Since the stay-at-home order that was issued in March, most Nationals Parks have been closed for almost 3 months with little to no details on when they’d reopen again. But with all our efforts in flattening the curve, we are now starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. This month, many National Parks are beginning to reopen their doors for visitation and recreational activities such as hiking and camping. You can visit each NPS park page for a list of parks that are currently open and to what extent and book future reservations.
While we are all anxious to hit the outdoors, we must continue to abide the rules and safe distancing practices. Parks are opening on a case-by-case and state-by-state basis, complying with health and safety regulations. If you’re still living in a state that still has their stay-at-home order in place, we recommend caring for these rules and travel once the order has been lifted. If you’re one of the few lucky ones where your state has lifted the order and live nearby a national park that has been reopened, make sure to follow the CDC and NPS guidelines to recreate responsibly.
Tips to Recreate Responsibly
If you’re planning to visit a national park, we encourage you to visit NPS.gov and safety guidelines to stay informed of what’s accessible and when.
- Stay Close: Follow your state and county orders that are governing the open state of the are you’re looking to visit. Try not to travel out of state.
- Keep your distance: The reopening of state parks may lure in more crowds. Give others and yourself plenty of room when hiking and following social distancing guidelines for staying 6-feet away from others.
- Leave No Trace: This is something we’re all familiar with but even more important during COVID-19. Remember during these times, park resources and are limited so be sure to pack everything in and out.
- Know your limits: Avoid challenging hikes or new activities while first responders, parks, and communities continue to respond to the pandemic.
- Plan ahead: Most facilities will be closed, be sure to pack lunch, hand sanitizer, wipes, and face coverings.
- Do not approach wildlife: With most of the population staying at home, there has been an increase in wildlife activity around city and wilderness areas. Keep a distance and do not approach.
US National Parks Open Now
- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Pennsylvania – Trails, picnic areas, Staple Bend Tunnel opened
- Arches National Park, Utah: All roads, trails, and restrooms opened. Climbing and canyoneering permits now available. Campgrounds remain closed.
- Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland/Virginia: Beaches, parking lots, restrooms opened. Backpacking and campgrounds closed.
- Badlands National Park, South Dakota: Park roads, campgrounds, and trails open.
- Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Colorado: Park roads, trail heads, trails and public restrooms open.
- Big Bend National Park, Texas: Roads for driving, biking, day hiking, and restrooms, and Chisos Mountains Lodge(take-out only) opened.
- Big Hole National Battlefield, Montana: Trails at the battlefield are open.
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Montana and Wyoming: Grapevine, Horseshoe Bend, and Trail Creek Campground, river trails, boat ramps, restrooms at Afterbay river launch opened. Horseshoe Bend Ramp closed.
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Tennessee and Kentucky: Trails and backcountry camping open.
- Biscayne National Park, Florida: Canoe/kayaking, restrooms opened. Dante Fascell Visitor Center, Elliott Key, Adams Key and Boca Chita remained closed to the public.
- Black Canyon National Park, Colorado: All trails opened with restrictions, North and South Rim campgrounds and visitor centers remain closed.
- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah: Roads, backpacking, camping, and hiking trails open.
- Canyonlands National Park, Utah: All park roads, trails, backcountry camping, and restrooms open.
- Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts: Seashore beaches, trails, and parking areas are open.
- Capitol Reef National Park, Utah: Trails and backcountry camping open.
- Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Georgia: All park trails and river access open.
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Oklahoma: Roads, trails, and restrooms open.
- Congaree National Park, South Carolina: Trails and backcountry camping open.
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky: Roads, campgrounds, and backcountry camping open. Picnic areas vary by destination.
- Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia: Beaches, public docking spaces, and trails are open.
- Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado: Open to recreational activity. Campgrounds remain closed.
- Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming: Roads, hiking trails, climbing routes, and picnic area opened. The visitor center and campground will remain closed.
- Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa: Hiking trails opened.
- Fire Island National Seashore, New York: All beaches and trails open.
- Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Pennsylvania: Trails and grounds
- Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska: Bartlett Cove Campground has opened.
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah/Arizona: Primitive campgrounds and boating docks open.
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: South Rim entrance opened, campgrounds vary.
- Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming: Majority of recreation opened.
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado: Some trails and campgrounds opened.
- Great Basin National Park, Nevada: Some trails opened.
- Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii: Some trails open.
- Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii: Open to recreational activity.
- Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas: Some trails open.
- John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon: All trails opened, visitor center and Painted Hills Contact station closed.
- Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Pennsylvania: Trails, North and South Abutment, picnic area open.
- Joshua Tree National Park, California: Park entrances, roads, parking lots, trails, family campsites and backcountry camping, and some bathroom facilities open. Visitor center and group campgrounds closed.
- Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia: All trails open.
- Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Texas: Developed and primitive campgrounds, backcountry camping, hunting, fishing, boating, and equestrian travel allowed with social distancing.
- Lassen Volcanic National Park, California: All hiking trails, backcountry camping, Manzanita Lake, and Southwest Walk-in Campgrounds open.
- Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky: Surface trails are open.
- Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: Trails and campgrounds open with restrictions.
- New River Gorge National River, West Virginia. All hiking trails open.
- Ninety Six National Historic Site, South Carolina: Trails open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., visitor facilities closed.
- Obed National Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee: The Rock Creek Campground opened, visitor centers closed.
- Padre Island National Seashore, Texas: Roads and beach camping open.
- Pinnacles National Park, California: Campgrounds open upon reservation.
- Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Reservations for campgrounds open.
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan: All park hiking trails and trailheads, picnic areas, parking areas, boat launches, the Dune Climb, and vault toilets are open.
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas. 40 miles of trails are open, visitor facilities closed.
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota: Trails, backcountry camping, facilities, and some roads open.
- Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah: Trails open.
- Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preservein Florida: Some trails open.
- Virgin Islands National Park, U.S. Virgin Islands: Trails, beaches, parking areas, and waters are open.
- Voyageurs National Parkin Minnesota: Campgrounds open.
- Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, Missouri: Trails open.
- Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota: Roads and trails open, campgrounds closed.
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming: Open with restrictions.
