Colorado national park to go fully cashless
DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado national park is officially going cashless for all fee collection.
On Monday, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park said it will transition to a fully cashless fee system effective immediately. All visitors must use mobile or electronic payments for entrance, camping and permit fees.
'Transition to electronic payment is safer, reduces transaction times, allows for reservations and prepayment and improves accountability,' said the National Park Service in a press release.
All entrance and campground fees, as well as wilderness route permits, can be purchased online.
RMNP visitorship falls, but these Colorado national parks saw an increase: data
Those wishing to camp at Black Canyon National Park have the option to pay for first-come, first-served spots. Guests can use the Scan and Pay option on the Recreation.gov mobile app by scanning the QR code at the campground spot and completing their payment. The Scan and Pay system also works in remote areas without a cell signal.
According to the National Park Service, 95% of in-person sales at the park use credit and debit.
'Cash handling costs include park rangers' time counting money, auditing collections, making bank deposits, storage of payment envelopes and files, and processing paperwork, most of which is remedied through cashless sales. The transition to cashless payments will allow the NPS to redirect cash-processing time and direct costs to other work that directly benefits park visitors,' said NPS.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is near Montrose on the Western Slope. The park is home to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America.
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9 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
I've Been Diving for 22 Years—These Are the 8 Best Reef-safe Sunscreens I've Tried
I was 13 the first time I saw a coral reef. The endless blue of the ocean gave way to an explosion of color unlike anything I'd seen before. Colorful schools of fish moved around vibrant corals while the sun shone through, glittering like a stained glass window set aflame by the sun. In the 22 years since that moment, I've been fortunate enough to go snorkeling and diving all over the world, from the cold waters of Jeju Island in Korea to the warmth of the Indian Ocean in Seychelles and numerous places in the Caribbean. Although coral reefs are still magical, there is an uncomfortable truth anyone who knows the ocean has to painfully acknowledge: Corals are dying. According to the National Park Service, swimmers leech an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen into the ocean every year, and sunscreen has been linked to coral bleaching—a phenomenon wherein coral loses its vibrant pigment and turns white over time, becoming weak and susceptible to starvation and death. It's been a long time since I've seen a truly thriving reef; even the one I visited in middle school is mostly bleached now. Though we may not individually have the power to reverse climate change, there are smaller—albeit very significant—actions that we can take, like switching to reef-safe sunscreens. Since terms like 'reef-safe' are unregulated, consumers should look out for specific ingredients when choosing an eco-conscious sunscreen, especially oxybenzone and octinoxate. Now banned in places like Hawaii, Mexico, and Aruba, these ingredients aren't just harmful for marine life, but have also been linked to hormone disruption in humans. Other toxic ingredients to avoid include non-nano-sized zinc or titanium, parabens, and triclosan. To keep coral reefs as healthy as possible while diving, I've tested out several reef-safe sunscreens. Keep scrolling for eight travel-friendly, reef-safe sunscreens I recommend that are perfectly sized for stowing in your carry-on luggage. 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Travel + Leisure
a day ago
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This National Park Has Some of the Oldest Pueblos in North America—and They're Carved Directly Into a Cliff
In southwest Colorado, where the Rocky Mountains give way to canyons and mesas, is one of the most intimate places you can connect with ancient history in the United States. In Mesa Verde National Park, you'll find elaborate villages tucked beneath sandstone overhangs. These cliff dwellings were built by the Ancestral Pueblo people and date back more than 700 years. The historic structures provide a rare glimpse into a civilization that built complex homes, ceremonial kivas, and irrigation systems. 'Mesa Verde is unique because it is a national park telling the story of people on the landscape. Even though all national parks have human stories, the Ancestral Pueblo people, the ancestral sites they built, and the park's connection to modern Pueblos and Tribes are key here,' said Dalton Dorrell, a park ranger on Mesa Verde's Interpretation and Visitor Services team. These dwellings are some of the best preserved in the world and are the hallmark of Mesa Verde National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its rare blend of cultural heritage and natural beauty, Mesa Verde isn't just a stop or another national park on the list—it's a journey into the deep history of the American Southwest. Dalton Dorrell is a park ranger on the Interpretation and Visitor Services team at Mesa Verde National Park. He has worked for the National Park Service for over 10 years. Brian Bartlett is the