Mask up: National parks require face coverings again. Here's what visitors should know

If you're planning to visit a national park in Arizona or anywhere in the U.S. in the near future, you will need to mask up.

Masks are required in visitor centers, hotels and park transportation vehicles even if you're fully vaccinated. Masks also are required outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as narrow or busy trails and crowded overlooks.

The National Park Service reinstated its mask mandate on Aug. 16. It follows the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the wake of a surge of COVID-19 cases and high transmission rates of the delta variant. 

“Visitors to national parks are coming from locations across the country, if not across the world," NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge said in a statement. "Because of this, and recognizing that the majority of the United States is currently in substantial or high transmission categories, we are implementing a service-wide mask requirement to ensure our staff and visitors’ safety."

Mask mandates in other Arizona parks 

• Arizona State Parks & Trails does not require masks anywhere. 
• As of Aug. 2, a mask or face covering is required inside all Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department indoor facilities regardless of vaccination status. 

You can connect with Arizona Republic Culture and Outdoors Reporter Shanti Lerner through email at shanti.lerner@gannett.com  or you can also follow her on Twitter. 

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