For now, only a skeleton crew of law-enforcement officers, park rehabilitators, and three maintenance workers is manning the 71,000-acre park.

"There are no more than a handful of essential workers," explained John Dell'Osso, acting chief of interpretation, who noted that under federal mandate, park service personnel can't volunteer their services.

The shut-down began Monday night when President Clinton vetoed a Congressional budget measure to cut spending and raise Medicare premiums.

The Park's trails and roadways remain open although the four campgrounds are closed. If the furlough lasts through Thursday, Nov. 16, the Point Reyes Lighthouse and the visitor centers there and at Drake's Beach will be closed.

The government shut-down will also stymie efforts to rehabilitate land destroyed by the Inverness Ridge fire, said Del'Osso. A few workers will continue to restore trails, but the majority of the rehabilition crews were sent home.

The shutdown will have no measurable effect on the Golden Gate National Recreation Area from Olema to Bolinas, which is administered by the National Seashore largely unmanned.

"It's a wait-and-see situation," said Dell'Osso, adding that employees don't know yet whether they will be paid for the time off.

"But during past shutdowns, non-essential workers were paid retroactively," he pointed out.

Asked what she planned to during the furlough, Seashore employee Wendy Belvedere said, "I'm going to enjoy myself and take some time off and go hiking. After the many hours we worked during the fire, it will be nice to take some time off and enjoy the park."

The couple had come to Point Reyes intending to spend two days backpacking and camping by Wildcat Camp.

Disappointed also was a group of students from Contra Costa College, who spent only a half-hour in the visitor center before it closed.

"I didn't get to finish asking all my questions," said student Anna Avant.