ESTES PARK – Gov. Jared Polis said today that Rocky Mountain National Park is open and that his office has “fought hard to make sure it stays open as it will during this shutdown.”
Polis was in Estes Park today to address the Colorado Outdoor Industry Leadership Summit at YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center, hosted by the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office.
“Rocky Mountain National Park gets about over 400,000 visitors in October alone. That’s a big month,” the governor told professionals from Colorado’s outdoor industry.
His 10-minute speech focused on the 10th anniversary of Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Office, highlighting its economic and cultural impact. Polis drew attention to the challenges posed by tariffs on outdoor equipment and the importance of public land access, and the state’s efforts to open over 1 million acres of state land.
He also touted the Keep Colorado Wild Pass, an optional $29 annual state park pass available through the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles, which provides car, bike, and foot entry into all Colorado state parks and helps fund wildlife conservation, search and rescue teams, and avalanche safety programs.
Additionally, Polis spoke about the State’s efforts to celebrate both the 150th anniversary of Colorado and the 250th anniversary of the U.S., both of which will take place in 2026.
After his remarks, the governor took time for questions from the Estes Valley Voice about the federal shutdown.
“One of Colorado’s priorities, because it’s one of the biggest federal presences in our state, is to keep our National Parks open. And I’m glad to say that we work closely with the U.S. Forest Service and Park Service, and our parks are open. I’m here at Estes Park right now. It’s open. If you have plans to visit this weekend, please continue with those,” said Polis
The governor said he could not provide a timeline for the shutdown. On Monday, through the National Governors Association, Polis joined with other governors in an appeal to Congress to avert the shutdown, saying that “while the parks are open, there are other critical services that are slowed, like trying to get a passport if you plan to travel, getting your questions answered on any type of federal issues.” Polis served as the 2024-2025 chair of the NGA.
Speaking about the state’s four National Parks and the other park units in Colorado managed by the National Park Service, Polis said, “I hope Congress acts to reopen the federal government. In the meantime, we’re going to continue to make sure that our National Parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park, remain open.”
Toward that end, Polis said the State can partner with the federal government and has offered help to keep Rocky Mountain National Park “at least for the short term, through this weekend and next week, it is remaining open, fully open for visitation. We’re available to supplement any federal resources that aren’t able to come to work.”
The U.S. Senate adjourned today without taking steps to reopen the federal government and will not return to session until Monday, guaranteeing that the shutdown will continue over the weekend.