This National Park Is Still Going Strong During The Government Shutdown & It's Clear Why

On October 1, 2025, the U.S. government shut down because Democrats and Republicans can't agree on funding for government services like the Affordable Care Act, which provides health insurance for over 20 million Americans. Until they reach consensus, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will remain furloughed without pay. National Park Service employees across the country are among the federal workers who have been placed on unpaid leave until the government shutdown ends. Despite the lack of staff, many national parks around the U.S. have remained open to the public. Some parks are already struggling (tourists are risking their lives in Yosemite), but Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is reportedly still going strong despite staffing challenges due to volunteer efforts.

According to Rocky Mountain National Park's website, the park remains open and "as accessible as possible" at this time, but the lack of staff may impact your visit to the park. "Some services may be limited or unavailable," the webpage states. Entrance fees, which normally cost visitors $15-$35, are not being charged during the government shutdown. Additionally, timed-entry is not being enforced, so visiting does not require reservations at this time. The visitors centers throughout the park are currently closed.

Volunteers are working hard to care for Rocky Mountain National Park due to the lack of park service employees on-site. A group from the YMCA of the Rockies has been collecting trash and emptying trash cans throughout the park. Those who choose to visit during the government shutdown should attempt to abide by Leave No Trace principles, so as not to overwhelm the limited volunteers and staff members attempting to keep things under control.

Rocky Mountain National Park appears as busy as ever, but there's no way to officially count how many people are entering the park since no one's charging the usual admission fees. Since visitors centers within the park are closed, guests should stop by the Fall River Visitor Center in Estes Park for park information. It's currently being operated by members of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy staff in the absence of park rangers.

Although volunteers and members of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy staff are doing their best to help out and keep the park as clean as possible, they're no replacement for park rangers. "They don't have the training or the same educational background and institutional knowledge as our dedicated Rocky Mountain National Park Rangers," Kaci Yoh, communications manager for Rocky Mountain Conservancy, told the Aspen Times in an interview.

The YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center program director, Susan Taylor, offered tips for visitors on the organization's Facebook page. She suggested using bathrooms outside the park, as bathroom facilities inside the park may be limited. Visitors should also pack out all their trash and dispose of it properly outside of the park. 

Taylor also recommends that guests plan which hikes they want to embark on in advance, and download trail maps ahead of time. Check weather conditions before you head out, as rangers might not be available to offer information within the park. With limited staff on-site, you should use extra caution when exploring.

One Reddit user called Mambo_KC, who claimed to visit the park last week, wrote that the shuttles were running as normal and parking lots were filling up early. They suggested that visitors bring their own toilet paper, and mentioned that the vault toilets at Bear Lake and Sprague Lake were open, but that some flush toilets were locked. The water hydrants were also turned off, so they recommended ensuring visitors bring plenty of their own water. "Overall, people were gracious, aspens are still beautiful, elk are bugling like crazy, and locals were happy to see us. Be patient, be nice, pack out your trash and you will have a great time," they added.