tourism director and CEO at Mesa Verde Country, a local organization that provides information for travelers visiting Mesa Verde National Park and the surrounding area. Scenic view of Mesa Verde National Park from the Visitor and Research Center. JohnMesa Verde National Park is open daily, year-round. No reservations are needed to enter the park, and entrance passes are $20 per vehicle during the low season (Oct. 23–April 30) and $30 during the high season (May 1–Oct. 22). Passes are good for seven days. If you want to walk inside one of the park's renowned cliff dwellings, you must book a tour up to 14 days in advance. Cliff dwelling tours run from May to October, ending in the winter. The park is still open in the colder months, but many of the facilities close, including the lodge, campground, and most dining options. It is worth noting that all of the park's historic sites and cliff dwellings are at least 45 minutes by car (one way) from the park's entrance on Highway 160. Brian Bartlett, the tourism director and CEO of Mesa Verde Country, advises travelers to 'gas up before you come as there is almost no fuel to be purchased in the park.' The park is also completely cashless, so bring a card. And finally, Mesa Verde National Park is different from most because it contains so much human history. The ancestral sites are extremely important to the park's 26 affiliated tribes and are also very fragile. "Two easy ways you can visit with respect is to not touch or sit on ancestral site walls and to leave any artifact where you find it," Dorrell said. The Mesa Top Loop Road Ruins contains some of the most elaborate Pueblo dwellings found today. Christian Kober/robertharding/Getty Images The park is between the Colorado towns of Cortez and Mancos, near the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado meet. It shares some land with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe reservation. The nearest airports to Mesa Verde National Park are Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ), about 36 miles away, Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), about 70 miles away, and Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN) in Farmington, New Mexico, 89 miles away. If you're flying in, you'll need to rent a car, as there's no way to get to or around the park by public transportation. It's a 45-minute drive from the park entrance off of Highway 160 to the first view of a cliff dwelling. The best time to visit Mesa Verde National Park is in late spring and early fall, when the cliff dwellings are still open, but the peak travel season of summer hasn't quite begun yet. The popular, ranger-led cliff dwelling tours begin in May and end in mid to late October. 'I really enjoy September and October in the park," said Dorrell. "It's cooler, there are still tours occurring in parts of the park, and some days are slower. If you do visit during that time, be sure to check the weather. Some years we can start getting snow that early." However, there's a reason why summer is a popular time to visit: the weather is more reliable around this time of year, and the park is usually fully open. Plus, summer comes with wildflowers and chances to spot wildlife, including bears and bobcats. Winter isn't a bad time to visit, either, and you can see sites like Spruce Tree House covered in snow, or you could even cross-country ski or snowshoe the park's winter trails. However, keep in mind that many of the park's facilities close in the colder months. In addition to its national park website, you can follow Mesa Verde's Facebook page, where delayed openings and temporary park closures are posted. Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park is the the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Daniel A. Leifheit/Getty Images Cliff Palace was once home to over 100 people and is the largest known cliff dwelling in North America. It is believed to have been built between 1190 and 1280 C.E. and has 23 kivas, or ceremonial rooms. You can see the Cliff Palace from the Cliff Palace Overlook on Cliff Palace Loop Road, but if you want to step inside this massive structure, you must book a ranger-guided tour. Tours are limited to 50 people and take 45 minutes. Tourists exploring the Balcony House ruin, an Ancient Puebloan (Anasazi) cliff dwelling that was inhabited until the 13th century. wanderluster/Getty Images If you're physically fit and enjoy a bit of a challenge, reserve a tour of Balcony House, where Dorrell said visitors must 'climb a 32-foot ladder, climb two smaller ladders, and crawl through a 12-foot tunnel.' But the effort is all worth it. The path leads to a mid-sized village of 38 rooms set inside a rock alcove. Like the Cliff Palace, the Balcony House can be viewed from the six-mile-long Cliff Palace Loop Road. Those who want to set foot in the village must book a guided tour. Bartlett recommends that first-time visitors drive the six-mile Mesa Top Loop Road, which gives a good overview of the park. The loop is open year-round and provides access to 12 archeological sites, including pueblos and pit houses. You'll also see stunning views of Square Tower House, Cliff Palace, and Sun Temple. The Mesa Top Loop Road is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. The interior and exterior of a pit house reconstruction inside the Step House ruins. Rebecca L. Latson/Getty Images The only cliff dwelling you can visit without a ranger or a reservation is the Step House on Wetherill Mesa. Visiting it lets you explore a part of Mesa Verde National Park that