Memorial Day flag raising at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site/NPS file

Editor's note: This updates with information on Curecanti National Recreation Area, Mount Rainier National Park, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.

Crowds, reservations, and fire danger all will be present in corners of the National Park System during the Memorial Day Weekend that is the traditional kickoff for summer travel.

Here's a look at what you can expect in some parks this weekend:

Acadia National Park, Maine

The National Park Service is expecting high visitation at Acadia this Memorial Day Weekend. Visitors should plan their trip and expect crowds, traffic congestion, and limited parking throughout the park.

Park staff encourages visitors to arrive with a plan and a backup plan. Go to nps.gov/Acadia to learn about places to go and things to do in the park before you arrive. Have a backup plan in case parking is unavailable. Park responsibly and only in designated parking spaces—parking illegally is unsafe and adds to the traffic congestion. Consider leaving your car at your place of lodging for the day and use village connector trails or the carriage roads to reach your destination. The Island Explorer does not begin service on Mount Desert Island until June 23. Also, consider downloading the NPS App to help guide your visit (select “Save this park for offline use” since connectivity in the park is not reliable).

Hikers should know the difficulty of the park’s trails and select those that match their abilities (many of Acadia’s hikes are more challenging than they seem). Carry a detailed trail map with topography and don't rely on cell connectivity for trail navigation. Seventy percent of injuries to hikers in Acadia are due to slips, trips and falls. Wear sturdy footwear and beware of loose gravel, slippery rock, steep climbs and uneven surfaces.

Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road from May 25 through October 22, which must be purchased online at Recreation.gov before arriving. Print or download the ticket with the QR code for validation. Reservations are not available to purchase in person. Vehicle reservations are not required for other locations in the park or for visitors who enter the area by foot, bicycle or taxi.

Visitors over the age of 15 are required to have a park entrance pass, which can be purchased online at Recreation.gov or at locations in and around the park. Vehicles must display a park entrance pass through the windshield. Your fees help enhance the visitor experience and protect resources at Acadia National Park.

Campsite reservations must be made on Recreation.gov, but most of the park’s campsites are already reserved for the Memorial Day Weekend. There are no same day reservations, and no campsites are available for request upon arrival. Backcountry camping, campfires and overnight parking are prohibited outside of designated campgrounds.

Depending on CDC guidelines and the COVID-19 community level in Hancock County, masks may be required to enter park buildings, including the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, regardless of vaccination status.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina

Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds, picnic areas, and visitor centers open with full services for the 2022 visitor season this weekend, and National Park Service managers want to take the opportunity to remind visitors that their actions while recreating along the Parkway can help them and other park visitors have a safe and memorable visit.

“We depend on park visitors to plan ahead by checking road status ahead of their trip, learning operating schedules for facilities they hope to visit, and reserving campsites well ahead of time,” said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout. “Visitors should also be patient and flexible as popular park locations may be full during peak weekends throughout the summer and fall. We encourage you to have alternatives in mind if parking lots or trails are full, or facilities are closed when you arrive at their parkway destinations.”

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the largest designed landscapes in the country, providing visitors with a wide variety of opportunities to experience southern Appalachian nature, history, and culture. The park’s drive-a-while, stop-a-while design enhances the experience; and whether at milepost 0 or 469, driving the scenic route, hiking a trail or taking in a concert or ranger program, Parkway officials remind visitors to have a plan and recreate responsibly. A complete schedule of open facilities is also available on the Parkway’s website.

Multiple road projects are also underway this season. The Parkway website and road status page are important planning tools that provide milepost-by-milepost status information daily with links to additional project information or detour maps where applicable. In addition to previously announced projects for Laurel Fork Bridge, slope repairs, and completion of road projects in Roanoke, Virginia, visitors may experience intermittent or one lane closures related to additional paving projects in some North Carolina overlooks, parking areas and picnic areas or preventative bridge maintenance work at several bridges in Virginia and North Carolina.

This season, public health and masking requirements may vary along the parkway based on local conditions. Weekly updates will be posted on the Parkway’s Alerts and Updates webpage and in park facilities. In areas the CDC identifies as high COVID-19 community level, masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings regardless of vaccination status. In most low and medium COVID-19 community level areas, masks are optional, but visitors should follow signs and instructions from park staff and volunteers. Visitors are always welcome to wear a mask if it makes them more comfortable.

