Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Curt Sauer announced that all park campgrounds that were closed for low summer visitation will reopen for public use on Friday, October 2, 2009. The following campgrounds are affected:

• Belle: all sites to open
• Black Rock: eastern side to open 
• Cottonwood: B loop to open 
• Indian Cove: western side to open
• Ryan: all sites to open
• White Tank: all sites to open

Camping reservations can be made for individual sites at Black Rock and Indian Cove campgrounds and the group campsites at Indian Cove, Cottonwood, and Sheep Pass campgrounds. Other park campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visitors wishing to make camping reservations should call Reserve America, the National Park Service’s camping reservation contractor, at 1-877-444-6777, or visit the website: www.recreation.gov.

Beginning Thursday, October 8, the visitor center at Black Rock Campground will be open each day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other visitor centers are currently open each day.

• Cottonwood Visitor Center: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Joshua Tree Visitor Center: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oasis Visitor Center: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For further information on Joshua Tree National Park facilities and services visit the park website at www.nps.gov/jotr or call 760-367-5500.