During the government shutdown, Acadia National Park remains open to the public but without a staff.
The scene of Acadia Park in the middle of winter is similar to what it looks like in the thick of a government shutdown.
December and January are typically quiet months at Acadia. The staff is downsized, and Park Loop Road and the winding path up Cadillac are closed to cars.
The government shutdown magnifies those kinds of closures. Every bathroom and trash bin is locked up. The roads are icy and unplowed.
The only employees currently working are a very small number of Park Rangers in case of emergency.
Fortunately, the president of the non-profit group, Friends of Acadia, says the park hasn't seen the same degree of trashing and disrespect that parks on the west coast are experiencing during the shutdown.
"Credit to the visitors, particularly in the winter I think they're aware of the situation and they don't want to create an added burden on the limited staff that is here," says David MacDonald.
MacDonald does advice people to use caution because there are fewer Rangers working.
"We're just telling people, be careful when you're out there. Don't take any unnecessary risk and if you have a big organized activity, try to do it after the park is staffed."
The impacts of the shutdown could be furthered if there's significant snowfall. Since there are no working maintenance crews, that means now plowing. It could force the Rangers to close a two-mile stretch of ocean drive and make it difficult for cars to get to the trailheads.