The autumn forecast is calling for a beautiful weekend, but don’t plan on being able to spend any time outdoors at nearby Tonto National Forest recreation sites.

The federal government shutdown means the closure of popular sites in the area, although amenities operated by concessionaries do remain open. At Saguaro Lake visitors can access the marina and the restaurant, but the beaches and picnic areas are closed.

The closure also impacts the forest supervisor’s office, ranger district offices and all developed recreation sites, campgrounds, boat launches and picnic areas.

Signs on barricades at Saguaro Lake and the road to Butcher Jones Beach on the north end of the lake states the area is closed “due to the lapse in federal government funding.”

The sign said the area will reopen when Congress restores funding.

The areas people can access include trails and dispersed recreation sites, the commercial marinas at Saguaro, Canyon, Apache, Roosevelt and Bartlett Lakes and campgrounds operated by concessionaires. Also, the Desert Belle steamboat that operates on Saguaro Lake is open and accessible from the marina and restaurant area.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that its deputies are encountering angry and upset visitors as they are turned away from some of the recreation areas.

The Sheriff’s Office Lake Patrol Division is responsible for law enforcement at the Tonto National Forest recreation areas within Maricopa County.

Lake Patrol Capt. Russ Skinner said, “We are seeing enough anger that we want to make it known to our citizens and visitors that as soon as the federal government shutdown is concluded, all will return to normal.”

Fountain Hills is hosting German students from its Sister City of Dierdorf this week and plans are made for a trip to the Grand Canyon. Jennifer Ray, a high school teacher helping to organize the trip said they have had to change plans.

"We are totally bummed," Ray said. "But we have decided to drive farther to the Hualapai Reservation/Skywalk and view the Grand Canyon from there."

They will need to spend a second night in Flagstaff because of the length of the drive to the Hualapai site.

"We are making it work because (the kids) really want to go," Ray said.

Maricopa County Parks Department is reminding those who do want to spend time outdoors this weekend that all Maricopa County Regional Park sites, including McDowell Mountain adjacent to Fountain Hills, are open and operating.