Meyer, I've kept pretty good records over the years and I show using our Golden Eagle (National Park Pass) in Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Island in the Sky District and Canyonlands Needles District in 1991. All three areas are pretty much on an honor system.

At Capitol Reef, as tomfuller mentioned there is a self-serve station on the scenic drive. As I mentioned you don't have to pay to drive on Hwy 24 though Capitol Reef.

At Canyonlands you are suppose to stop at the Ranger Station/Visitor Center and to pay.

Meyer, I forgot to mention that DH just got his Lifetime pass for the parks on his birthday this month. We made a special trip to Yosemite to do it! He has been looking forward to that day for many years!

Utahtea

Carabella, Lassen, Crater Lake, Yellowstone, and perhaps even Bryce--expect a lot of the trails, roads and even facilites to still be closed in April or May.

I don't think you will be affected by a shutdown(could be, nothing is 100%), but I do think it is highly likely that you will be affected in 2 or 3 places that the roads/trails/facilities will be closed for snow/weather. Hopefully, you are coming in late May.

Myer, I am not the only one that can't spell your name. and look she did it twice as well. lol

I have been at many places in the NPS where sometimes they collect fees and sometimes they don't. Even if you get to Arches early enough they just leave the gates open there. I have an yearly pass, so I don't stop to read the fine print. Sometimes, they suggest you pay at the Visitor Center.

utahtea, spiro,

The reason I can't remember paying or not is that I've had a lifetime (say senior) pass since my first visit to a NP. I just caught the but several years ago.

However, I do remember asking in the visitors center at Capitol Reef due to the layout of having the hiking trails go off the main highway.

They said it wasn't practical.

We did go down thru the park and did a hike down there. But since I have a pass I don't remember seeing as sign.

I believe there is guard kiosk at Islands in the Sky on the way to Grand View. I recall an honor box there for after hours. This wasn't that long ago.

I wonder what this will do to campgrounds.

Myer, my apologies for the misspellings!

We have bought a Golden Eagle/National Park Pass (they keep changing the names) almost every year so we didn't have to stop but I like to keep track of how much I have saved so I made notes of the fees charged. Like in 1991 the entrance fee to Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Chaco were only $3.00 while Bryce, Zion, Mesa Verde were $5. ;) Back in 1977 when we first went to Canyonlands Island in the Sky District there was no fee but back then the road into the park wasn't even paved from where it split to go to Dead Horse State park. The ranger could see anyone coming for miles because of the dust! It took most of the day just to drive to Grand View Point.

Utahtea

wow, utahtea, those fees harken back to the days of the $3 gas tank fill-up!

enlap, Well, I did say I kept good records. The average price of gas for the August 1991 four week trip was $1.14. Lowest was in Southern California at $ .99/9 and the highest was in Torrey, Utah at $125/9. Those were the days!!!!

My apologies to chs29445 for going off topic.

Utahtea

Having never been to GC, I am wondering about some of this information. Question 1, do you need reservations when just visiting the GC, just to peek over the edge so to speak? Question #2, how do I keep up with this? We are going the 10-11 of April. Thanks.

Hi Maryanne_Looby,

#1 You don't need reservations to enter the park or ride the free shuttle buses. You will just need to pay the entrance fee or use a National Park Pass. http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisi...CP_JUMP_362306

#2 I would think that the Grand Canyon National Park website would be a good place to check for the most current information. http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm and any online News sites and Fodor's forums.

Utahtea

Here's the page for news releases for Grand Canyon:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/newsreleases.htm

Thanks enlap, It looks like I'll be needing that link! ;)

Utahtea

I'm planning on visiting a National Park in mid-June.

I guess that if there is a shutdown and it lasts that long we've got bigger problems than just not going to a park.

Myer- very true. Didn't mean to stir the pot just thought it was just my luck that this thing MIGHT hit in the middle of my trip. IF it does it will only last a couple days. Our elected officials aren't that dumb... (hold for laughter)
Carrabella- this wont affect your trip. As spiro said, keep updated on road conditions.
Actually, no I'm trying to plan for weather. Snow flurries possible?? Ugh...it's 82 here now and I can't find my winter wear:) Oh well, jetting out in the morning. I'll report any note-worthy happenings.

WOW. In my innocence, I just assumed tnat the national parks would always be accesible. Today I started to seriously plan an (east to west) cross country, van/camper, NP, no time limit, "bucket list" road trip. I wouldn't have checked on park conditions until we were almost under way... beginning of Aug. Thanks for the heads up on sensible planning.:}

amacy2, If there isn't a budget until August, then we are all going to be in a world of hurt and it won't just be National Parks that affect us! :(

Utahtea

According to a local news article today, if there is a government shutdown (which seems more likely at this point) it would mean putting up gates to prevent access to the national parks. Maybe you would consider driving north as there is still snow in the mountains for skiing/snowboarding!

Even though you can drive through some national parks, Death Valley for example, closure of the NP Visitor Centers will mean that the restrooms, etc. will also be closed. For in-park accomodations, I believe guests are asked to depart on Saturday and in-park accomodations will be closed.

Some parks, like Yosemite, will actually have closed gates.

Hike the Pacific Crest Trail through Crater Lake NP. You will need snowshoes this weekend. The Post Office will be open.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/crla/brochures/pct.htm