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Around the Parks: Death Valley National Park Closes

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Published Date

April 4, 2020
Death Valley National Park closed Saturday due to the coronavirus pandemic/NPS

Death Valley National Park closed Saturday due to the coronavirus pandemic/NPS

Death Valley National Park, the largest national park in the lower 48 states at roughly 3.4 million acres, closed down Saturday due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision stemmed from guidance the park received from the California Department of Public Health and Inyo and Nye counties’ public health authorities. While California State Highway 190 and Daylight Pass are open for pass-through traffic, the grounds of the park were closed to the public. Park rangers remain on duty protecting the parks, and normal rules and regulations continue to apply.

In North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park on Saturday closed park visitor centers, campgrounds, and a portion of the South Unit road.

Down in Utah, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area staff announced that at 5 p.m. Monday, April 6, it was closing all public boat ramps on Lake Powell to protect employee and visitor health and safety and provide resource protection by mitigating the risk of quagga mussel contamination to other bodies of water. This closure will remain in effect until the Utah governor lifts the “Stay at Home Directive” or a determination by health officials is made that ramp operations can be conducted safely under CDC guidelines for social distancing.

"Owners of private vessels moored at marinas will be able to access their vessels, but due to the suspension of visitor services and public safety resources on Lake Powell, voyaging outside of marinas on private vessels is prohibited," a park release said. "Multiple access areas of Lake Powell remain open for shore-based swimming and water recreation."

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