Following a federal exception to avoid closing due to the government shutdown, Maroon Bells will remain open for the entire season with no disruptions.

The federal exception was granted to continue paying employees, so the area could remain open to visitors, as previously reported by The Aspen Times. Brian Pettet, Pitkin County Public Works director, said the plan was originally to keep Maroon Bells open through Oct. 10, but that timeline has now been extended according to a statement on the reservations website for the scenic area.

“Maroon Bells will remain OPEN for the remainder of the season and is not affected by the government shutdown,” a shutdown update on visitmaroonbells.com reads.

Bridget Dunaway, who lives in Aspen, visited the Bells right before the government shutdown and noted how important it was to have employees on site — when she went, rangers assisted with an active moose in the area. According to Dunaway, rangers were able to block access to part of the trail and direct crowds around the moose, keeping both people and wildlife safe.

“My husband and I were talking about how crazy that would’ve been without the rangers present,” she said.

Owen Weiss, who’s behind the Instagram handle @thebigbloorover, visited the area during the shutdown and confirmed that rangers have still been able to be active with the federal exception during the shutdown.

“We drove up to Maroon Bells knowing about the shutdown but unsure how it might affect access,” Weiss wrote to The Aspen Times. “When we reached the gate, we were surprised to see park rangers still on duty … Several rangers were greeting people at the trailhead, asking if we knew the area.”

While he said there were “busloads of visitors,” rangers were apparently managing crowds and still caring for the iconic destination.

There is currently still no drinking water available at the Bells, and restroom facilities remain extremely limited. Water bottles can be filled at the Maroon Bells Welcome Center at Aspen Highlands, where there are restrooms available, before driving to the trailhead, the website also confirms. Those expecting to utilize facilities at the trailhead might expect lines during busy times.

“For the protection of this pristine environment, please do not use the wilderness as a restroom,” the reservation website states.

As a reminder, there is no parking at Maroon Lake without a reservation for a car or the shuttle, which can be made at visitmaroonbells.com. Alternatively, visitors can ride bikes to and from the trailhead without a reservation.