State Funding Protects Access to Utah’s National Parks During Government Shutdown
Utah’s national parks will remain open as state-led funding replaces stalled federal funding. The State hopes to ensure uninterrupted visitor access and uncompromised safety across its famed public lands.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity announced dedicated financial support to keep visitor centers at Utah’s Mighty 5® national parks (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion) as well as Cedar Breaks National Monument fully operational during the government shutdown.
Natural Bridges and Hovenweep National Monuments will remain accessible to visitors, but their visitor centers will be closed.
“Utah’s National Parks will remain open,” said Natalie Randall, Managing Director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film.
“We are committed to supporting visitors in planning and preparing for their best trip to Utah, preserving our parks, and ensuring Utah communities and businesses that rely on national park visitation are supported,” she added in the official announcement.
What’s at Stake When Utah’s Parks Stay Open
National parks in Utah are among the most popular natural attractions. According to the Utah Office of Tourism, national park visitors spent $3.1 billion in The Beehive State in 2024.
Utah’s Mighty 5® National Parks collectively draw more than 1.1 million visitors each October, averaging 37,000 daily between 2019 and 2024.
26,500 jobs are directly tied to national park tourism, making Utah one of the top three states for national park-supported jobs nationwide.
Visitor centers serve as essential hubs for public safety, sanitation, and orientation, as well as for providing trail updates and permit information to both domestic and international travelers.
What Visitors Need to Know About Utah’s National Parks in October
October marks a busy period for Utah’s national parks.
At Zion National Park, the Angels Landing trail is closed October 6–9 for scheduled maintenance. No permits are issued during this period; however, hikes will resume on October 10.
The park’s fall day-before lottery continues through November 29, while the winter seasonal lottery, covering hikes from December 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026, is open until October 20, with results announced on October 25.
Other popular routes near Zion, such as The Narrows and Left Fork North Creek (also known as The Subway), remain open. The next Subway lottery period from January 1 to March 31 began on November 1.
Zion National Park has issued a warning about toxic cyanobacteria blooms in the Virgin River and its tributaries, urging visitors to avoid drinking, swimming, or submerging their heads in affected waters due to health risks.
Further south, Arches National Park maintains its timed-entry system daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through October 31. This requirement also applies to canyoneering routes, where visitors must hold both a permit and a matching timed-entry ticket.
October is a key month for hikers hoping to visit Coyote Buttes North, home of The Wave, one of the U.S.’s most photographed geological wonders.
The advanced lottery for February 2026 hiking dates is open from October 1 to October 31, with the drawing taking place on November 1 at 9 a.m. MT. This is the only period when applications for February permits can be submitted.
Utah State Parks Welcome Visitors With Fall Wildlife Events
Utah State Parks has confirmed that even if national parks experience operational disruptions, all state parks will remain fully open and staffed, maintaining their regular events calendar and welcoming visitors without interruption.
On October 11, as dusk falls over the red cliffs of Dead Horse Point State Park, visitors can participate in one of Utah’s most unusual seasonal wildlife experiences: the park’s annual Scorpion Hunt.
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Mountain Bike Lot, rangers will lead guests on a nighttime search for scorpions, using ultraviolet lights to reveal the glowing arachnids as they emerge from crevices after dark.
On October 25, Utah’s Antelope Island will once again host one of the West’s most distinctive wildlife events, the Annual Bison Roundup that dates back to the 1980s.
More than 200 riders on horseback will herd roughly 750 bison across the island’s sweeping grasslands into corrals. Visitors can watch the action from White Rock Bay, starting at 10:00 a.m.
Syndicated from The Roam Report.
Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.