Zion NP closed?

[ghostcount]

To Utah-nians,

I plan on going to Zion on April 22, will the park be accessible for visitors in light of the Fed shutdown? :confused:

TIA

 

[Klainmeister]

If not, go in anyways. It's public lands for godsake.

So sayeth my inner-Abbey

 

[patrickjames]

Klainmeister has a good point. You could probably go in since it is public land, and you own it. I don't recall though if there is a gate on the entrance, just don't expect anyone to save you if you do anything stupid (not that you would).

 

[benjiboy]

I know nothing about Zion National Park I've only seen pictures of it but I don't think it's as simple as that, if national parks in the U.S are anything like the ones in Britain they need staff to administer them, rangers to oversee them, and conservation officers to protect the wildlife and the land who all need to be paid.

 

[Steve Smith]

if national parks in the U.S are anything like the ones in Britain they need staff to administer them, rangers to oversee them, and conservation officers to protect the wildlife and the land who all need to be paid.

I can't think of any British National Parks which close if there are no staff around.


Steve.

 

[benjiboy]

I can't think of any British National Parks which close if there are no staff around.


Steve.

I don't think we have got to that stage yet when they can't pay the staff Steve we've got that to look forward to when the recession bites deeper, the loonies we elected have already thought of selling off the forests.

 

[Steve Smith]

the loonies we elected have already thought of selling off the forests.

Luckily, that idea was abandonned!

U.K. National parks are huge areas with lots of public footpaths running through them. It would be impossible to close them without building hundreds of miles of high fences and changing the law on rights to roam.


Steve.

 

[Rick A]

There is a possibility the government will baracade the roads leading into the parks.

 

[benjiboy]

The reason they are administered Steve is to ensure that these areas of outstanding beauty are protected from being ruined by being over visited and having wildlife and their habitats destroyed, and the landscapes that the public come to see are not covered with camp sites, cars and litter etc..

 

[Stoogley]

The gov't shut down?
Hmmmm, never even noticed....

 

[Steve Smith]

The reason they are administered Steve is to ensure that these areas of outstanding beauty are protected from being ruined by being over visited and having wildlife and their habitats destroyed, and the landscapes that the public come to see are not covered with camp sites, cars and litter etc..

I appreciate that and it is good that it is done but closing them would appear to be an impossible (if not illegal) task for our UK parks. Not sure about the US parks but they must be accessible by means other than by road so it is probably also very difficult to fully close US parks too.


Steve.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Yes, of course most of the parks you can't practically close, but you can officially close them - close the road gates, shut down the services, etc. In some cases, that's not a giant obstacle to using the park (a lot of the parks here on the east coast can be walked into from not too far away), but someplace like Yosemite it would be a different story. And some of them they can't fully close anyway because there are communities within the park - can't deny residents of the park access to their own homes. I'm sure they'll work something out - probably have to have the gates manned to turn away non-residents. If you want to see some amazing parkland in that part of the country, try Capitol Reef - it is cris-crossed with public roads. The only thing would be the visitors centers would be shut down.

 

[Klainmeister]

When some parks get closed in winter I'd either bring my mountain bike or snowshoes and just park at the gate and enter. In summer, why the hell not just take a bike from the gate and have the pace to yourself. If the govt does shut down, I might head up to Arches to see it for the first time ever without people!

 

[Sirius Glass]

There is a possibility the government will baracade the roads leading into the parks.

My thoughts too. IIRC Zion has gates that can be closed at the entrance but definitely further on the have a gate the close during the summer to make people park their cars and take the bus. One could get arrested for trespassing.

Steve

 

[Klainmeister]

I highly doubt a trespassing charge would hold, especially in a place like Utah. You would still have to get caught, and then, have something debatable in terms of legality to have anything hold up in court. "Sorry sir, you can't take pictures in this park today. Our government is shut down". --yeah right.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I highly doubt a trespassing charge would hold, especially in a place like Utah. You would still have to get caught,

If caught ...

I and then, have something debatable in terms of legality to have anything hold up in court. "Sorry sir, you can't take pictures in this park today. Our government is shut down". --yeah right.

That will not stand up in any court. You were trespassing. If you mouthed off like that the judge would throw the book at you for arrogance.

 

[Klainmeister]

Alright, then I'll shut up.

 

[rphenning]

It's better to ask forgiveness than permission, dude.

 

[rphenning]

ESPECIALLY true with photography, I've found.

 

[Vaughn]

Under normal seasonal closures, the Tioga Road is gated just above Crane's Flat. It would be great to bicycle up the road, but alas, the fine makes it not worth the fun.

Now Redwood National Park would be near impossible to close. One dead-end road is gated, but there are no other gates. And fortunately there are the surrounding State Redwoods Parks with access (but who knows what the State budget mess will result in.)

 

[tkamiya]

It's fun to poke fun at the Federal government on Internet forums. It's fun to talk about our rights. It's fun to theorize what law will hold and what won't. But none of us are lawyers. It is quite another matter altogether to drive hundreds of miles to see "park closed" sign. It is quite another to be told to go home, go in anyway, get detained, held, charged, and having have to show up in court - even if you are ultimately cleared of wrong doing.

I would suggest OP to call the park services and find out for sure. If you decide to disobey on moral grounds, better carry a phone number to your lawyer.

 

[Klainmeister]

Wise words Tkamiya and I agree, but I also have walked into a "closed road" and then only to meet a park official who had no issue with me being there since "It's closed because of road issues and other maintenance, but by all means, walk." and left me alone. I just wonder if they 'closed' the parks, what that actually entails. Call em and ask, but I just couldn't imagine a ranger or park official actually getting angry over someone choosing to walk in on their own merits. Let alone, if they are there at all. Maybe they'll be like teachers and range (right verb?) out of moral duty rather than paycheck. Who knows.

 

[christom]

It will never happen... Too much revenue would be lost, entrance fee's, lodging & concessions for one not to mention all the jobs. I think it's just propaganda for those
who want their way... I'm planning a trip this summer to the Grand Canyon and Zion... Hope I'm right?

 

[Vaughn]

...Maybe they'll be like teachers and range (right verb?) out of moral duty rather than paycheck. Who knows.

My years as a wilderness ranger were very rewarding -- but not due the paycheck! LOL!

As long as the Park, or wilderness, is safe, the visitors can do what they want. We just tend to have strong ideas about what keeps the parks and wilderness safe.