Wooden debris from house collapses litters the beaches at Cape Hatteras National Seashore/NPS file

Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina

Due to the potential for injury from both sand-covered and fully exposed home debris associated with the two homes that collapsed on May 10, Cape Hatteras National Seashore encourages visitors to wear hard soled footwear on the beach between Rodanthe and Salvo, N.C. Sharp debris may also be found in areas south of Salvo.

While much of the large debris has been removed by a variety of beach cleanup efforts, miles of small pieces of debris remains on and under the surface of the beach. The seashore is aware of the presence of wood with exposed nails, splintered wooden fragments and other debris that could be harmful to beachgoers without hard soled footwear.

Additionally, erosion at the Buxton Beach Access has exposed PVC pipes and other previously underground items associated with decommissioned military facilities in the area that were not removed. The seashore is in the process of cutting the pipes and removing as much of the exposed debris as possible.

Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado

The Lake Fork boat ramp will open for the season on Saturday May 28, 2022. It will be open daily from 5:30 am to 9:00 pm, along with the Elk Creek and Iola boat launch ramps. The Stevens Creek and Ponderosa boat launch ramps are currently closed. Aquatic invasive inspections are required for motorized and trailered watercraft at the boat ramps.

The three reservoirs of Curecanti National Recreation area, Crystal, Morrow Point, and Blue Mesa are open for recreational opportunities for the summer season. The Elk Creek Marina is closed for the 2022 summer season and the status of the Lake Fork Marina is currently being evaluated.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pennsylvania/New Jersey

Starting Friday, visitors who wish to use any of the 62 primitive river campsites along the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area will have to make a reservation and pay a $16 per site/per night fee. The fee and reservation system has been successfully piloted at six river campsites on the Pennsylvania side of the park known as Alosa since 2015 and is now being expanded to include all river campsites in the park.

The expanded reservation and campsite fee initiative is part of a larger strategy outlined in the park’s Visitor Use Management Plan to improve access and enhance visitor experiences while also protecting fragile resources along the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River, one of the park’s most popular and vulnerable destinations.

The new system allows visitors to make a reservation within one of five designated river zones, selecting from several different sites within that zone upon arrival. The zoned system is intended to disperse use throughout the entire 40-mile river corridor, whereas current use has been concentrated in a few areas where the impacts of overuse are evident. The five zones are as follows:

• Zone 1- North Park boundary to Milford Beach
• Zone 2- Milford Beach to Dingmans Boat Launch
• Zone 3- Dingmans Boat Launch to Bushkill Boat Launch
• Zone 4- Bushkill Boat Launch to Smithfield Beach
• Zone 5-Smithfield Beach to Kittatinny Point

Reservations should be made via recreation.gov.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Washington

The  Community Military Appreciation Committee  will present Vancouver's Memorial Day Observance Monday, May 30, at 11 a.m. This annual ceremony at the Bandstand on the Vancouver Barracks Parade Ground honors men and women who have lost their lives in service of our country. Visitors may view the garrison flag raising, Washington Army National Guard Howitzer cannon firing, and a wreath laying ceremony in honor of fallen heroes. Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance is free of charge.

CMAC organizes this annual event with the support of its partners: the City of Vancouver, National Park Service, Clark County, Waste Connections, Boy Scouts of America, Young Marines, and 40 et 8. For over 170 years, the Vancouver Barracks has been a center for military community. The Vancouver Barracks is now preserved by the National Park Service at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. NPS Facility Manager Alex Patterson shared, "Events like Memorial Day showcase the modern relevance of this historic site, and the enduring connection between the military post and this community."

Yeah, it's going to be crowded at Grand Canyon National Park this weekend/NPS file

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park this weekend should expect long lines and full parking lots. Traffic regularly backs up at all entrance stations, with the longest wait times between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Parking lots, especially near the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, will reach capacity by 12 p.m. and shuttle bus lines will be long.

