6 days Ago By John Meyer
Despite uncertainty regarding staffing at national parks, officials say Rocky Mountain National Park will celebrate a normal National Park Week between April 19-27, including a day of free admission.In January, the Trump administration rescinded job offers to 5,000 seasonal park service employees, the ones who provide most services to the public in peak months, but later the administration reversed course and told park service officials they actually could hire more seasonal employees than they did last year.Uncertainty remains, although Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently ordered national parks to “remain open and accessible,” saying they would receive the federal resources they need to do so.
Kyle Patterson, public affairs officer for Rocky Mountain National Park, wrote in an email that resources to support National Park Week events were expected to be “similar to past years.”Related ArticlesTrump administration job cuts “really” worry retiring Colorado forest service supervisorRocky Mountain National Park was the nation’s fifth-busiest in 2024 with 4,154,349 visitors, an increase of 38,152 over 2023, according to figures recently released by the park service. Great Smoky National Park was the busiest at 12.
2 million, followed by Zion (4.95 million), Grand Canyon (4.92 million) and Yellowstone (4.
74 million).Park entry fees will be waived on Saturday, although all other administrative fees remain in effect. Entry fees normally are $35 per motor vehicle and $15 for those entering on foot or by bicycle.
The park’s timed-entry reservation system doesn’t go into effect until May 23.The National Park Week observance will include events celebrating national parks and Earth Day. On April 19, National Junior Ranger Day events at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center near Estes Park will include booths, interactive activities and an opportunity for children to earn Junior Ranger badges while learning about plants, wildlife and hiking safety.
Similar activities will take place on the west side of the park at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center near Grand Lake.A full list of activities for the eight-day series is available on the park’s website.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Adventurist, to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox.
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