Shenandoah National Park in Virginia will be open for the Memorial Day Weekend, but only for day use, park staff announced Thursday. The entire Skyline Drive and all backcountry trails will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. starting Saturday.

However, the park lodges, visitor centers, picnic grounds, campgrounds, cabins, and historic structures will all remain closed for the time being. Boundary trailheads also will be closed.
Other parks also moved to either open, or increase, accessibility for visitors. At Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, which touches Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, five backcountry campsites along the Ridge Trail are now open. The park’s 19-mile long Ridge Trail “zigzags” along the spine of Cumberland Mountain following closely the Kentucky/Virginia border.

The backcountry campsites include Gibson Gap, located 5 miles east of the Pinnacle Overlook; Hensley Camp, Martins Fork and Chadwell Gap, all near the historic Hensley Settlement; and White Rocks, situated near the far eastern end of the park. Backcountry campsite reservations are required and must be made by calling 606-248-2817 daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. or via Facebook messenger. Group size maximum is 10.

“Backcountry campers are treated to the spectacularly colored Sand Cave rock shelter with a waterfall cascading over its lip, can gaze afar into Virginia from high atop the White Rocks Overlook, and meander down fence-lined lanes amongst the richly weathered chestnut hewn cabins at Hensley Settlement,” said Ranger Brittony Beason.
In Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, access would reopen Friday to all park hiking trails and trailheads, picnic areas, parking areas, boat launches, the Dune Climb; and vault toilets.

Elsewhere:

* Fort Union National Monument in New Mexico will reopen access to park trails on Friday.

* Ranger talks would resume Friday at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Colorado at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monument Hill.

* Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve opened the Bartlett Cove Campground on Thursday.

* Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska is opening the following trails within the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark on Friday: Use of the Erie Mine Trail, the Root Glacier Trail, the Bonanza Mine Trail, and the Jumbo Mine Trail within the national historic landmark.

* Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Arizona planned to reopen access June 2 to Compound A, and the picnic area Tuesday through Saturday during the hours of 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Compound A is the area normally opened to the public for visitation which includes the Great House and visible ruins immediately surrounding the Great House.

With access to the National Park System slowly reopening, National Parks Traveler will work to keep you updated on where you can go in the park system. To be on the safe side in case we miss an opening or are late with posting it, check your favorite park's website to see what is open. Many parks are opening in phases, so listings will be updated as information becomes available.