Note -- I am seeking factual info and am not making a political statement. I do not care who is responsible for the upcoming shutdown.I just want to know this: if I am already boondocking in a national forest (which happens to be near a national park), and the shutdown happens, will I have to leave the national forest? Even if not, will I be able to enter the national park at all?My guess is that there is no hard and fast nation-wide answer to those two questions -- the answers may depend on the decisions made by each national forest and each national park.Thanks in advance for your answers. Please bear in mind that if we veer over the edge and start blaming one side or the other for this impasse, the moderators will shut down the thread, depriving all of us of a potentially useful discussion.

The question is political in that different administration behave differently. The previous admin allowed campers to continue to use the camps, the one before did not and even attempted to block parking nearby and closed down camps run by private contractors who were not funded directly by the government.. So you just will not know until it happens. You can guess which way it will go.

Profdant, because I live on the southern east coast, I probably don't understand (or not paying close attention) to what is happening on the west coast. I did read about the closures from Washington state through California state because of the fires and syphoning off of personnel in one area to be transferred to fire-stricken areas. But why would there be a threat of a shutdown of federal parks? Are we speaking about the availability of funds for federal parks in the upcoming budget (which could also mean a possible government shutdown because of lack of funds)?

I think he is worried about events closer to you in DC..will they pass a budget and borrowing limit in time to prevent a government shutdown.

It depends on the administration and how painful they want to make the shutdown for the general public.

Will Fed shutdown bar access to Nat Forests? Nat Parks?

agesilaus
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2021
The question is political in that different administration behave differently. The previous admin allowed campers to continue to use the camps, the one before did not and even attempted to block parking nearby and closed down camps run by private contractors who were not funded directly by the government.. So you just will not know until it happens. You can guess which way it will go.
bgum
Explorer
Sep 24, 2021
No hard and fast answer.
charlestonsouth
Explorer
Sep 24, 2021
Profdant, because I live on the southern east coast, I probably don't understand (or not paying close attention) to what is happening on the west coast. I did read about the closures from Washington state through California state because of the fires and syphoning off of personnel in one area to be transferred to fire-stricken areas. But why would there be a threat of a shutdown of federal parks? Are we speaking about the availability of funds for federal parks in the upcoming budget (which could also mean a possible government shutdown because of lack of funds)?
agesilaus
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2021
I think he is worried about events closer to you in DC..will they pass a budget and borrowing limit in time to prevent a government shutdown.
rlw999
Explorer
Sep 24, 2021
It depends on the administration and how painful they want to make the shutdown for the general public.
profdant139
Explorer II
Sep 24, 2021
Yes, charleston -- if Congress does not extend the deadline, the government will shut down on Sept. 30. Assuming that this really happens (and it has a few times in the past), the question is what effect this will have on the forests and the parks.

Again, I am making no political judgments here -- this thread is just about access to the forests and the parks.

And, as you might guess, I am on the verge of a camping trip that would be seriously affected by those closures -- so I am trying to figure out what to do. Stay home? Go and hope for the best??
agesilaus
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2021
Did they ever shut down BLM land? Our most immediate concern is COE parks, we have reservations and plan to stay at a series of them on the way back to Florida.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2021
Charlestonsouthern - it is the usual "funding will lapse if new appropriations bill isn't approved on time" shutdown.

Right now it sounds like Washington is trying to meet deadlines and prevent a shutdown, rather than using it as a threat or not caring. So that is a good sign.

I suspect that with Covid shutdowns having happened and future ones potentially possible, Washington will not want to use a federal shutdown as a political game.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2021
profdant139 wrote:

And, as you might guess, I am on the verge of a camping trip that would be seriously affected by those closures -- so I am trying to figure out what to do. Stay home? Go and hope for the best??

For me, if everything is open as of your departure date, I would go. At worst, you cut your trip short. At best, you enjoy your full trip as planned.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2021
toedtoes wrote:
Charlestonsouthern - it is the usual "funding will lapse if new appropriations bill isn't approved on time" shutdown.

Right now it sounds like Washington is trying to meet deadlines and prevent a shutdown, rather than using it as a threat or not caring. So that is a good sign.

I suspect that with Covid shutdowns having happened and future ones potentially possible, Washington will not want to use a federal shutdown as a political game.

Perhaps the fact that one party is in control of both houses and the Presidency may have an affect. It would be difficult to shift blame in that case.

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