3 more nat’l parks KOd by virus fear
SALT LAKE CITY — Three more of America’s most popular national parks have closed their gates as pressure mounted on superintendents to prevent crowded trails that could lead to more spread of coronavirus even as the Trump administration stuck to its decision to waive entrance fees at the parks.
Glacier in Montana and Arches and Canyonlands in Utah announced their decisions to close Friday night, just days after several other well-known parks, such as Yellowstone, Grand Teton and the Great Smoky Mountains, did the same.
Visitors travel to Arches and Canyonlands to hike trails that lead to picturesque rock arches and canyons located just outside the small tourist town of Moab, Utah — where city leaders and regional health leaders sent letters to the National Park Service pleading for the closure of the parks. The health department had already banned local hotels from allowing tourists to stay after seeing continued crowds in town and the parks as the virus spread across the U.S.
In a tweet announcing the closures, Arches and Canyonlands said the decision to close was made in response to local health officials.
Park staff was at risk as visitors kept coming to the parks, including about 700 cars a day last weekend, the Southeast Utah Health Department said in a letter to the park service. Moab’s small hospital has only two ventilators — vital for patients with severe cases of COVID-19 — and no intensive care rooms, the letter said.
Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said Friday night the decision was made after listening to concerns from local leaders and was based on current health guidance. The Montana park near the Canadian border heard from gateway communities in Flathead and Glacier counties, along with the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and the state.
About two weeks ago, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said he would waive entrance fees to give people outdoor spaces, while authorizing park superintendents to make decisions about what’s needed to adhere to health recommendations.