Visitors should follow these tips in preparing to visit the South Rim:

• Arrive early (before 9 a.m.) or later in the day (after 5 p.m.).
• Monitor the South Entrance Station Webcam to help time your arrival.
• Buy your park pass online or in Tusayan at one of the following businesses – IMAX Theater, Canyon Plaza Resort, Red Feather Lodge, and Westwind Air Service.
• To lessen wait times, visitors with prepaid passes entering the South Entrance should use Lane 1, the prepaid pass lane.
• If arriving from the east on I-40 or from Phoenix on I-17, consider taking US 89 from Flagstaff north to Cameron, Ariz. and then west on State Route 64 to the East Entrance of the park, where you can enjoy your first views of the Grand Canyon from Desert View.
• If you are a day-use visitor or are spending the night in the gateway community of Tusayan, park in Tusayan and take a shuttle bus to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, where you can access trails, scenic viewpoints, and the in-park shuttle bus system. The Tusayan Route will run from May 28 through Sept 9, 2022.
• Day-use visitors in RVs or pulling a trailer should park in Tusayan and take the shuttle. If you choose to drive into the park, please go to parking lots 1, B or D.
• Consider taking the train from Williams, Ariz.

You'll need a reservation to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road through Glacier National Park this summer/NPS file

Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier National Park staff reminds visitors that vehicle reservations are required for the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor and the North Fork area of the park starting May 27 through September 11. A vehicle reservation is only needed from the east side at Rising Sun when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open for the season. Visitors can access the community of Polebridge without a vehicle reservation as it lies just outside the entrance station to the park. Visitors can follow the Going-to-the-Sun Road status on the park's website.

Advanced reservations are exclusively available on Recreation.gov. Visitors will not be able to obtain a reservation at the park. 24-hour advanced reservations will be released at 8 a.m. MDT the day before the effective date on Recreation.gov. All 120-day advanced vehicle reservations for the 2022 season have been released.

Vehicle reservations are needed to enter the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor at the West Glacier Entrance, Camas Entrance and Rising Sun checkpoint (located 6 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance) from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. North Fork area reservations are required between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Reservations are not required for any other portions of the park (for example Many Glacier, Two Medicine, St. Mary or Chief Mountain Highway) and visitors are still subject to the per vehicle entrance pass fee.

Visitors with service reservations along the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor and in the North Fork area of the park do not need a vehicle reservation. Valid service reservations will serve as a vehicle reservation for the day of the service reservation and include lodging, camping, commercial tours, etc. Please visit the park’s Vehicle Reservation System page for more information.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Montana

In honor of America’s veterans, active duty personnel, and casualties from the nation’s wars, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument will host a Memorial Day program at the Visitor Center on Monday, May 30, at 11 a.m. The program includes a keynote speaker, as well as posting of the colors by the Hardin (Montana) American Legion Post #8.

In preparation for Memorial Day, each grave of the approximately 5,000 persons interred at Custer National Cemetery will be decorated with a small American flag by students from Pretty Eagle Catholic School and Lodge Grass Elementary School. More information about the cemetery, as well as a register of interments, is available at the visitor center. Memorial floral decorations are encouraged at Custer National Cemetery gravesites, but must be removed by the following Monday, June 6.

Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Massachusetts

Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site opens for its 50th anniversary season this holiday weekend. Beginning Friday, free ranger-led house tours will resume each Friday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with tours starting at the top of the hour. The site will also offer special, deep-dive tours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 2:30 p.m. beginning on June 17, as well at evening tours on the fourth Friday of each month beginning on June 24.

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Although 13 feet of snow remains on the ground at Paradise, many areas within Mount Rainier National Park will be accessible to visitors beginning Memorial Day Weekend. Preparing for the season involves plowing winter snow from park roads, cleaning up the roadsides and ditches, placing information and regulatory signs along the roadways of newly opened areas and starting up water and utility systems. Park visitors should be prepared for snow-covered trails at high elevations; only some low-elevation trails are snow free at this time. Hiking safety information can be found on the park’s website.

