Thousands of campsites and trails in California’s national forests may face closure this summer due to federal staffing reductions and budget constraints, according to an internal United States Forest Service (USFS) spreadsheet.
These potential closures could have significant implications for outdoor recreation businesses, local tourism economies, and service providers that rely on access to public lands.
An internal email from the USFS dated February 18 directed forest supervisors in Region 5, which oversees California, to identify facilities that may be affected by financial and personnel limitations.
According to a report by The New York Times, the email stated that “unforeseen impacts and changed conditions, as well as financial limitations, may render some sites unsafe, or too challenging to open to full capacity in 2025.”
These developments come in the wake of widespread terminations within the Department of Government Efficiency, resulting in significant workforce reductions.
For businesses operating in outdoor hospitality and recreation, these closures present multiple challenges.
Campground operators, tour guides, and outfitters who depend on national forests for their livelihoods could see a decline in customer volume due to restricted access.
Trail maintenance reductions could also impact outdoor safety and visitor experience, potentially discouraging tourism in affected areas.
The staffing reductions are expected to affect several high-traffic areas. At Inyo National Forest, where thousands of visitors access Mount Whitney each year, a 75% reduction in staff is anticipated to impact trail maintenance, waste management, and emergency response capabilities.
Kennedy Meadows, a key stop for Pacific Crest Trail hikers, may close entirely for the season.
The Lake Tahoe Basin area, known for its heavy recreational use, faces a 33% decrease in recreational staff, including the loss of the only permanent wilderness ranger for Desolation Wilderness, one of the nation’s most popular backcountry areas.
“People will definitely see impacts to services, particularly around overall cleanliness,” said Andrew Peterson, a former fisheries crew leader who was among the terminated employees.
He also warned of reduced conservation efforts, which could place vulnerable species at increased risk. “Every year that we don’t actively work to help our threatened and endangered species, the more threatened and endangered they become.”
Budget constraints within the USFS are not new, but the latest cuts exacerbate longstanding financial difficulties.
Several national forest visitor centers, including those in Eldorado, Lassen, Shasta Trinity, San Bernardino, and Sequoia, could shutter due to staffing shortages.
These closures may limit access to permits for backpacking, firewood collection, and other regulated activities, affecting both recreationists and local businesses that cater to them.
Trail maintenance cutbacks also raise wildfire management concerns. Well-maintained trails serve as critical access routes for firefighters during wildfire suppression efforts.
Adam Forsell, a former trail crew member at Six Rivers National Forest, noted that the reduction in workforce could have serious consequences. “A well-maintained trail can be the difference between a fire staying relatively small or becoming the next campaign fire,” he said.
The Forest Service workforce includes many Red Card-certified employees trained in fire response, but recent terminations have thinned their ranks.
This could hinder fire prevention efforts, such as controlled burns and vegetation management, which are essential for mitigating wildfire risks in high-danger areas.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality sector, adapting to these potential closures may require contingency planning.
Alternative camping locations, increased collaboration with state and private campgrounds, and advocacy for sustainable public land management policies could help mitigate the impact of these disruptions.
Industry professionals may also need to engage with policymakers and public land managers to ensure that outdoor recreation remains a priority in federal budget discussions.
While the National Park Service has been approved to hire 5,000 temporary workers following a round of terminations, the Forest Service has not yet received similar authorization.
This disparity underscores the uncertainty surrounding future staffing and resource allocations for public lands, which will be critical for maintaining access to outdoor recreation opportunities in California’s national forests.