News Release

Bighorn Canyon and Little Bighorn Battlefield Considering Phased Openings

Date: April 27, 2020
Contact: Christy Fleming, 307-548-5406

Lovell Wy: – As of April 27, 2020, Bighorn Canyon North District near Fort Smith, Montana and Little Bighorn Battlefield remain closed. Bighorn Canyon South District near Lovell, Wyoming, with the exception of the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center, remains open. The two parks have developed a combined Incident Command (IC) team, meeting on a daily basis, to determine the best way forward based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local public health authorities, Concessions, Parks’ partners, and White House guidance.

Both parks are looking at a three-phased process for opening. The plan will include phased reassessments of conditions and modifications of operations, gradual increase of access to parks in accordance with federal, state and local public health guidance and in coordination with the Department of the Interior. The parks are committed to working with state and local officials to reopen both sites in a safe manner. In the same way decisions were made to close certain aspects of both parks, the IC team is performing risk assessments for opening the parks. In addition to CDC guidelines, the risk assessments look at supplies, increased sanitation, and staffing. At this time, some permanent and summer seasonal staff start times have been delayed, and the possibility exists that hiring may be suspended for the 2020 summer season. Additionally, many staff at both parks are currently working from home. This impacts the number of employees available to staff the Visitor Centers and impacts park projects and facility maintenance activities, all of which is taken into consideration as part of the phased opening decision-making process.

Governor Gordon and Governor Bullock continue to support guidance requiring any individual coming into their states for non-work-related purposes to self-isolate for 14 days. These directives are to discourage out-of-state visitation, reduce strain on resources, protect health care workers during the pandemic and reduce the spread of COVID 19.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Bighorn Canyon and Little Bighorn Battlefield are the number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We will notify the public of changes in park operations through updates on our website and social media channels.

Bighorn Canyon: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BighornCanyonNRA/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bighorncanynps/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BighornCanyNPS
 

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NPS.LIBI/

For high-risk populations, such as the elderly and people with underlying conditions, we ask that they take extra caution and follow CDC guidance for those at higher risk of serious illness.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.