Some locations will have a delayed opening due to the lingering heavy winter snowpack, including Tipsoo Lake and Chinook Pass. Impacts from the significant rain event in November 2021 caused substantial damage to the pedestrian suspension bridge on the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail; that trail will remain closed at the junction with the Eastside Trail. The park’s highest elevation developed areas, including Sunrise, the White River Campground, and Mowich Lake will reopen later in the season.

Here is status updates on popular areas within Mount Rainier National Park:

• Paradise Inn...Open
• National Park Inn at Longmire...Open
• Jackson Visitor Center (Paradise)...Open Thursday-Monday, Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Daily operations start Saturday, June 4.
• Stevens Canyon Road...Open to Bench/Snow Lake Trailhead. Closed to all traffic, including bicycles, between Bench Lake and the Grove of the Patriarchs (this closure includes Box Canyon).
• Cougar Rock Campground Loops D and E...Open for first-come, first-served campers on Saturday, May 28. F Loop/Group Loop is reservation only. All campers are required to check in with a ranger to obtain a campsite. Vehicles are limited to 35-foot or smaller RVs, and 27-foot or smaller travel trailers.
• Ohanapecosh Campground Loops A, B, and C...Open for first-come, first-served campers on Saturday, May 28. Group sites are reservation only. All campers are required to check in with a ranger to obtain a campsite. Vehicles are limited to 32-foot or smaller RVs, and 27-foot or smaller travel trailers.
• White River Road to White River Entrance...Open Friday, May 27
• Box Canyon Picnic Area & Restrooms...Closed; inaccessible
• Grove of the Patriarchs Trail...Closed
• Grove of the Patriarchs Parking Area...Open
• Wilderness Information Centers...Open Friday, May 27
• Carbon River...Open with limited parking
• White River Road...Open from State Route 410 to White River Picnic Area parking lot on Friday, May 27 (no access to Sunrise or White River Campground)
• Sunrise Closed, opens later in the season
• White River Campground Closed, opens later in the season
• Mowich Lake Closed, opens later in the season
• State Route 123 (within park boundaries)...Open Friday, May 27
• Chinook Pass Closed, reopening mid- to late-June
• Tipsoo Lake Closed, reopening mid- to late-June

Pea Ridge National Military Park, Arkansas

On Saturday, Pea Ridge NMP will host members of “Post #37,” a living history organization representing Union veterans of the Civil War, in their recreation of an 1898 veterans’ reunion and encampment at the historic Elkhorn Tavern.

“Post #37” represents Union veterans of the Civil War who, under the umbrella of the Grand Army of the Republic, played an important role in late 19th-century politics, in fostering patriotism and good citizenship, and in establishing a national policy for the commemoration and remembrance of their comrades and their sacrifices.

“Since the Grand Army of the Republic was the first national organization to establish an annual day of remembrance known as Commemoration Day, later renamed ‘Memorial Day,’ offering this program to visitors on the Pea Ridge Battlefield and on Memorial Day weekend has very special meaning to us,” said Kip Lindberg, the event organizer.

In addition to explaining the Grand Army of the Republic, and its role in establishing a national Memorial Day, “Post #37” members will offer visitors the opportunity to join them for first-person "guided tours," of the area around the Elkhorn tavern, with the “veterans” retelling their experiences of the battle. Tours will be offered on the hour between 10AM and 4PM and will last approximately 30 minutes. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather, bring drinking water, bug repellant and walking shoes.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California

Fire restrictions are being implemented in the lower-elevation areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to reduce the risk of wildfire to protect people, public lands, resources, and facilities.

Additionally, through these fire restrictions, the park staff is reducing the potential need to request additional fire and medical resources from their county, state, and federal partners. If outside resources are assisting on an incident in the parks, that commitment could limit their response to the wider community for emergencies.

“After last year’s KNP Complex Fire and the extraordinary drought conditions in the state, we need to take the proper measures to protect the public and our wildland firefighters,” said John Ziegler, parks’ fire management officer. “The purpose of fire restrictions is to reduce the risk of unwanted human-caused wildfire in the parks’ high-risk areas at this time of the year.”

Fire restrictions may also be extended or modified due to changes in fire danger and conditions within the parks. Therefore, directed by the superintendent of the parks, the following Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will be effective at 6 a.m. on Friday, May 27.

• Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are prohibited in Potwisha, Buckeye, and South Fork campgrounds. All fires and stoves are allowed in all other campgrounds.
• Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are prohibited below 6,000 feet in wilderness. Year-round elevation/site-specific wilderness fire restrictions also apply.
• Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are prohibited in Hospital Rock and Foothills picnic areas. All fires and stoves are allowed in all other designated picnic areas.
• Smoking is also prohibited below 6,000 feet, except within an enclosed vehicle, a building in which smoking is allowed, a campground or picnic area where wood and charcoal fires are allowed, or a designated smoking area.
• Gas, propane, alcohol (with and without a shutoff valve) and tablet/cube stoves are still permitted in all areas.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Old Rag day-hiking tickets are sold out for Saturday and Sunday, and there's limited availability for Monday. Campground reservations are also sold out for the weekend and first-come, first-served sites are expected to go quickly. Shenandoah’s social media will provide updates. Lodging is also fully booked. And, Shenandoah is a popular day-trip destination, so all indications are that Memorial Day weekend will be a very busy time. 

Superintendent Pat Kenney encourages visitors to be sure to plan ahead.

"We want people to enjoy their national park and Shenandoah National Park is a great place to explore and recreate," he said. "Memorial Day weekend is an especially busy time and planning your visit will help make the most of your trip. Visitors should expect crowds and congestion on Skyline Drive, at picnic areas, and along popular trails. Planning your visit is critical." 

Shenandoah offers several tips for planning: 

• Buy your entrance pass ahead of time at www.recreation.gov to expedite your entry.  
• Download the NPS app and use it to plan your activities and navigate through the park. Be sure to toggle the “Download Offline Content” switch so the app will work despite lack of service.  
• Use the website, www.nps.gov/shen to plan your hikes and download maps before you arrive.  
• Look for less popular hikes to avoid crowds and be sure everyone in your group is physically capable of the hikes you choose. 
• Be sure to have the essentials like water, snacks, a flashlight or headlamp, sturdy shoes, layers, and a plan if something goes wrong. 
• Keep an eye on the weather and be especially aware of predicted lightning. 
• Don’t depend on your cell phone since coverage is spotty. 
• Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of a full schedule of ranger programs, so plan to join one or more to learn more about Shenandoah. 

Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

Weather-permitting, the road from Tower Fall to Canyon Junction (Dunraven Pass) should be open. However, due to expected cool weather, including rain and snow through the weekend, visitors should anticipate potentially hazardous driving conditions, temporary road closures and driving delays throughout Yellowstone National Park. Plan to have alternate routes for travel should the road close.

You can stay informed about up-to-date road conditions in Yellowstone by visiting the park's road status page, or signing up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting “82190” to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions). You also can call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message.

Zion National Park, Utah

If you plan to travel to Zion National Park during Memorial Day Weekend, the National Park Service wants you to know what to expect. In 2021, Zion recorded about 100,000 visits from Friday to Monday during that weekend.

This year the NPS anticipates:

• Long lines at entrance stations, visitor centers, restrooms, and at trailheads.
• Lengthy waits to board park shuttles in Springdale and Zion National Park.
• Intermittent closures at the park’s east and south vehicle entrance stations.
• Heavy traffic in Springdale and throughout the park.

“If you visit this weekend, pack your patience,” said park spokesperson Jonathan Shafer. “We want you to enjoy your visit, and we want to be realistic about what you can expect during your time in the park. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is about seven miles long and has about a dozen well-known hikes to offer. Be prepared to see lots of other people, be aware that parking usually fills early in the day and remember that we may close vehicle entrance gates to reduce crowding and congestion.”

When vehicle entrances temporarily close, drivers will not be able to enter the park. If you need to travel through the park during the holiday weekend and you do not plan to stop for recreation, consider alternate routes such as:

• Utah 20.
• Utah 14.
• US 89 – Arizona 389 – Utah 59.

