A number of national parks, including Grand Teton, are requiring visitors to wear face masks inside park buildings/NPS
Editor's note: This updates the list of parks that are either requiring or recommending face mask coverings in park buildings.
A number of national parks, including Grand Canyon, Olympic and Yosemite, citing increases in Covid cases, have reinstituted or are recommending face mask requirements if you enter a park building. Requirements can change from day to day, so check the website of the park you're heading to for the latest information.
The following parks are requiring visitors to wear face masks inside federal buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
Arches National Park, Utah
COVID-19 community transmission levels for Grand County has been elevated to HIGH. Masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah
The COVID-19 community transmission level for San Juan County has been elevated to HIGH. Masks are now required for everyone in all NPS buildings in the park regardless of vaccination status.
Colorado National Monument, Colorado
In accordance with CDC guidance for counties with medium to high transmission rates, masks are required in park buildings.
Death Valley National Park, California/Nevada
Masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
The park is requiring that visitors wear masks while inside any federal building within the park or while riding a park bus, except in the Walter Harper Ranger Station in Talkeetna. This applies to individuals over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status who enter common areas and shared workspaces in buildings owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the National Park Service, including, but not limited to, park visitor centers, administrative offices, lodges, gift shops, and restaurants. This policy also applies to all park buses operated by the park concessionaire, Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture, and includes all park courtesy shuttles, as well as the transit and tour buses.
Devils Postpile National Monument, California
Masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings and restroom facilities, regardless of vaccination status.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Coconino County’s Community Level is high, based on the CDC classification. Masks are now required for all individuals over the age of two years, regardless of vaccinations status, in park buildings, and on public transportation. The majority of the state has also transitioned, with 11 of 15 Arizona counties in high.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Due to current, high COVID-19 community level in Teton County, Department of Interior policy requires that masks are required for everyone in all park buildings in Grand Teton National Park, regardless of vaccination status. Park buildings include, but are not limited to visitor centers, administrative offices, lodges, gift shops, and restaurants in the Grand Teton.
Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota
Effective July 8th, masks are required at Jewel Cave. All buildings are located in Custer County, which is currently at a HIGH transmission level. Masks are currently required in the visitor center and on cave tours.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Due to a "MEDIUM" COVID-19 Community Level, masks are optional for everyone in all Mount Rainier National Park buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
Muir Woods National Monument, California
Masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings and enclosed public transportation, regardless of vaccination status.
Olympic National Park, Washington
In accordance with National Park Service masking guidance and the CDC COVID-19 Community Level tracking tool, masks are currently required for everyone in all Olympic National Park buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Masks are required inside buildings in the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Larimer and Boulder counties have been elevated to the High Level of community transmission for COVID-19. Masks are advised for Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, Moraine Park Discovery Center, Fall River Visitor Center, Alpine Visitor Center, on the Hiker Shuttle, and on in-park shuttle buses.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, California
Wearing a mask is currently required inside all park buildings.
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Wind Cave National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings and on cave tours beginning July 9, 2022.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
Masks are required for everyone on all forms of public and commercial transportation.
Yosemite National Park, California
Masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings and enclosed public transportation, regardless of vaccination status.
This is not necessary a complete list of all parks requiring face masks to be worn inside park facilities. The National Park Service is not keeping a running tally of those parks, and suggests you visit the official website of the park you intend to visit. The National Parks Traveler will try to tally all the parks with face mask requirements. If you know of one not on our list, please point it out in a comment.
Comments
To make it clear, despite your attempt to hide behind bluster and oblivion, the failed small town extemist politician is someone that we all know too well, Buck. I understand that you understand grifters far better then most, with your very minority extremist poiitical views.
How many runs for local office, all rejected? Message from your voters understood?
As a retired psych nurse I do understand envy and projection, and why you might attack someone with Fauci's education and resume. But all of them? The doctors, the nurses, all of them? "Nothing but grifters" simply shows how your political stances suffer from your lack of scientific education - and simple compassion and respect.
Sorry,Kurt.
Closer to the specific topic, the park I live near has suddenly and recently had COVID show up. Summer seasonal employees in this park, as in many others, whether academic collegiate or post-grad interns, fire fighters, law enforcement or interpretive rangers, budget analysts, or any or a dozen or more veriouis specialities, tend to have the lowest priority in housing. I've heard of some summer seasonals at some parks living in their cars. Here, I know that there are a few older houses where often four seasonals are housed in two bedroom houses. Isolation is virtually impossible and funds for improved housing conditions have long been on unfulfilled wish lists. Despite best individual efforts, virus exposures happen. Masks are no panacea, but they help. Mitigation, if not prevention. Those of us with "grey beards"; me, Buck, Kurt and others.... We can afford outside housing and medical care, but many of these seasonals are what we genially and affectionately refer to as "kids". Young adults, college students, hopeful idealists, do their best, but often are exposed. Without adequate resourxces for self care. Your Reagan era DGS attitude, Buck, is no longer cute. Not when I know indivisuals affected.
Sorry, Kurt. Rant mode/off.
By the way, for any who have been distracted by allegations against Dr. Fauci, per fact check dot org:
"Fauci told the AP that he tried to refuse the royalties, but was told by officials that he was legally obligated to accept the money. He also said he was told he should not disclose the payments on his federal financial disclosure, which is available to the public upon request, because the payments were considered federal compensation instead of outside income.
He said he opted to donate his royalties instead. "I'm going to give every penny of it to charity ... no matter what the yearly amount is," Fauci was quoted saying."
And now back to the NPS.
"How many runs for local office, all rejected?"
You tell me, you seem to think you know - and you don't.
Fauci is a fraud and unfortunately our medical systemd has morphed into one too. The independent practice of medicne has virtually disappeared. Anyone that tries it is ostricized by the industry. The numbers just don't support the contention that the typical mask worn today stops the spread. And there are plenty of scientists and doctors that say so.
Why would you believe anything Fauci said, he already admitted that he intentionally lied about the need for masks. The statements you quoted were made in 2005 and not under oath. In his sworn Senate testimony when asked if he recieved royalties for work he oversaw he said "I don't know as a fact, but I doubt it," He then went on to say over six yeas he received royalties, the low year of $21 and high of $7,700 with an average per year of $193. Do the math, hope its better than Fauci's. I suggest you read Robert Kennedy's book "The Real Anthony Fauci" to see what a real fraud he is.
OK, time to move on. We're closing this one down.