Check-in procedures for backcountry campgrounds and Colorado River trips will remain unchanged.

NPS-operated campgrounds will remain open, but check-in/check-out and reservation services will not be provided. Visitors in NPS-operated campgrounds will not be asked to leave unless safety concerns require such action. Visitors holding campground reservations should be aware that there is no guarantee their reserved campsite will be ready and available should they arrive during a government shutdown.

The State of Arizona has provided donated funding to assist in keeping Grand Canyon National Park open and accessible for visitors. The funding provided by the state will be used for trash collection, custodial services for restrooms, and snow removal on trails and sidewalks.

The National Weather Service is predicting winter storm activity and snowfall across Northern Arizona, including Grand Canyon National Park, over the next week. Visitors should plan accordingly and be prepared for winter driving conditions.