Here are some highlights of developments at national parks and other National Park Service-administered sites for the last two weeks.
America’s National Park Service sites remained busy during the second half of July as peak camping season continued, with flash flooding, wildfire restrictions, campground changes and reservation reminders dominating the news for RV travelers.
The biggest story involved the Southwest monsoon, which brought dangerous flash flooding to several parks. At Zion National Park in Utah, officials temporarily closed all slot canyons, including the famous Narrows, because of the heightened flood danger.
Nearby, heavy rains triggered mudslides at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado, burying East Portal Road beneath several feet of debris and forcing the closure of East Portal Campground. More than 20 visitors, including campers, were temporarily stranded until crews reopened access. The flooding followed the deaths of five hikers in a flash flood near Capitol Reef National Park, a reminder that canyon country can become hazardous with little warning.
For RVers planning trips to Black Canyon, the South Rim remains open, but East Portal facilities will stay closed until repairs are completed.
Olympic National Park in Washington reminded visitors that reservations are required at many campgrounds throughout the busy summer season. Mora Campground remains open despite construction on Mora Road through mid-October, although travelers should expect delays and changing traffic patterns.
Also in Washington, fire activity increased Wednesday on the Border 1 and Border 2 fires in the North Cascades National Park Service Complex as hot, dry, windy weather pushed the two lightning-caused blazes together. The combined fire has crossed into British Columbia but remains in remote backcountry with no structures threatened. Closures remain in effect for portions of Ross Lake National Recreation Area, including Hozomeen Campground and nearby trails. Smoke is expected to continue affecting the area, and visitors should check current conditions before traveling.
Rocky Mountain National Park continues to experience heavy campground demand. Standard campsites cost $35 per night, while electric sites are $55. Park officials encourage RVers to reserve campsites well in advance, especially for weekends.
Yellowstone National Park remains one of the country’s toughest campground reservations. Most reservable campgrounds have been booked for months, although cancellations appear regularly on Recreation.gov. Visitors with flexible schedules can often secure campsites by checking frequently.
Sunday, July 19, was a bad day for bears in Yosemite National Park. Within 12 hours, two bears were struck by cars in the Crane Flat area. One bear, a small female yearling, was killed on Big Oak Flat Road. The other bear was hit just east of Tamarack Flat on Tioga Road; because the bear ran off, park officials don’t know its fate. Three days earlier, a young bear was hit by a truck in Yosemite Valley. According to park officials, vehicles have hit nine bears so far this year throughout the park.
Across the National Park Service, Recreation.gov remains the reservation portal for more than 100,000 federal campsites. Officials continue encouraging travelers to reserve early but also to monitor for cancellations as summer plans change.
Weather remains the biggest variable across the West. Forecasters expect monsoonal thunderstorms to continue through much of the Southwest into late July, increasing the risk of flash flooding in narrow canyons, low-water crossings and some campgrounds. RVers should monitor forecasts closely before entering remote areas.
Grand Portage National Monument in Minnesota temporarily closed remote Fort Charlotte Campground because of wildfire danger. Although the campground primarily serves backpackers following the historic Grand Portage trail, the closure reflects elevated fire conditions across northeastern Minnesota.
Stage 2 fire restrictions remained in effect at Yucca House National Monument in southwestern Colorado. Campfires, charcoal fires and smoking in vegetated areas are prohibited. Propane stoves and similar devices may still be used under specified safety guidelines. Similar restrictions remain in effect nearby at Mesa Verde National Park, including Morefield Campground.
The National Park Service is asking boaters at Colorado’s Blue Mesa Reservoir to prepare for changes to marina operations and boat ramp access at Elk Creek and Lake Fork as reservoir levels continue to decrease.
Stage 2 fire restrictions have been lifted on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Increased monsoonal activity across northern Arizona has significantly reduced fire danger in the area.
At Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and Colorado, officials reported that most roads and campgrounds are open. Green River Campground continues using a mix of reserved and first-come, first-served loops, while several remote campgrounds remain entirely first-come. Park officials cautioned that Echo Park Road is unsuitable for large RVs because of its steep grades, narrow width and rough conditions.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan continues operating its mainland campgrounds, including RV-friendly Platte River Campground with electric hookups. However, all facilities and campgrounds on North and South Manitou islands remain closed while docks and infrastructure are replaced following storm damage.
At Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a planned closure of Sand Point Road was postponed because of construction delays. Visitors should continue checking the park website for a revised closure schedule later this summer.
At Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, boaters on Lake Powell were advised to watch for low-flying firefighting aircraft repeatedly scooping water for wildfire suppression operations. The advisory affects portions of the lake used by houseboats and campers traveling to Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
Wildfire activity in Bears Ears National Monument also continued affecting travel in southeastern Utah. Although Bears Ears is managed primarily by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, the fire has affected roads commonly used by RVers traveling between Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument and other nearby public lands.
Most National Historic Sites, battlefields and memorials experienced no significant operational changes during the period. Because few operate campgrounds, the primary concerns for RVers remain parking restrictions, road construction and seasonal operating hours. Larger motorhomes should expect limited parking at many urban historic sites and should plan to stay at nearby public or private campgrounds.
Overall, the second half of July brought few major changes to campground fees or reservation policies. Instead, weather, wildfire conditions and road construction were the biggest factors affecting travel. RVers heading to National Park Service destinations are encouraged to check park alerts shortly before departure, particularly for flooding, fire restrictions, campground availability and temporary road closures.
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