The Buffalo National River closed Thursday to recreational use/NPS file

Editor's note: This updates with the North Cascade National Park Complex planning to close Friday and other closures around the National Park System.

Buffalo National River in Arkansas closed to recreational use on Thursday, the North Cascades National Park Complex announced plans to shutter on Friday, and other units of the National Park System were continuing to modify their access as the coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of abating.

“It breaks my heart to have to close this incredible public park. It is, however, the right thing to do to protect the people that work here, live here, visit here, and love this place," said Buffalo River Superintendent Mark Foust. "We all have to do what we can to slow and prevent the spread of the virus in and around the park. We believe this will help."

In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area continued to shrink public access.

"All trails on the Pocono Environmental Education Center campus were closed," a park release Thursday said, "and all winter closures have been extended until May 22.  In New Jersey, the extended closures include Mountain Road, Blue Mountain Lakes Road/Crater Lake Area, Watergate, Namanock, Rivers Bend Group Campground, and the dirt section of Old Mine Road.  In Pennsylvania, the extended closures include Dingmans Access, Dingmans Falls Visitor Center and Parking Area, Hialeah Picnic Area, and Valley View Group Campground.

"Without vehicles on the roads, and because they are wider than park trails, areas like Mountain Road, Blue Mountain Lakes Road, the dirt section of Old Mine Road, and the Dingmans Falls access road provide additional locations where visitors can safely maintain social distancing if they chose to visit the park at this time. Most of park’s outdoor spaces, including more than 150 miles of trails, remain accessible to the public."

At Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska, staff announced that the Bartlett Cove Public Use Dock in the park would only be open to use by individuals who meet Gustavus quarantine restrictions, or who are involved in essential activities as defined by the state and city proclamations. Dock users are also required per state and local guidance to keep six feet from others, avoid crowded situations, and limit public gatherings to less than ten people."

Elsewhere in the park system:

• Fort Monroe National Monument in Virginia has suspended all visitor programming.
• The Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site in Arkansas closed its visitor center, canceled on-site public or educational programs, and closed restrooms and other inside facilities.
• The visitor center at the Niobrara National Scenic River in Nebraska closed.

In Washington, the Trump administration drew criticism for waiting so long to close Grand Canyon National Park, which it did Wednesday.

“The Trump administration refused to close a popular public gathering place until someone got sick, which is a perfect metaphor for how it’s handled this entire pandemic,” said U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva. “When local health officials start a letter by describing extreme concern, any competent authority would take notice and act immediately. Instead the Interior Department delayed for nearly a week while the governor remained silent. Secretary Bernhardt can’t blame anyone else for his inability to make the obvious and necessary decision, and (Arizona) Governor (Doug) Ducey can’t hide behind federal authority for his unwillingness to speak out at a critical time for Arizona’s public health.”

While Interor Secretary David Bernhardt said Wednesday that he ordered the Grand Canyon closed "(A)s soon as we received the letter from the Health and Human Services Director and Chief Health Officer for Coconino County recommending the closure of Grand Canyon National Park," Coconino County health department officials had tried last week to get the park to close down, writing on Friday to Grand Canyon acting Superintendent Mary Risser with a plea to shutter the park to the visiting public.