Pinnacles National Park re-opens

After 37 days, Pinnacles National Park re-opened for visitors Monday.

The park is fully staffed and both entrances are open to the public.

A week into the government shutdown, Pinnacles National Park kept its gates open to visitors. While there was no staff, the park said visitors started taking advantage of the of the lack of law enforcement.

“A lot of toilet paper, human waste, and food scraps stuff like that,” Student Conservation Association intern Ariana London said.

London stayed at Pinnacles during the shutdown, and said it was at its worst around the holiday.

“Once the holiday’s finished up it really got better and it wasn’t anything that I know a lot of other National Parks experienced,” London said.

Human waste was found around the park, and several people were caught flying drones and harassing the endangered California Condor.

The park was forced to close because of safety, too. Since the shuttle from the visitor center was not running during the government shutdown, the small parking lots were overcrowded and people were parked in brush that could start a fire.

The acting park superintendent said park management will meet and prepare for another shutdown if it occurs after February 15.