What the top ten most visited national parks in the US have said about their plans to reopen, from opening in phases to implementing social distancing guidelines
Melissa Wiley
- On April 22, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced that the Trump administration would work with governors and local public health officials to gradually reopen national parks.
- Keeping in line with CDC and state recommendations, several of America's most visited national parks are beginning to reopen.
- Acting National Park Service (NPS) director David Vela told the Saint Louis Tribune that visitors should anticipate a "different normal" as many park facilities will reopen in phases and with social distancing guidelines in place.
- Of the 419 parks overseen by the NPS, 62 are officially designated "national parks." 150 parks are currently closed.
- In ascending order, here are the ten most visited national parks, according to 2019 National Park Service data, their plans for reopening, and their top attractions based on TripAdvisor rankings.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Visitors in 2019: 12.5 million
Location: Tennessee, North Carolina
Top attractions: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Foothills Parkway, Clingmans Dome observation deck, Cades Cove, Laurel Falls
Reopening: Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened select roads, trails, restrooms, and picnic areas on May 9. The park is also issuing backcountry permits, and the LeConte Lodge, the park's official lodging option, will reopen May 18. However, visitor centers and campgrounds remain closed. The park also canceled its popular synchronous firefly viewing event, when shuttles take ticketed visitors to the Elkmont section of the park in late May and early June to witness tens of thousands of fireflies.
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
Grand Canyon National Park
Visitors in 2019: 5.97 million
Location: Arizona
Top attractions: Grand Canyon South Rim, Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon North Rim, South Kaibab Trail, Rim Trail
Reopening plans: Grand Canyon National Park has not yet announced plans to reopen. The park, and the section of Highway 64 that runs through the park, closed on April 1 until further notice.
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
Rocky Mountain National Park
Visitors in 2019: 4.7 million
Location: Colorado
Top attractions: Trail Ridge Road, Emerald Lake Trail, Bear Lake, Old Fall River Road, Alberta Falls
Reopening plans: Rocky Mountain National Park will begin a phased reopening to increase recreational access on May 27. While details of the reopening are still being figured out, so far the park has announced that it will begin issuing wilderness camping permits again, and shuttle bus service within Bear Lake Road corridor will resume with a maximum of 15 passengers per trip. Moraine Park and Glacier Basin campgrounds will also open at half capacity on June 4.
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
Zion National Park
Visitors in 2019: 4.5 million
Location: Utah
Top attractions: The Narrows trail, Angel's Landing trail, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Canyon Overlook trail, Observation Point
Reopening plans: Zion National Park will partially reopen for day use beginning May 13 and has waived visitor fees to minimize the potential for disease transmission. Eight trails will reopen; however, no off-trail hiking is permitted and hikers are urged to stay six feet apart. The 6-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive will also open, but only private vehicles will be allowed and the drive will temporarily close to visitors when its 400-car parking lot reaches capacity.
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
Yosemite National Park
Visitors in 2019: 4 million
Location: California
Top attractions: Glacier Point outlook, Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Half Dome rock formation, Tunnel View outlook
Reopening plans: Yosemite National Park has not yet announced plans to reopen, but says that plans for a phased reopening are in the works. The park closed to visitors on March 20, though it remains open to residents of communities within the park's boundaries.
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
Yellowstone National Park
Visitors in 2019: 4 million
Location: Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
Top attractions: Lamar Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful geyser, Lower Yellowstone River Falls
Reopening plans: Yellowstone National Park has not yet announced plans to reopen. The park closed to visitors on March 24, though highways that run through and extend beyond the park remain open.
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
Acadia National Park
Visitors in 2019: 3.4 million
Location: Maine
Top attractions: Cadillac Mountain, Park Loop Road, Champlain Mountain & Beehive Loop Trail, Jordan Pond, Carriage Roads cycling trail
Reopening plans: Park campgrounds are set to reopen on June 15, pending the status of the pandemic. Hulls Cove, the park's main visitor center, is currently scheduled to reopen on June 1, and Sieur de Monts Visitor Center will reopen June 15. The park's main scenic road, car-free carriage roads, visitor centers, and restrooms have been closed since March 25. Overnight parking is banned for the time being, and Island Explorer shuttle service between the park and nearby Bar Habor is suspended.
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
Grand Teton National Park
Visitors in 2019: 3.4 million
Location: Wyoming
Top attractions: Grand Teton peak, Jenny Lake Trail, Scenic Loop Drive, Chapel of the Transfiguration (a log-cabin-style church built in 1925), Moose Wilson Road
Reopening plans: Grand Teton National Park has not yet announced plans to reopen. The park closed to visitors on March 24, though highways that run through and extend beyond the park remain open.
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
Olympic National Park
Visitors in 2019: 3.2 million
Location: Washington
Top attractions: Hurricane Ridge mountain area, Ruby Beach, Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Forest, Crescent Lake
Reopening plans: The park began a phased reopening on May 5. Some facilities in the area near Barnes Point, a peninsula that juts out into Crescent Lake, and the northern edge of the park have opened for use. When conditions allow, the park may open additional facilities during the day on the park's east side. The park will issue permits for overnight camping in the backcountry only when Washington state permits overnight travel outside of the local area and has said that its westside areas and beaches "will be the last areas to open for day use."
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
Glacier National Park
Visitors in 2019: 3 million
Location: Montana
Top attractions: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Grinnell Glacier, Lake McDonald, Avalanche Lake, Highline Trail
Reopening plans: Glacier National Park has not announced plans to reopen yet. The park closed to all visitors on March 27, though the section of US Highway 2 that crosses through the park remains open.
See the latest updates on the National Park Service's website >>
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