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Sequoia, Kings Canyon National Parks Cancel Ranger Programs, Reduce Visitor Center Hours

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Compiled from NPS releases

Published Date

March 7, 2025

Ranger programs have been canceled at Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks/NPS file

The National Park Service has canceled ranger programs at Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks until further notice, and reduced visitor center hours at the two parks in California.

The Park Service did not explain the changes when they were announced Friday afternoon, though the agency has struggled with seasonal hirings due to orders from the Trump administration, which is striving to reduce the size of the federal workforce.

Along with rescinding seasonal job offers in January before reversing direction in February under a directive from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the Park Service lost about 1,000 employees who were fired on Valentine's Day along with thousands of other federal workers. Another 700-1,000 took the administration's offer to quit now but stay on the federal payroll through the end of the fiscal year in September.

The press release said the Foothills Visitor Center, Kings Canyon Visitor Center, and Giant Forest Museum are now closed on scheduled days each week. The adjusted schedule for these visitor services are as follows: 

  • Foothills Visitor Center is open Wednesday – Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
  • Giant Forest Museum is open Friday – Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
  • Kings Canyon Visitor Center is open Thursday – Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

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