SALT LAKE CITY — As it has in prior government shutdowns, the state of Utah is promising to keep its national parks open to visitors despite federal funds being cut off.
Because of the impact that closing Utah's "Mighty 5" would have on the economy, state leadership said it is committed to keeping the parks running as the shutdown began on Wednesday.
"Our priority has been and continues to be preserving our parks, maintaining the visitor experience, and ensuring Utah communities and businesses that rely on national park visitation are supported,” said Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film. “We are engaged in proactive conversations with public and private partners at all levels, offering strategic support to ensure the parks remain open with necessary resources.”
The Utah Office of Tourism said in 2024 that Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion national parks contributed $3.1 billion to the economy.
Those hearty numbers are why, in the past, state leadership has dipped into funds to keep the parks operating. Facing a shutdown in 2023, the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity earmarked $5 million to keep the parks running.
"Our priority is to do right by visitors who have planned trips of a lifetime from all over the world to experience our national parks, as well as by Utahns and communities whose livelihoods depend on a healthy visitor economy," said the Office of Tourism. "Utah stands ready to offer strategic state support to keep our parks open and accessible to all."
Although the "Mighty 5" in the state will stay open, that's not the case with every Utah park under the National Park Service. Timpanogos Cave National Monument has closed its visitor center, cave tours and access trails because of the shutdown.
Zion National Park officials say that despite the park remaining open during the shutdown, they aren't collecting the entrance fees that are typically gathered. Instead, they are asking visitors to donate their entrance fee to the Zion Forever Project, which helps fund the park.
You can find the donation page here.
