Government Shutdown Strains Shenandoah National Park During Peak Season

Employees at Shenandoah National Park and other national parks are going unpaid during the government shutdown, during their busiest season of the year.

“National parks remain as accessible as possible during the federal government shutdown,” the National Park Service website states. “However, some services may be limited or unavailable.”

The view from the summit of Stony Man Mountain in Shenandoah National Park. Photo by Matt Chaney.

Visitors can access the contingency plan for the National Park System on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s website.

Furloughed NPS employees should pay attention to public broadcasts and government websites for information regarding their employment when the shutdown nears its end, according to the contingency plan.

The plan also states that “they will be expected to return to regular duty on the next workday immediately after the end of the lapse in appropriations.”

The Shenandoah National Park Trust is encouraging visitors to choose another “fall adventure” if they are not ready to be the park’s caretaker for the day.

“The NPS staff are already stressed, and now they’re more stressed because they’re not getting paid, but they have to go to work,” said Jessica Cocciolone, executive director of the Shenandoah National Park Trust.

The park received 1.7 million visitors in 2024, with 25% of visitation happening in October, according to Cocciolone. It could lose approximately $2 million this month.

“The park’s not collecting any money this month,” Cocciolone said. “That’s a problem.”

Cocciolone encouraged visitors to leave a $30 donation to the trust when the day pass money is not being collected, as that is what the price would normally be.

The day pass is how the park collects money outside federal funding and donations to the trust, but the park cannot charge for day passes during the shutdown.

The trash and bathrooms at the park have overflowed during past government shutdowns, because the park could not fully staff those areas, according to Cocciolone.

Another big issue is visitors going off the trail and damaging the natural resources, due to park rangers not being as readily available.

Emergency services have also been delayed during the shutdown. It could take a while to reach an individual in danger, so guests are urged to be careful and stay on the paths to avoid injuries.

Anthony Durso, a hiking enthusiast, has not been to a national park during a government shutdown until this month, but he said visitors will not see much of a difference.

“There were still some restrictions with hiking,” Durso said. “The only real difference was we didn’t have to get the day pass.”

Durso knew the shutdown might cause problems for the park, so he brought his own toilet paper, soap, water and towels.

“Just be prepared, just in case there isn’t somebody staffed at the bathroom,” Durso said. “I don’t know if they’re collecting garbage regularly.”

Virginia Park Visitors Important for Economy

Park-related tourism is important for the state, according to a previous Capital News Service report. When it comes to visitor spending, jobs supported, value added, and economic output, Virginia ranked No. 5, according to National Park Service data.

Visitors brought in over $35 billion in 2024, according to a press release from Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Youngkin applauded the 1 million additional overnight visitors who were drawn to the state’s “unmatched beauty, rich heritage, and welcoming communities.”

“When visitors choose Virginia, they’re not just taking a trip, they’re investing in our economy, our workforce, and our future,” Youngkin said.

By Carson Nealy
VCU Capital News Service

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Robertson School of Communication. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.