By Cassius M. Cash, President & CEO, Yosemite Conservancy
Yosemite is open again — and with it comes a deep sense of relief. After several challenging weeks, National Park Service staff have returned to their posts throughout the park.
For those of us who work closely with Yosemite’s NPS teams, it is a joy to see them back. So let me start by saying something that comes from the heart: welcome back to our friends in the green and gray. Their return restores not only essential operations, but also the experience, insight, and dedication that make this place what it is.
During the shutdown, tens of thousands of visitors continued to come to Yosemite every day (during a year that’s already on pace to be one of the busiest Yosemite has ever seen). Restrooms stayed clean, roads remained clear, and moments of awe unfolded as they always do.
But the reality behind the scenes was a bit more strained:
- The park lost millions of dollars in revenue from lost entrance fees, which will have long-lasting impacts on the park’s budget moving forward.
- The human impact can’t be overstated: A great many NPS employees were furloughed for weeks — missing multiple paychecks and facing great uncertainty during the leadup to national holidays.
- Critical scientific and stewardship work — the work that keeps Yosemite healthy — was paused.
Some of what was lost during the shutdown simply cannot be regained.
What Yosemite Lost During the Shutdown
To many visitors, Yosemite looks unchanged. The granite cliffs still caught the morning light, waterfalls still roared, and wildlife still moved quietly through the forest. But the health of a national park is not measured by scenery alone.
Behind the beauty, the park has experienced real and lasting setbacks.
Irreplaceable Science and Wildlife Data
The shutdown fell during a crucial fall field season. Many seasonal crews — including teams with specialized knowledge built over years — disbanded. Essential research and monitoring were halted, including studies of:
- Pacific fisher
- Sierra Nevada red fox
- Spotted owls
- Bats and amphibians
- High country meadow and habitat conditions
As someone who started his career as a young wildlife biologist with the U.S. Forest Service, I know firsthand what this season means.
Fall was when my colleagues and I would be out in the field conducting elk or eagle surveys, tracking movement patterns, and documenting behavior. We weren’t collecting data for curiosity’s sake — we were gathering information that helped guide how we managed wildlife, habitat, and entire ecosystems.
When you miss a season like this, you don’t just lose a few weeks of work. You lose an irreplaceable piece of a long-term scientific story.
These observations form the backbone of responsible resource management — and once that window closes, it cannot simply be made up later.
Delays to Restoration, Cultural Resources, and Major Projects
With compliance, planning, archaeology, hydrology, and botany teams furloughed, progress stopped on:
- Mist Trail rehabilitation
- Restoration and trail monitoring
- Invasive species management
- Cultural resource protection
Much of this work is seasonal. The opportunity to complete it this year is gone.
Millions in Lost Revenue for National Parks
Across the country — and here in Yosemite — entrance fee revenue plummeted without gate staff to collect from visitors. By the time operations fully resumed, millions of dollars that directly support visitor services and maintenance were permanently lost.
That loss will have real impacts.
Extraordinary Strain on Essential Staff
Law enforcement rangers, fire crews, custodial teams, and road workers carried an immense load, often without pay. They kept the park safe and functional under enormous pressure.
Their resilience deserves recognition from all who care about Yosemite.
What This Moment Revealed
The shutdown illuminated an important truth: A park can look beautiful and still be vulnerable.
A clear road does not mean science is happening.
A clean restroom does not mean wildlife is being monitored.
A crowd enjoying a view does not reflect the strain on those keeping the park safe.
Yosemite Conservancy staff did as much as we could to support visitors during this time — staffing bookstores, sharing safety information, helping people navigate closures, and encouraging stewardship. But nothing replaces the expertise of the National Park Service.
Yosemite works best when the green and gray are fully here.
Now the Work of Recovery Begins
With staff returning, teams are beginning the careful assessment of what can be restarted, what can be salvaged, and what has been lost. Scientists are rebuilding their field schedules. Fire crews are shifting focus to winter and spring priorities. Interpreters and educators are preparing for programs. Planning and compliance offices are re-engaging a backlog of critical projects.
But recovery takes time, resources, and support from all of us who love this place.
How You Can Help Yosemite Recover
This is a meaningful moment to stand with Yosemite. If you’re wondering how to support the park as it regains its footing, here are a few powerful ways:
Support the Work That Protects Yosemite
Your donations help restart and strengthen:
- Wildlife research and monitoring
- Habitat and river restoration
- Trail and infrastructure work
- Visitor education programs
- Stewardship efforts across the park
Donate today at yosemite.org/donateyourfee to help fill the gaps when the park faces unexpected disruption.
Visit Responsibly
Small actions create big benefits. Visitors can lighten the load on returning staff by:
- Following Leave No Trace
- Staying on marked trails
- Giving wildlife space
- Packing out everything brought in
- Practicing patience as operations return to normal
Stay Engaged With Public Lands Issues
If you feel moved, reach out to your elected officials or engage with organizations advocating for the long-term strength of national parks.
Show Appreciation
A simple “thank you” to NPS employees goes a long way. Many endured weeks of uncertainty and unpaid service to keep Yosemite safe.
Looking Forward
Yosemite weathered the shutdown — but not without cost. And yet, watching the green and gray return to the Valley, greeting visitors and restoring the heartbeat of the park, I am filled with gratitude.
Gratitude for the public servants who held the line.
Gratitude for the community that showed up.
Gratitude for every supporter who cares enough to help.
This is a moment to recommit ourselves to Yosemite’s wellbeing.
If you’re able, I hope you will consider supporting Yosemite recover the science, stewardship, and visitor programs that help it thrive.
Let’s stand with this place — together — for the seasons ahead and for generations to come.
