Be Aware: Government Shutdown Could Close Northern California Parks

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Davey Nin

Per usual, United States Congress can't agree on anything, which means there is a very real possibility we will see a government shutdown at 9 p.m. on Friday. And since our beautiful National Parks are a part of the government, they will also close until Congress can figure things out.

A lot can happen between now and Friday evening, but it's important to plan accordingly.

So if you want to head out to the parks this coming weekend, you're going to have to keep your eye on the situation. Know before you go. Here are a list of Northern California Parks that could see closure:

• Alcatraz Island
• Devils Postpile
• Fort Point
• John Muir
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Lava Beds National Monument
• Muir Woods
• Point Reyes
• Redwood National Park
• Tule Lake
• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
• Yosemite National Park

Keep in mind, some of these parks are both National and State Parks (Redwoods), leaving open the possibility that the state would fund the parks during government closure. But sitting four days out from potential government shutdown, it's not yet clear what will happen.

It is also not clear what will happen if you are already in the park at the time of shutdown. In the past, park officials have given overnight campers 48 hours to vacate the park.

It seems we've been writing a lot about politics lately which is frankly a giant buzzkill. We don't want to do it, but these things have a very real impact on what we can do in Northern California. Here's a list of all of the politics we've been discussing lately:

Federal Government Looking to Shrink Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

Opinion: Government Should Preserve The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Not Shrink It

Opinion: Proposed Fee Hike to National Parks is a Tragedy

Marijuana is Legal in California But You Should't Bring it on Your Next Outdoor Adventure

Who's to Blame for the Oroville Dam Fiasco? Independent Report Released

(My goodness, I feel like I write for Politico. My head hurts...)

Let's face it, many of us live in NorCal to enjoy our great parks, leaving us pretty depressed when we can't visit them. Here's to Congress coming to terms so we don't lose the privilege of visiting our parks.