Extreme drought conditions in the West have heightened fire danger/NOAA

Fire Danger In The Parks

The following park units have fire restrictions in place:

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

The following additional restrictions are in effect:

• Closure of Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness Area and all backcountry areas to day use. This includes access to all permit caves and the following park trails: Old Guano, Slaughter Canyon, Yucca Canyon, Guadalupe Ridge, Rattlesnake Canyon, Juniper Ridge, Double Canyon, and Ussery.
• Closure of Yucca Canyon and Slaughter Canyon access roads due to tall grass in some parking areas.
• Open flames and cooking stoves are prohibited throughout the park.

The following previous restrictions remain in effect:

• Closure of Walnut Canyon Desert Drive due to tall grass in some parking areas.
• Charcoal and wood fires are prohibited.
• Smoking is prohibited, except inside personal vehicles.
• Overnight backcountry camping is prohibited.
• Permitting of overnight backcountry trips is suspended.

The following areas remain open: the main park road to Carlsbad Cavern and the visitor center, Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail, Walnut Canyon Overlook Trail, and Rattlesnake Springs.

Extreme fire danger continues to persist due to prolonged hot, dry, and windy weather. These factors result in extremely dry vegetation that is highly susceptible to even the smallest spark.

On May 20, 14 new fires were reported within the Southwest region. 

Grand Canyon Natinoal Park, Arizona

Due to warm and dry weather conditions and increasing fire danger, Grand Canyon National Park has implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions for the South Rim, North Rim and Inner Canyon. The restriction encompasses the entire park, including all campgrounds, residential areas, backcountry sites, and developed recreation sites including: Phantom Ranch, Cottonwood Campground, Indian Garden Campground and the Colorado River corridor.

Stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit the following:

• All wood burning and charcoal fires, including campfires, warming fires, and charcoal barbeques are prohibited. The use of liquid petroleum or LPG fueled devices that can be turned on and off, such as stoves, lanterns, or heating devices are allowed if used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 3 feet of the device. This prohibition does not apply to the use of any type of fire for the purposes of lighting charcoal for cooking within the Colorado River corridor shoreline.
• Outdoor smoking, except as specifically exempted within an enclosed vehicle.
• Using explosives or any incendiary device; fireworks are always prohibited on public lands.
• Operating or using any internal combustion engine such as chainsaws, wood splitters, weed eaters, generators, welders, or any other devices that can cause a fire are prohibited. This prohibition does not include street legal vehicles. Exception: Permits for work with these devices can be granted through the GRCA hot work permit process managed by GRCA Structure Fire.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

Guadalupe Mountains National Park has implemented the following restrictions due to heightened fire danger:

• All trails in the Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness are closed to public use. This includes all the following trails: Bear Canyon, Bowl, Blue Ridge, Bush Mountain, El Capitan, Foothills, Frijole, Juniper, Marcus, McKittrick Canyon, Permian Reef, Smith Spring, and Tejas.
• The McKittrick Canyon Road, including the McKittrick Canyon Visitor Center are closed.
• The Dog Canyon developed area, including the Indian Meadow Nature Trail and the Dog Canyon Campground, are closed.
• The Frijole Ranch Road, the Frijole Horse Corral Campground, and the Frijole Ranch Museum are closed.
• All previous closures and restrictions of April 14 and April 21 remain in effect.

The Salt Basin Dunes trailhead and trail remain open; caution is advised due to heat risk. The Pine Springs area, including the Pine Springs Visitor Center, Campground, and Trailhead will remain open. Trails in the Pine Springs area open for day use only are Guadalupe Peak, Devil’s Hall, and Pinery.

Montezuma Castle National Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument, Arizona

Montezuma Castle (including the Montezuma Well Unit) and Tuzigoot have posted the following prohibitions:

• Smoking, including Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (E.N.D.S.), except when inside a personal vehicle.
• Any open flame source within the boundaries of the National Park Service without a written permit authorized by the superintendent or their designee. Includes igniting, building, maintaining a fire of wood/charcoal briquettes. Use of stove or grill fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or pressurized liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels is allowed with a working shut off switch and in designated areas which are free of combustibles.
• Building, maintaining, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal, coal, and briquettes. This includes smudge pots and wood stoves. The only exception is using a stove or grill that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or pressurized liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels.).
• Operating a chainsaw or other equipment between the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. powered by an internal combustion engine until further notice. An exception is allowed for operating generators with an approved spark arrestor in an area barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the generator.