State Park Closures

[cpaharley2008]

Wow, great find, and it was signed by Donald Sutherland, the movie actor........

 

[Mary F]

Texas State Parks are supposed to re-open tomorrow, 4-20. Some restrictions, so call ahead.

Day use only.

 

[Hollybee]

Well??

We drove thru NM last week with no problems.

Did you try to camp in NM? We are going thru there in late June..hopefully.

 

[vermilye]

While I posted this earlier in the thread, that was a couple of pages back. The most up to date state by state listing of state, national & public & private campground closures is at Campendium.

Looks like the NM State Parks are still closed, as are some of their NF, BLM & private campgrounds. I'd check the list as close to your arrival date as possible, then get on the phone.

 

[Chama]

Hollybee,
As others have said, all NM State Parks, BLM, Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds, and USFS campgrounds are all closed. There are some private campgrounds that are presently open.

In Albuquerque, American RV Resort says, "As of today, our park is fully open, and we have no reported cases of the virus at our property. We are following this unprecedented situation closely and doing everything we can to ensure staff and guest safety.

Santa Fe Skies says "Per order of the Department of Public Health, we have been restricted to 25% total overnight occupancy. We are in compliance and will be limiting our total occupancy through April 30, 2020."

Route 66 Casino just West of Alburque (a nice new RV park just off I-40) says "Laguna Development Corporation has announced the temporary closure of the Route 66 RV Resort to all travelers effective Wednesday, April 8, 2020."

So, as you can see, it is hit or miss in NM for private campgounds. They may or may not be open at the time of your trip. You will need to call to make certain that the location where you want to stay is actually open.
Safe travels if you decide to go.

Did you try to camp in NM? We are going thru there in late June..hopefully.

 

[Iowa Dave]

Iowa

Just received an update that we would be receiving a refund for our reservation at Pikes Peak State park for early May because the park closure has been extended through May 14 for State parks and forests. And the beat goes on
Iowa Dave

 

[Perry Butler]

Just received an update that we would be receiving a refund for our reservation at Pikes Peak State park for early May because the park closure has been extended through May 14 for State parks and forests. And the beat goes on
Iowa Dave

Just realized Pikes Peak State Park is only 80 miles from us! Going to have to put this on our weekday bucket list.

Enjoy,

Perry

 

[Iowa Dave]

Road Trip

Just realized Pikes Peak State Park is only 80 miles from us! Going to have to put this on our weekday bucket list.

Enjoy,

Perry

It’s about a hundred for us. We drive up there a couple times a year for a diversion. Prairie duChein, McGregor and some stops along the way for us, Edgewood Locker, the county park at Elkader, and then down the Wisconsin side to Potosi for a sandwich and a brew.
Iowa Dave

 

[vermilye]

931 miles for me. I was wondering how Iowa moved within 100 miles of Colorado - never realized there was a Pikes Peak in Iowa.

 

[Ronn]

never realized there was a Pikes Peak in Iowa.

Yes, there is - Elevation 994 ft (303 m) AND to think that most people believe Iowa is FLAT!!

 

[Iowa Dave]

If you read up on it Thomas Jefferson commissioned several expeditions to explore the Louisiana Purchase and the West and Northwest. The first was by Zebulon Pike up the Mississippi River and this one took Pike and his men past the present day park site. Then of course Lewis and Clark. Who also skirted Iowa on the Western Border and then a second expedition by Zebulon Pike which went into Colorado etc. where the famous Pikes Peak is mobbed by touri. Instead of paying to drive up a hill to suck oxygen at the top, Iowa’s Pikes Peak will let you camp for two days for the same cost, save your brakes and breathe fresh air for free. Little known sketchy information by history dropout:
Iowa Dave

Exploring the many ways to “Gimme Shelter” and From the overlook you can see three states
Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin

 

[vermilye]

Yes, there is - Elevation 994 ft (303 m) AND to think that most people believe Iowa is FLAT!!

While I understand, living at 270' on the shore of one of the great lakes, my friends living in Leadville, CO would consider 994' flat!

 

[Iowa Dave]

Well depends, get loopy and step off one of those limestone cliffs and bounce off the rocks all the way to the bottom and flat will not be your last thought.
Iowa Dave

 

[azjack]

Leadville???

My sister and her family lived there for 40 years. We would visit occasionally but I would do some running at sea level before hand. When we would arrive we would all jump into 4x4s and go UP hill for a picnic. Sis and BIL now live here at 2600' and the lungs are starting to recover. Of course the smoking for years didn't help. I do worry about them and the virus, I wish they would be more careful as we are.
AZjack

 

[EdColorado]

According to Campendium, Utah is opening most state parks to camping.
Other areas of UT previously closed to camping are also opened.

https://www.campendium.com/camping/covid-19-state-by-state-campground-closures-responses/#state_park_closures

 

[Hollybee]

CA parks?????????????????????????????????

WE are still trying to arrange our trip to pick up our E21.

I spoke on the phone w "Ranger Bill" yesterday...he was at Jededia Smith State Redwood Park in California. He told me his park and the others, is/are CLOSED for campers..open ONLY to locals who (presumably I guess are sterile) and who can walk in or bike into his park. I asked Ranger Bill if he knew when the CA parks wd be open, as we wanted to camp in several.. on our way 'home' in June.
His reply was that he "didn't know", after the recent closure threat by the CA governor.
He did say that the CA parks were not taking any CAMPING reservations before AUGUST 1 2020. End of story for us..we were planning 1-3 nite 'stopovers' at Jed Smith, Woodson Bridge Rec Area, Yosemite park, & Sequoia ..on our way from Sumas.. to visit relatives in Scottsdale.
Now we will just be forced to 100% avoid California and go east thru LVNV..or take delivery and see America next fall or in 2021.if I live that long I guess. dang.

 

[Bobbie54]

I think they are doing things backwards in some areas- such as here in Washington. Day use cannot be traced or easily monitored, so if it causes an increase in Covid-19 cases they won't know where they came from or who they exposed. Campers are easily traced, are automatically socially distanced, and there are fewer. And they could easily be limited to locals since they register. Opening up should be done with things that are traceable first. It should be part of learning how to live in this Covid-19 age. We already know people will jam the beaches and trails as soon as they are open.

Having said that- Washington is opening for day use and probably won't open for camping for at least 3 more weeks and likely longer since day use is likely to be a disaster.

 

[vermilye]

My suspicion is the main reason for only opening parks, etc for locals that can walk in or ride a bike (although I know people that have ridden across the US) is to avoid an influx of folks from outside the area. That keeps the support facilities such as hospitals, law enforcement, even bathroom cleaning, etc at their expected load, and avoids bringing in the virus to areas that don't already have it.

 

[Bobbie54]

My suspicion is the main reason for only opening parks, etc for locals that can walk in or ride a bike (although I know people that have ridden across the US) is to avoid an influx of folks from outside the area. That keeps the support facilities such as hospitals, law enforcement, even bathroom cleaning, etc at their expected load, and avoids bringing in the virus to areas that don't already have it.

True but that does not work here as we are 30 minutes from two major metropolitan areas and we already know they flock here when their things are closed. If parking lots are closed they just park on the road and walk in. So any increase in cases and they will have no idea who brought it or who was exposed.

 

[MyronL]

Yet parking on the road, away from designated parking areas is a good way to attract the state police and either get towed or ticketed, so doing that could result in another increase in cases.