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National Parks Returning To Mask Requirements Due To Covid

Published Date

July 30, 2021


Many national parks are requiring visitors to wear face mask in federal buildings/NPS

Across the National Park System, many units are returning to requirements that visitors wear face masks inside federal buildings. 

"Mask requirements for fully vaccinated visitors vary by park. In all parks, people who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces," the National Park Service states on nps.gov. "Masks are required for everyone on all forms of enclosed public transportation."

Here's a list of some of the units where you'll be expected to wear a mask indoors:

African Burial Ground National Monument, New York

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to the African Burial Ground NM, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings. The visitor center is closed, but this will apply when it reopens.

Arches National Park, Utah

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Arches National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Wyoming/Montana

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Bighorn Canyon in the Lovell, Wyoming, district, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Per new CDC guidance, all persons, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask inside federal buildings in counties with high or substantial transmission rates. 

Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Louisiana

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas with high transmission of COVID-19, visitors to Cane River Creole National Historical Park are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Canyonlands, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts

Seashore Centers Close as COVID Climbs from Lower Cape TV on Vimeo.

 

Castle Clinton National Monument, New York

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Castle Clinton regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings. 

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Dry Tortugas National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Everglades National Park, Florida

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Everglades National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Federal Hall National Memorial, New York

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Federal Hall NM, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside the building.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Glacier National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial/high transmission, park visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings. 

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Grand Teton, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings. 

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia

Masks required (regardless of vaccination status) on buses and inside federal buildings (including exhibits), and for those who are not vaccinated outdoors where social distancing cannot be maintained.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Joshua Tree, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission of Covid-19, visitors to Mammoth Cave National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are now required to wear a mask inside the caves and in all park buildings.

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Masks must be worn inside all park buildings regardless of vaccination status per CDC/DOI guidance based on Pierce and Lewis counties’ substantial transmission rates.

National Park of American Samoa, American Samoa

The American Samoan Government issued a travel restriction on those coming from/transiting through US states with confirmed coronavirus cases. Must spend 14-days in Hawaii and acquire health clearance 3-days before entry into American Samoa.

North Cascades National Park, Washington

Consistent with CDC guidance, visitors to North Cascades National Park Service Complex, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings and on all forms of enclosed public transportation.

Olympic National Park, Washington

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Olympic National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Following guidance from the CDC and guidance from state and local public health officials in consultation with NPS Public Health Service officers, visitors and staff must wear a mask to enter any public building, including the visitor center, even if vaccinated.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Saguaro National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings. This includes the visitor centers.

Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site, New York

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to St. Paul's Church N.H.S., regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside the historic church on the self-guided tours.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, California

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Shenandoah National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Florida

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Montana/Idaho

Consistent with CDC guidance, visitors to Yellowstone, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask indoors and in all public and commercial transportation.

Yosemite National Park, California

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Yosemite, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.

Zion National Park, Utah

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Zion National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings and shuttle buses.

Check the websites for parks not on this list to see what their requirements are.

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