SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) — Days into a government shutdown, federal services nationwide have been reduced - and that includes national parks.

At Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, visitors will immediately see no one at the entry booths. The entrance from Highway 198, east of Visalia, was open for anyone to pass through with no need to pay to get in.

Visitors continued to arrive, with some happy to hear they could skip the expense.

"That's perfect," one man told us as we broke the news to him.

Some, however, say free entry feels a little strange.

"There's always like a $35, $40 fee or something like that. I mean, I guess I'll take it. But it just feels a little weird because I know the money is meant to preserve national parks and all," said Chicago visitor Gio

See Full Page