very few people get to see. "This year, the Weatherall Mesa Road will be open, allowing folks to access and discover the other 50 percent of the park," Bartlett said. The journey to Step House usually takes three to four hours, and the site itself requires a hike on a one-mile, steep trail. There's usually a ranger on-site to answer questions. The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings lit by lantern light sit under a star filled sky. BradWhile most people come to the park to see how early humans lived, the park becomes a stargazing destination at night. Due to its high elevation, arid climate, and distance from the nearest community, the skies above Mesa Verde tend to be clear and inky black—ideal conditions for stargazing. Mesa Verde National Park became the world's 100th International Dark Sky Park in 2021. Booking a campsite at Morefield Campground (open May through October) is a great way to see the night sky. And in late summer, the park runs evening stargazing programs. A guest room at the Far View Lodge within Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park. Morefield is the only campground in the park and is open from May to October. But if you time a visit just right, you can enjoy a night in one of the 267 campsites that dot the grassy canyon near the park's entrance. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and barbecue grill. RVs and trailers are permitted. There's also a camp store as well as showers and laundry. The only traditional accommodations within the park are at Far View Lodge, typically open from April to October. The lodge is in the center of the park, around 30 minutes from the park entrance. The rooms in Far View Lodge have private balconies, Wi-Fi, and free guest parking. Pets are allowed, and there are ADA accessible rooms. The property also has a lounge and bar, and a dining room. Mesa Verde Motel is in Mancos, one of the park's neighboring towns. The motel provides just the basics, but it's modern and clean with a hip Americana feel. The property has a community fire pit and an onsite coffee shop and cocktail lounge. Bartlett describes the motel 'is not to be missed.' This little gem in Cortez describes itself as "a little different than the norm"—and it's easy to see why. The Retro Inn has a host of eccentrically decorated rooms—including the hippy-dippy Woodstock Suite—and a range of interesting amenities, including lawn bowling, nostalgic board games, and old-school video games. As an added bonus, there's an outdoor theater with swings and a fire pit. For in-park fine dining, head to the Metate Room in Far View Lodge. The menu highlights regional heritage foods, including wild game, local produce, and fresh fish. Above the lodge, the aptly named Far View Lounge has views that stretch for hundreds of miles and it's a great place to get a pre or post-dinner drink. 'While in the park one must dine at the incredible Metate Room, enjoy a cocktail at the Far View Lounge, and enjoy our incredible dark skies firsthand," Bartlett said. Another favorite of Bartlett's is Cortez's Loungin' Lizard, located on Main Street. The restaurant and bar are set in a hip, contemporary space and serve unique fare like elk shepherd's pie, pork belly tacos, and spicy barbecue chicken pizza. In Mancos, The Boathouse on Grand is the place to be. It's run by locals Jenn and Dave Stewart and has a seasonal menu that changes throughout the week. They're also known for their menu of Spanish sherries and vermouth, served by the glass.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
From research to restrooms: Summer staffing crunch hits national parks after Trump cuts
By Steve Gorman and Tim Reid CODY, Wyoming (Reuters) -At Yosemite National Park in California, one of the oldest and most popular U.S. natural preserves, the workforce is stretched so thin this season that nearly all staffers, even scientists, are required to take turns cleaning campground toilets, according to two people familiar with conditions there. The staff hydrologist and an invasive species expert have also been posted at entry gates to process visitors, a job normally handled by lower-paid seasonal workers and junior staff, one of the sources said. It's a reflection of a severe worker shortage in national parks across the country, which have been under budget and understaffed for years, that has been made worse by cuts to the federal workforce by President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk's cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency. The NPS said in an email to Reuters that park staff may be asked to take on extra roles to keep parks safe and open. "At times, team members may step into a range of responsibilities outside their usual scope to help ensure continued access, safety, and stewardship across the park system," the NPS said. It encouraged park visitors to take responsibility for planning ahead, including checking park alerts and understanding site guidelines. In Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, 500 miles (800 km) to the north, workers are so overextended that the loss of just one plow truck driver in the high-elevation park would make it impossible to clear ice and snow from roads before travelers return en masse in the coming weeks, said Kevin Heatley, who quit as park superintendent in May in frustration over staff shortages. Conservation advocates point to such extremes as signs that the National Park Service, already strained from growing numbers of visitors and years of lean funding, may be facing a busy but