Recreation sites on federal lands 鈥 including Sabino Canyon and Saguaro National Park 鈥 have been open during the government shutdown. But visitors should be aware that services are extremely limited at those sites and the status could change at any time if the shutdown continues.
鈥淎ll of the roads and trails in Saguaro National Park remain accessible to park visitors,鈥 said Ray O鈥橬eil, chief ranger at the park with units east and west of 蜜柚直播.
鈥淰isitor centers and restrooms are closed and all public programs and outreach events will be canceled for the duration of the shutdown,鈥 O鈥橬eil said. 鈥淲e are monitoring issues such as human waste and trash and may be forced to close additional areas if significant issues occur.鈥
He said the park isn鈥檛 issuing overnight wilderness camping permits or permits for special events such as weddings.
People are also reading…
鈥淰isitors should be aware that park staff鈥檚 ability to provide assistance during any issue 鈥 large or small 鈥 is extremely limited,鈥 O鈥橬eil said. 鈥淥ur law enforcement rangers are working to ensure that resources and visitors in the park are protected. All other park staff are furloughed.鈥
The Friends of Saguaro National Park, a nonprofit association, entered into an agreement with the park to provide some trash collection services during the lapse in appropriations, O鈥橬eil said.
In Sabino Canyon, on Coronado National Forest land northeast of 蜜柚直播, parking lots have been nearly full with visitors鈥 vehicles on some days during the shutdown.
Walkers have trekked up canyon roads and hikers have hit trails in many parts of the canyon.
Some volunteers 鈥 including Robert Johnston, a canyon trail patroller in training 鈥 were lending their services in recent days. And a small shop in the canyon visitor center remained open because it is staffed by nongovernment employees.
But official information on the status of the canyon and the many national forest sites in the Catalina Mountains north of 蜜柚直播 hasn鈥檛 been available.
Several efforts to get information from Heidi Schewel, spokeswoman for the Coronado Forest, were unsuccessful.
In a response Monday to an email request for information, Schewel said, 鈥淚 am on furlough鈥 and referred questions to the Forest Service national Office of Communications.
Calls to that office brought a recorded message that said: 鈥淒ue to a lapse in government funding, we are unavailable to assist with your media request at this time.鈥
鈥淪now play鈥 sites in the Catalina Mountains were busy with visitors in recent days, and restrooms near the sites were open.
It wasn鈥檛 clear if rangers or volunteers were at any of the sites.
