Congaree National Park accessible to public during government shutdown

During the shutdown of the federal government due to the lapse of appropriations, national parks will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures. Park roads, hiking and canoe trails at Congaree National Park, will remain accessible to visitors, but emergency and rescue services will be limited.

There will be no NPS-provided visitor services at Congaree National Park, including public information, restrooms, trash collection, and facilities and roads maintenance.

Because of the federal government shutdown, NPS social media and websites are not being monitored or updated and may not reflect current conditions. All park programs have been canceled, including: Nature Discovery Walks, Big Tree Hikes, and Owl Prowls.

The NPS will not be providing services for NPS-operated campgrounds, including maintenance, janitorial, bathrooms, showers, check-in/check-out, and reservations. However, visitors in NPS-operated campgrounds will not be asked to leave unless safety concerns require such action. Visitors holding campground reservations should be aware that there is no guarantee their reserved campsite will be ready and available should they arrive during a government shutdown.

For updates on the shutdown, please visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.

About the National Park Service

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees who care for America’s 418 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.