The Current State of our National Parks: What you need to know as a visitor.

In February of this year (2025), I wrote an article breaking down the potential impacts of the staffing cuts made to our national park staff. A lot has happened since then, so I wanted to return to the topic and break down some changes that are currently in effect. Many unknowns are still looming on the horizon for our national parks and the remaining staff. It continues to be of the utmost importance to keep this topic relevant. This will help us to understand what visitors can currently expect from their national park experiences, and what to be on the lookout for in the coming year.

The Staffing Cuts

On February 14th, 2025, 1,000 National Park employees received notice that they had been laid off. The announcement sparked backlash not only from the employees but from millions of Americans nationwide. About a month later, a federal judge ordered that all 1,000 employees be reinstated, ruling the layoffs unlawful.

According to ABC News, Judge William Alsup, who presided over the case, stated: “The reason that OPM wanted to put this ‘based on performance’ was, at least in my judgment, a gimmick to avoid their Reduction in Force Act because the law always allows you to fire somebody for performance,”

While the reinstatement was ultimately welcome news, it didn’t undo all the damage. Due to the staffing shortages, some parks experienced a delay in seasonal hires, as many of the employees typically involved in this process were temporarily terminated. Additionally, some employees opted not to return even after the reinstatement. The uncertainty surrounding the stability of their employment- especially with continued talk of layoffs and hiring freezes- remains a significant concern.

I’ve struggled to find any solid updates on the situation since March 2025, so it’s unclear how many employees have actually returned to their roles in the NPS. To be honest, finding reliable updates on the parks over the last two months has proven difficult. There is a lot of uncertainty still stirring, especially with the Big Beautiful Bill taking center stage. That said, I’d still like to share the current information I’ve gathered, as well as my own experience as a park visitor.

I’ve had the privilege of visiting three national parks since the staff cuts and subsequent reinstatement, giving me a firsthand look at current park conditions. Hopefully, what I learned can prove useful as we continue through the busy season.

Timed Entry Reservations: What you need to know.

Fortunately, at this point, the visitor experience is still being preserved in most of our national parks, despite ongoing budget tensions. The biggest thing to be prepared for during peak season is the timed entry reservation system. This is not the first time many parks have implemented this system. When planned in advance, it can improve your visit by reducing crowding and creating a more relaxed experience.

Timed entry reservations allow visitors to select a specific time to enter the park. For most parks, you have one hour from the time of your reservation to enter. Once inside, you’re not required to leave at a certain time, regardless of when you entered. Dates are usually set out anywhere from 30 to 90 days in advance, depending on the park. These reservations are made online at recreation.gov

A timed entry reservation usually costs $2 and is nonrefundable. This does not include your park entrance fee.

Parks with Timed Entry Reservations

Not all parks require this type of reservation, so it’s important to verify before finalizing your plans. As of this article, the following parks have a timed entry system in place:

Acadia National Park
Arches National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Glacier National Park
Haleakala National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Shenandoah National Park
Yosemite National Park
Zion National Park

Keep in mind that some of these parks may also require hiking permits for specific trails, and/or vehicle reservations for certain roads, depending on the time of year.

Current Closures and Cancellations

Pinnacles National Park– Ranger-led programs are currently canceled.
Denali National Park– Denali Discovery Camp and Denali Backcountry Adventures have been canceled.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park– Lower Cave, King’s Palace, and Slaughter Canyon tours are currently unavailable.
Grand Canyon National Park – The River Trail, Silver Bridge, Plateau Point Trail, and large group sites at Bright Angel Campground are closed. All are scheduled to reopen on October 1, 2025, following a five-month delay from the original May reopening date.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park– Laurel Falls Trail is closed from the trailhead on Fighting Creek Gap Road up to the junction with Little Greenbrier and Cove Mountain trail. This closure began January 6th, 2025, for an 18-month rehabilitation project.

Note: I’ve noticed recent reviews of the Laurel Falls hike on AllTrails, which suggests there may be an alternate access point. Although the closures are not necessarily related to the staff cuts, I mention it because large-scale projects like this are especially vulnerable to further delays due to staffing shortages.

I’ve been encouraged to see that many of the parks have managed to preserve the visitor experience. While any cancellation is disappointing, the current impacts are far less severe than we originally feared. This is not to say park staff aren’t stretched thin or that future disruptions aren’t possible, I’m speaking strictly about the current visitor experience.

If you are planning a national park trip in the coming months, be sure to check the NPS website for the most up-to-date information. Road, trail, and campground closures can happen frequently due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, so staying informed is key to a smooth visit.

If planning a national park trip in the coming months, check the National Park Service website for the most up-to-date information. Road, trail, and campground closures can happen frequently due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, so staying informed is key to a smooth visit.

A Visitor’s Experience

Since the chaos that unfolded in our national parks earlier this year, I’ve had the opportunity to visit White Sands National Park, Olympic National Park, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. I also visited Bandelier National Monument- though we’re focusing strictly on national parks for this article, national monuments fall under the same umbrella.

I’m happy to report that I had a positive experience in these incredible public spaces. The staff continues to be friendly and knowledgeable, the bathrooms I used were clean, and the trails were well maintained.

The noticeable change was the cancellation of the ranger-guided tours at Carlsbad Caverns, as mentioned earlier. Fortunately, my group had only planned to do the self-guided tour, so this did not impact our visits. It was also hectic, employees had to turn people away who had not purchased timed entry reservations in advance. Despite the crowds, the experience was well-organized and enjoyable. This was my second time visiting this park, and it was just as memorable as the first.

Looking to the Future

Although I am happy to know that people are still having great experiences at our national parks, I want to stress that it’s important not to let down our guard just yet. Our public spaces are not in the clear yet and our support is still needed. The future holds a lot of uncertainty and it’s crucial to make sure we are still being vocal about how important these places are and the value they hold to us as a nation.

Things to currently be on the lookout for are more funding and staffing cuts, drilling, mining, and logging near parks or on other public lands, accurate and well-maintained history within the the parks, and the threat of 2-3 million acres of public land being up for sale due to the “One Big Beautiful Bill”. I encourage you to look into this bill so you can form your own well-researched opinion, but I will include some links at the end of the article as to how it specifically pertains to our public lands. I will also include some ways to contact your representatives.

We’re incredibly fortunate to have such beautiful spaces throughout our country to draw inspiration, awe, and adventure in, but it is so important that we don’t take them for granted. These are our lands, and they deserve our protection and care. I hope you continue to support the people and places that make the US one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Your voice matters, and it is needed!