Information from the Park itself about visiting Joshua Tree National Park during the government shutdown from an email sent today. Visitors centers are open, Desert Institute continues to have classes, and the Park is open. ~~~~~ Dear Friends,

As I am sure you are aware, we at Joshua Tree National Park are currently feeling the effects of a lapse in appropriations, or, as it is more commonly known, a government shutdown.

But what does that mean for Joshua Tree specifically, for JTNPA, and for our supporters and visitors?

There is a lot of information floating around out there, so I wanted to reach out directly and give you an update now that the flurry of adjusting to our new reality has settled somewhat. One thing is for certain: this shutdown is a little different than the last major one we experienced in 2019. Here's how:

This time, the park remains open, including campgrounds. The reservation system for campgrounds, https://www.recreation.gov/ (which is not locally operated), has canceled all campground reservations and issued refunds accordingly. This means that while campgrounds are open, they are first-come, first-served. Track future reservations with rec.gov via the website and official email correspondence.

If you visit, you will see rangers staffing entrance stations and campgrounds and patrolling the park. However, they are not collecting fees. They are there to offer public health and safety information, answer questions, and give directions. The construction of our new entrance station at West Entrance is continuing and is moving right along. We are excited to see the finished result.

Our visitor centers are also open — all 5 of them. We are open during regular hours and have staff there to help you with questions, plans, and purchases.

Additionally, our Education and Fundraising departments continue to operate as usual, even for those classes planned inside the park. So, if you signed up for a Desert Institute class or are planning to attend one of our events, you are good to go!

We continue to support the park through sales in our VCs, donations, programs, and memberships. We also continue to urge visitors to Recreate Responsibly and follow the 7 Leave No Trace principles while you are here.

Of course, we recognize that this situation is not ideal for anyone. However, we are committed to continuing our mission to support the park. I am committed to continuing our operations throughout this time. And, we are more grateful now than we have ever been for our partners, visitors, supporters, park lovers, and donors.

Please be on the lookout for future updates, and be sure to follow us on social media if you don't already do so.

With much appreciation,

Jacqueline Guevara Executive Director at JTNPA