Yosemiteâs Open-ish Shutdown: Nature Sans Staff, Fees Nixed
'Yosemite National Park and fellow nature giants like Yellowstone remain open amid the 2024 government shutdownâwith an employee count resembling an overbooked clown car. Out of 14,500 NPS employees, 9,000 star in the exclusive furlough club, leaving 'open' parks closer to 'kinda open, bring your own toilet paper.' Entrance fees? Forget about it. Visitor centers across big-deal parks like Grand Teton, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain are ghost towns, while nonprofits like Yosemite Conservancy scramble to keep lights on. Acadia lost $1.5 million from fall foliage fandom because apparently colorful leaves pay rent. Even Washingtonâs Park Fund CEO recommends rerouting your vacation to avoid nature's minimal-service mood swings. Pack snacks and patience, people.'
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National parks open during shutdown look like a glamping trip run by ghost hunters: ranger-less trails, free entry (because whoâs collecting?), and ecosystems left to their own devices. Bring your own heroism and hand sanitizer.
If you wanted to experience wilderness survival but forgot your hiking gear, congrats! Government shutdown turned national parks into 'surprise adventure zones' with no rangers and zero guidance.
Yosemiteâs open during the shutdown, which translates to: 'Come get nature with a side of chaos and no bathrooms.' Donât worry, the squirrels are still on duty.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 10/11/2025 | Author: Kelsey Vlamis
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