Connie

The state of Utah is paying the national government a fee to open some of their national parks.

"The deal would reopen Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion national parks. The other three locations that will be opened are Natural Bridges and Cedar Breaks national monuments, as well as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/11/us/utah-parks-reopen/

emalloy

That is fantastic news, thanks for the link.

utahtea

Today Zion had what they called a soft-opening. They allowed people to park and take pictures and walk the trails. The scenic drive was closed but it looked more like a walking and biking path. At noon the South Campground open. Later in the day the Visitor Center opened. Tomorrow the shuttles will begin, Watchman campground is going to open and they will be charging the entrance fee again.

Life is good in Utah!

Utahtea

utahtea

Looks like there are other states opening National Parks too!

http://www.ravallirepublic.com/news/...b55958fad.html

Utahtea

spirobulldog

Maybe the States should be operating them in the first place. At least we wouldn't have this problem several times each year. It's starting to make me nervous to plan anything. I have to worry enough about airplanes being on time, etc. Now I have to worry about whether or not the parks will even be open. I would be very hesitant to plan a trip to say Disney, if they were closed randomly a few days each year with threats to close at other times too.

utahtea

spirobulldog, You don't want California to take over their National Parks. Whenever the state budget isn't going to balance they talk about closing state parks! OY...can you imagine if they had to take care of the National Parks!

I agree with you that it's going to be harder and harder to plan trips around our government....especially if they keep extending deadlines and never agreeing.

Utahtea

spirobulldog

I have actually planned my trips for next year to avoid this situation. I'm going to Tucson the first week in April. Of course, I want to see Saguaro NP, but there is plenty to do there if it does happen to be close(my luck April 1 is probably some kind of deadline deal breaker). Then, the last week of May we are doing Black Hills. I will be super disappointed if we can't seee Mount Rushmore, Badlands, and The Caves, but I think I can find enough to do there to. Then in October next year, we are going to Acadia. I was originally going to fly into Bangor, but now plan to fly into Boston. If Acadia is closed, then I will revamp and just stick with Boston, since it's one of the few cities we haven't seen.

What's crazy to me, is the the National and State Parks generate a lot of revenue in the economy. It would be one of the last things I would close.

Connie

At Mt Rushmore and The Badlands you can still see them. State highways run right by them. We don't ever pull into Mt Rushmore anymore and park. From what I remember a lot of Acadia was the same way--state highways.

You might not get to do some activities or go down every road or go into the visitor center but you can still see them.