DENVER — National parks are fully opened and back to pre-shutdown staffing after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end Wednesday. Now, the real work begins.

All 63 national parks, including the four in Colorado, remained open during the 43-day shutdown, but with limited services.

"Parks weren't fully prepared to be shut down for that long. We saw friend groups jumping in and states jumping in to even pay to keep visitors centers open," said Kristen Brengel. A moose crosses the road just east of the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park on May 14, 2021.

Brengel adds that some parks were overwhelmed because the number of visitors outweighed the number of staff needed.

"Places like Yosemite, we've heard of dispersed camping, base jumping, drone use — t

See Full Page