As the federal government remains shut down, the state of Colorado will contribute money to keep two visitor centers open at Rocky Mountain National Park, which draws an average of 4 million people a year.
Meanwhile, visitor centers at Colorado’s three other national parks — Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Great Sand Dunes — remain closed or have limited services as the shutdown continues.
Other services, like guided tours and access to certain trails, have also been canceled at some of the parks.
The state’s Department of Natural Resources and Tourism Office will split the cost of keeping RMNP’s Beaver Meadows and Kawuneeche visitor centers open, paying $3,200 a day, starting Friday and through the following week, state officials said Thursday, announcing the funding agreement.
Colorado officials have the option to fund more days and if the shutdown ends within the next week and any unexpended state money will be refunded.
Beaver Meadows is on the east side of the national park near Estes Park, and Kawuneeche is on the west side near Grand Lake.
Keeping the visitors centers open supports the state’s tourism industry, which contributes to $28.5 billion to Colorado’s economy, Eve Lieberman, executive director for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, said in a statement.
In 2023, Rocky Mountain National Park attracted 4,115,837 visitors and generated more than $568 million of visitor spending, according to data from the National Park Service. The park had an estimated economic output of $888.6 million.
Last year, 4,154,349 people visited Rocky Mountain National Park, data shows.
“Keeping Rocky Mountain National Park and these visitor centers open promotes a positive visitor experience, helps protect our state’s incredible public lands and supports a critical sector of our economy,” Lieberman said.
But not all of Colorado’s national parks, in farflung parts of the state, will see the same support.
All four of Colorado’s national parks will remain “as accessible as possible” through the shutdown, though some have limited or unavailable services, recorded messages on the parks’ voicemails said.
Cultural sites, including cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado near Cortez, are closed, according to the park’s voicemail. The visitor and research center, museum and several trails are also closed.
The park, a World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park, protects the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and tribes. With a ranger, visitors can typically climb uneven stone steps and ladders to get a glimpse into the former homes of the Ancestral Puebloans, including the largest known cliff dwelling in North America that was once home to more than 100 people.
Amid the shutdown, all tours and ranger-led events are canceled, the park said in its voicemail.
The cellphone for the spokesperson for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was inactive Thursday and a voicemail message for the general information line for the park near Montrose said the line remains “unavailable due to the lapse in appropriations.”
At the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado, a spokesperson said essential staff remain on duty to support public safety and basic operations, including law enforcement rangers and custodial personnel.
Outdoor areas of the Great Sand Dunes remain open including all trails, roads, the Pinon Flats Campground, as well as backcountry permits for backpackers.
The park in Mosca is renowned for its opportunities for stargazing and home to the highest sand dune in North America.
As of Oct. 12, the visitor center was being sustained by donations through the Western National Parks, the park’s cooperating association, the park service said.
“We are extremely proud of the dedicated employees and partners who continue to serve the public during this challenging time,” park officials said in an email Thursday. “Our team is working hard to keep Great Sand Dunes accessible and safe for visitors. Like many across the National Park Service, we look forward to a resolution that allows all of our staff to return to work supporting the park’s mission.”
While many national parks across the country remain open during the shutdown, many are doing so with only a skeleton crew of staff to protect resources and manage visitors, the National Parks Conservation Alliance said earlier this month.
“Every day this shutdown drags on, our national parks will lose up to $1 million in visitor fee revenue, while gateway communities that depend on park tourism stand to lose as much as $80 million in visitor spending,” the D.C.-based nonprofit said in a release.
Theresa Pierno, the president and CEO of the association, said nearly two-thirds of park staff are furloughed. Some parks are deciding to close facilities and limit access because they know “the alternative can mean irreparable damage,” she said in a statement.
Bathrooms may be closed, drinking water may be turned off and rescue services may be delayed, she said.
“Fall is one of the busiest times of year for many of our national parks. Millions of visitors flock to Great Smoky Mountains to see spectacular foliage, Rocky Mountain to see iconic wildlife and Zion to enjoy world-class hiking,” Pierno said. “But we’ve seen what happens when parks are left open without enough staff. It’s unsafe and unsustainable.”