So while our elected officials sit back and play games, Las Vegas tours are grinding to a halt. or they are getting creative in working around the closures… But many people are wondering what park or recreational areas near Las Vegas are open during the Federal Government shutdown?
JoLynn Worley from the Federal Bureau of Land Management put it best: “Anything with a gate is closed,”
That would mean
- Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area is closed
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area is closed (including the marina)
- Great Basin National Park is closed
- Grand Canyon National Park is closed
- Death Valley is closed (see below)
What is Open?
- Spring Mountain Ranch State Park!!!
- Hoover Dam (it makes money)
- Grand Canyon West Rim (Hualapai Indian Tribe)
- Valley of Fire
- Death Valley is open’ish – you can still drive through Death Valley and take photos at scenic points. Facilities are closed.
Please remember, this is a FEDERAL issue, State Parks are not impacted!
Mark, thanks for the to-the-point info. The shutdown is having a huge impact on local tourism.
You are right, I am getting calls from other out of town tour leaders asking for help…
Thanks for posting. Sadly, Zion and Bryce are closed also…..but the GC West Rim still affords our visitors a “Grand” adventure.
Good info Mark.
Bonnie Springs Old Nevada is still open and those wanting to do a tour, maybe with horsieback riding (sic) included could spend part of a day there, and add to it a pic-a-nic (sic…Yogi Bear) lunch at Spring Mt Ranch.
Also open, but a 2 hr drive away is Snow Canyon State Park in Ivins, UT (just NW of St George on Utah State Route 18). Similar to Red Rock Canyon, but with larger mountains and some pretty cool history. This location is where “The Conqueror” starring John Wayne and Agnes Moorhead was filmed (during an above ground atomic test at the NV test site 160 miles to the west. Radioactive fallout fell on the cast and crew while filming a story about Genghis Kahn. Many of the cast and crew died some years later due to various types of cancer. The site is gorgeous and no longer radioactive.
The Atomic Testing Museum on east Flaming Road in Las Vegas is open daily and well worth the time spent there. Plan on spending at least 3 hours or more there.
The Techatticup Gold Mine in Nelson is open daily. The hour drive to this location could be paired with a side trip to Boulder City for lunch and local exploration or ziplining too.
These are but a few of examples of things that could be done with/for tourists while the National Parks are closed and recuperating from our daily invasions. Still lots to do locally if one uses his/her imagination.