So this month, I decided to go through with a 3-national park tour during a government shutdown that was planned and paid for before campsites and passes included. I’ve been excited about this trip for months before the shutdown (even had it scheduled before the shutdown, but had to postpone for work reasons, ironically). My Partner and I drove over 2900 miles to see two national forests, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton, plus about five gateway towns along the way. As a furloughed government employee myself, it felt like the right time to go out into the (U.S.) American wilds and enjoy the time off in nature as humans were built to do. It was an absolute blast and no regrets….I think? Since I’ve been home and seen more advocacy peers speak out, I’ve been asking…

Was that wrong to do?

THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN - DAY 33

Definitely Larger than they appear, Grand Teton, October 2025

We are now 33 days into a government shutdown. While the conversations have (quite importantly) been focused on SNAP benefits and Healthcare for U.S. citizens, there is still a growing cry out for protecting Public Lands and preventing more firings of our Park Service federal workers. The Outdoor Recreation community is rightfully concerned about the future of the issues as we watch wilderness in Alaska get plowed for roads, and the threats of more federal employment cutbacks looming as the value of our wilderness is being reconsidered for industrial agendas. Many outdoor public land advocates, some of my dear friends, are pushing for people to limit their visits to national parks right now to protect these lands and our rangers.

But as someone who’s worked in the federal government for 18 years, I’ve explored my beliefs a bit on this issue…and I’m not fully convinced that the answer is as straightforward as “stay away.” In fact, I’m concerned that this thought process could lead to detrimental impacts on our parks and the federal workers who protect them.

I don’t mean that as a blanket statement: the environmental impact of irresponsible tourists is not negligible, and that sort of bad behavior should be squashed. But politicians throw money and value where constituents throw cash. And that’s shown through the vote of how dollars are spent.

We’ll get into my counterargument soon, but first, let’s acknowledge why it is not a great idea to visit the parks right now (every story has two sides).

THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF YOUR VISIT

When the federal government shuts down, the National Park Service (NPS) experiences drastic staffing shortages throughout the parks, which are only exacerbated when our political leaders call for the NPS gates to stay open. For instance, the 2025 U.S. Department of Interior contingency plan estimated that approximately 25 full-time and on-call staff may remain at any given park site during a lapse.

That means when someone like me hypothetically flies a drone, not realizing until a peer informs them that there’s a blanket ban in national parks and signage is irrelevant…. There may be no ranger on duty to stop it, correct it, or take enforcement action when it mattered….matters. I bring this up, hypothetically, so we can recognize even the most well-meaning responsible citizens make mistakes.

If we (visitors) act irresponsibly intentionally during these shutdowns—leaving trash, rule-breaking, resource damage—we increase the burden on rangers when they return, making their job harder, raising costs, and giving opponents of park funding fodder against the park rangers later. That doesn’t even include the environmental implications, like the famous Joshua Tree cut down by a vandal during the 2019 shutdown, or the dangers to wildlife when tourists are left to their own devices.

Fishing (with a license) in Glacier National Park, October 2025

THE COUNTER ARGUMENT

But I think there is a counter to why you should still consider going if you’re doing everything you can to be an upstanding visitor.

After all, National Parks were intended to be Land for the People (and the Natives before them), so cutting off taxpayer citizens from essentially THEIR land isn’t precisely aligned with U.S. ideology.

But besides that, there ARE advantages to the parks for your continued visits. First, all government employees who MUST work hours during the shutdown still have to document their hours even when not being paid on a manning or time schedule report. That validates their purpose and positions, and reduces the political fodder that could eliminate their job position in another staffing cut.

Also, while the NPS projects a financial loss during shutdowns can exceed $1 million a day in fee revenue, the non-profit conservation groups that support their specific parks and often run their visitor center gift shops can also lose revenue that they provide as nonprofits back into the parks. These conservancies, like I saw at Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier, do stay open and continue to rely on your business to help their efforts in the park despite the shutdown. Lastly, Your responsible visit contributes to the revenue stream in the local communities that depend on the parks for business which means your visit still can help non-federal employees who might feel the loss of significant tourism, which can include the families of park rangers.

Keep in mind, if you aren’t prepared to be a responsible steward without supervision (picking up your trash, not staying at campsites you didn’t pay for, not petting bison, and following at least the rules you know, maybe learning a few more…..its time for you to stay home. But don’t let the shutdown be the reason you decide to not go.

TIPS TO BE A RESPONSIBLE VISITOR

Still Don’t Pet the Bison! Yellowstone October 2025

If you choose to make a trip to one of our national parks during this shutdown, here are some tips to consider before you go in order to ensure you are doing the best for your well being, as well as the parks and park rangers.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
Make sure you check official park statuses on closures and restricted services or staffing through the NPS app or website. Ensure that you don’t do anything that doesn’t require additional fees to maintain or, if they do, that you pay online where available like campsite rentals. If you don’t have an annual or lifetime pass already, consider not going until a later date so the parks don’t lose that revenue.
PLAN FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
Leave No Trace applies more than ever right now, so assume that there might be no trash bins or restrooms available in places where they would usually be, and that you may be packing out. Ensure you have potable water for the extent of your trip, be prepared for any emergency. There may be roads and buildings, but without rangers and medical staff, you might as well be backcountry, so act as such.
RESPECT ALL REGULATIONS – EVEN IF NOBODY’S WATCHING.
Read all the posters and signs available at trailheads and park visitor centers (they will still likely be posted outside). Even do some more research online prior to leaving so you know about regulations that may not be posted (for Drones, see here). Stay on marked trails, and do not disturb the wildlife. Maybe most importantly, no campfires unless where permitted. Keep in mind that updates to fire risk conditions may only be online. Speaking of online
CHECK ONLINE RESOURCES BEFORE YOU ENTER THE PARK.
Internet service is limited in many places so planning in advance, or at least on the car drive there, can be helpful in ensuring you have the most information you can before you leave
SUPPORT THE PARKS FINANCIALLY.
Buy your passes online. Donate to the park foundations and shop their gift shops. Look for names like Glacier National Park Conservancy, Grand Canyon Conservancy, or Friends of the Smokies. These nonprofits often step up during shutdowns to fund critical maintenance. Also, shop locally and spend time in the gateway communities that are also impacted by tourism loss.
BE A STEWARD AND NOT A BURDEN.
Leave the park better than you found it and model good behavior for other visitors to copy. If you know someone is doing something wrong, politely speak up and share the credible information you have….they just might not know.
IF YOU’RE UNSURE ON ANYTHING, POSTPONE YOUR TRIP.
If services are too limited to your comfort or feel unsafe, just stay home. Accessibility doesn’t mean readiness, and an unpaid park ranger doesn’t need to be called into work for an emergency you could have avoided
ADVOCATE PARK FUNDING TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES FROM HOME.
Don’t forget to contact your representatives to support NPS staffing, maintenance budgets, and conservation programs. Consider this not a political issue but a patriotic stewardship for the wilds we hold dear.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What do you think — was I okay to go, or should the parks be considered off-limits? Would you add any arguments for either side? Share in the comments below.