uncertain summer season. The NPS has lost 13% of its 20,000-strong workforce since Trump took office in January, according to the National Parks Conservation Association, a watchdog-advocacy group, which attributes much of the drop to job eliminations and staff taking buyouts offered by DOGE. The Trump administration has not provided its own figures. The risk of a public backlash against Trump if conditions at the national parks prove unpleasant for visitors this summer is significant. While Americans are increasingly divided on a range of key issues, the vast majority cherish the parks as national treasures and beloved, affordable vacation getaways. And they are visiting them in record numbers. Last year, national parks welcomed more than 331 million visitors, a new high, up 6 million from 2023. Anna Kelly, Trump's deputy White House press secretary, told Reuters the parks will be in pristine condition for visitors. "President Trump is ensuring agencies across the country run more efficiently while preserving great services for the American people," Kelly said. 'A REALLY TOUGH SUMMER' Difficulties some parks have experienced hiring and retaining sufficient numbers of park rangers and search-and-rescue personnel pose a potential risk to visitor safety, said Kristen Brengel, a senior executive for the NPCA. Fewer emergency rescue personnel mean it could take longer to reach stranded hikers suffering from heat exhaustion or injuries. A smaller park ranger force, Brengel said, means more visitors may venture too close to wild bison, scalding geysers and steep ledges, or into the rugged backcountry without sufficient water or gear. "This is going to be a really tough summer for most parks," Brengel said. The NPS did not respond to a Reuters query about the NPCA's concerns about potential safety issues. Yellowstone's superintendent, Cam Sholly, insists staffing at the geothermal wonderland, the nation's oldest national park and one of the most visited, "is higher this year than it has been at any point in the last five years going into the summer." "Our critical positions are filled," he said last month at an annual season-opening luncheon in Cody, Wyoming, a gateway city at the park's eastern edge. PARK LEADER QUITS For some park leaders the going got tough even before summer arrived. Heatley quit his job just five months after becoming Crater Lake superintendent. He told Reuters the park has been understaffed for years, but recent cuts by the Trump administration, and demands by DOGE, such as telling federal workers to send a weekly email justifying their jobs, have caused low morale and long hours. He said he resigned because he felt he could no longer protect the health and safety of his staff, or that of visitors. The park - famous for the cobalt colors of its lake, the deepest in the United States - gets so much snow and ice in winter - over 36 feet (11 meters) of snow this year alone – that clearing roads ahead of tourist season is vital. "Crater Lake is at a point where we can't afford to lose a single staff member," he said. The park currently has 45 permanent employees but has 18 vacant positions, which remain unfilled because of Trump's hiring freeze. "Crater Lake is on a precipice. It's like a starving man and you are taking away another half of his rations." LOW STAFFING BEFORE TRUMP Others are more upbeat. Jonathan Farrington, CEO of the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, said he had been told only 13 NPS positions had been cut at Yosemite, and none involved law enforcement or public-facing positions. "The visitor experience in Yosemite will be excellent this year," he said. The National Park Service, overseen by the U.S. Interior Department, manages 85 million acres set aside for conservation and recreation inside the nation's scenic natural wonders and historic landmarks. Congress created Yosemite National Park in 1872 and the park system continued to grow, with President Woodrow Wilson signing the act creating the National Park Service in 1916. Today its portfolio consists of 433 individual park units, ranging from smaller sites like Independence Hall in Philadelphia and Ford's Theatre in Washington to 63 full-scale national parks, among them Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and the Great Smoky Mountains. Even before Trump's second term began, park staffing had declined by 20% since 2010 even as admissions rose 16% in the same period, the NPCA said, putting more pressure on infrastructure. In February, the Trump administration ordered firing 1,000 recently hired workers at the NPS. While that decision was later reversed, it means parks are now racing to rehire them even though the summer season has already begun. Perhaps mindful of potential political fallout, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in April issued a order requiring all national parks to "remain open and accessible" and to provide "the best customer service experience for all visitors." But despite a public pledge by Burgum to hire 7,700 park rangers on a seasonal basis this summer, the NPCA has information showing only 3,300 had been hired as of May 13, Brengel said. Former Yellowstone superintendent Dan Wenk told Reuters park managers would likely make do by sacrificing long-term research or wildlife and habitat management projects in order to keep roads open, nature tours going and park grounds free of litter. "If the expectations are that the parks are going to provide the same level of service this year as they did last year, that can't be met, most likely," Wenk said.
