Conservation group says it will keep the parks ‘as accessible as possible’ as thousands prepare to go on winter holidays

Chaos may reign for the thousands of visitors planning to take snow hikes, rock climbing trips and sightseeing visits to US national parks over the winter holidays, if the government shutdown goes forward at midnight on Friday.

Park conservation groups say it is likely to mirror past shutdowns – with confusion about which parks are open, closed facilities, a lack of protections for guests and wildlife, and many disappointed visitors.

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In the last brief government shutdown in January, which lasted only 48 hours, the national park service directed staff to keep the parks as accessible as possible even though thousands of park employees were ordered not to come to work. One-third of the parks shut down altogether. In others, facilities such as visitors’ centers and bathrooms were shuttered, while the few remaining staff worked without paychecks to provide basic safety services.

During that shutdown, 21,000 park service employees were furloughed leaving just 3,298 “essential staff” to manage 80 million acres of national park lands, according to the National Parks Conservation association (NPCA).

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tourists walk by a sign announcing the Statue of Liberty closure during the government shutdown in October 2013. Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

“In the event of a government shutdown, national parks will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures. For example, this means that roads that have already been open will remain open (think snow removal) and vault toilets (wilderness type restrooms) will remain open,” Jeremy Barnum, the national park service chief spokesperson, said in an email. “However services that require staffing and maintenance such as campgrounds and full service restrooms, will not be operating.”

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According to government contingency plans, parks might need to close down more dangerous or sensitive areas, such as skiing terrain that could be subject to avalanches, difficult trails or culturally sensitive sites. On the other hand, private concessionaires such as gift stores, gas stations and guiding services, could continue operation if they can haul out their own trash and do their own snow removal.

While parks employees may not be available, many businesses and citizens’ groups were organizing to try to lend a hand to the parks during the pending shutdown.

Arizona governor Doug Ducey said on Twitter that the state is working to make sure that the Grand Canyon’s visitor services can remain operating even if the federal government isn’t.

Doug Ducey (@dougducey) Washington may not know how to work together, but Arizona does. If you have plans to visit the Grand Canyon this weekend, keep 'em! The Grand Canyon will not close on our watch! pic.twitter.com/hoyv8maNtG

Ungated national monuments, such as the National Mall in Washington DC, are likely to remain open as well, whereas those with gates such as the Statue of Liberty, may or may not be open, said John Garder, an NPCA senior manager. In the January shutdown, the statue closed for a day before government officials came up with a plan to keep it open despite the government closure.

“This is a confusing and not-very-responsible way to run our parks,” said Garder. “There will be a barebones staff. There will be no preventative search and rescue. The threat to visitors’ and wildlife safety will be increased.”

According to an NPCA blog post, the last shutdown caused numerous safety hazards and park protection debacles. These included a pregnant elk being killed by a hunter at Zion national park, visitors bringing snowmobiles dangerously close to the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone national park and others illegally driving off-road vehicles in Joshua Tree’s vegetation.

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On Friday, near Southern California’s Joshua Tree national park, Seth Zaharias, co-owner of Cliffhanger Guides, a rock-climbing guide service, was helping to organize a local citizens group that will help haul trash and protect park resources during a shutdown.

“This shutdown could last while with this stupid wall demand,” he said. “We citizens need to step up our stewardship of the park and keep the public and the natural resources safe.”

“Visitors should be prepared for slower emergency responses and to haul their own trash,” he said. “And if they could follow rules and regulations, it would be appreciated.”