Yosemite National Park Open But Services Are Curtailed

Bay Area residents are starting to see evidence of the government shutdown at some national parks.

Muir Woods and Stinson Beach will be closed Sunday, and Alcatraz is open but there are no ranger led tours.

Yosemite National Park in California is open to visitors despite the government shutdown but there'll be nobody to greet them, help them navigate the trails or even make sure they're in the right campground. Since no rangers are working the front gates, entrance is free.

"It's clearly not the optimal service that we want to provide to the visitors, but with the lapse of appropriations and the situation we're in, we're just doing the best we can," said Scott Gedimen is a spokesman for Yosemite National Park.

Gediman says the park that boasts the famous granite cliffs of Half Dome and El Capitan can't pay all of its people so rangers are being furloughed.

The visitors center is closed, along with some restrooms because there's nobody to clean them. Campground visitors with reservations may find someone else in their spot because nobody will be checking.

Some medical staff remain on the job and Gediman says privately operated concessions such as stores, hotels and restaurants are open.

At Muir Beach, visitors reported some bathrooms and parking areas were closed.

Though Yosemite and Muir Beach are open, but visitors will need to be flexible and adjust their expectations.

People hoping to visit Golden Gate National Recreation Area may find some sites are still accessible, but the park website warns "access may change without notice, and there are no NPS provided services." Some closures are outlined on their website.

The Interior Department had vowed to keep open as many parks, monuments and public lands as possible during the government shutdown, but visitors were frustrated with spotty closures.