Washington State DNR to Close Four Campgrounds After Legislature Cuts $8 Million from Recreation Program
Why It Matters
Outdoor recreation is a cornerstone of Pacific Northwest life, and Washington residents who rely on state-managed public lands for camping, hiking, and day use are about to feel the direct consequences of two consecutive years of government budget reductions. The closures affect campgrounds across the state — from the Olympic Peninsula to the Cascade foothills — and signal a broader strain on the Department of Natural Resources’ ability to maintain its recreational infrastructure.
While budget pressures are a reality at every level of government, the cuts highlight a tension between fiscal decisions made in Olympia and the real-world impact on taxpayers who use and depend on public lands they help fund.
What Happened
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Wednesday that four campgrounds will be closed for the remainder of the year, with several others facing partial closures or reduced services — the direct result of roughly $8 million in cumulative funding cuts to the agency’s recreation program over the past two years.
In 2025, the state Legislature reduced the recreation program’s budget by more than 20%. This year, lawmakers cut an additional $580,000 in maintenance funding, bringing the total impact to a level that DNR says it can no longer absorb without closing facilities.
The four campgrounds set to close entirely for the rest of the year are Anderson Lake in Elbe, Rock Lakes in Conconully, Upper Clearwater in Forks, and Island Camp in Glenwood, which will be closed to overnight use — though its cabin and day-use area will remain accessible. Seven additional campgrounds will either face temporary closures or operate with reduced services.
By the Numbers
- $8 million — total funding cut from the DNR recreation program over two years
- 20%+ — reduction to the recreation program’s budget in 2025 alone
- $580,000 — additional maintenance funding cut in the current budget cycle
- 4 campgrounds fully or significantly closed this year, with 7 others partially affected
- 60 field staff manage recreational sites statewide — one staffer per 21 miles of trail, 50,000 acres, and 333,000 visitors
What Officials Said
Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove acknowledged the cuts in a statement, saying the agency is working with what it has while urging lawmakers to reconsider. “At a time when more people than ever are relying on our public lands, we should be expanding recreation access, not reducing it,” Upthegrove said. “I’m ready to work with legislators to find solutions that meet that need.”
Upthegrove also noted that the final budget was less damaging than initially proposed. “The final budget came in less severe than earlier proposals, so we’re able to avoid some closures for now,” he said. Gov. Bob Ferguson had initially proposed cutting $750,000 from the maintenance fund, but the Legislature reduced that figure to $580,000.
Beyond the campground closures, the DNR also lost a partnership with the Washington Conservation Corps, a statewide service program for young adults that had previously provided the equivalent of 70 additional field staff — more than the agency’s entire current field workforce of 60 people.
Zoom Out
Washington’s budget difficulties are playing out against a backdrop of broader fiscal strain across Pacific Northwest state governments, where progressive spending priorities have created structural imbalances. Washington’s Legislature has drawn scrutiny for its approach to taxation and government spending — including a newly enacted ‘Millionaires Tax’ on high earners that critics say reflects misplaced fiscal priorities when basic public services are being cut simultaneously.
Conservation and recreation advocates across the Mountain West have warned that deferred maintenance and understaffing at public land agencies leads to long-term deterioration that costs far more to correct than the savings generated by short-term cuts.
What’s Next
The DNR says it will continue updating recreational site closure alerts on its official website as conditions change. Commissioner Upthegrove has indicated he intends to engage with state legislators to find funding solutions before further cuts affect more sites. With the Legislature’s current session having concluded, any budget fix would likely require action in a future session or through emergency supplemental measures.
Residents planning to visit state-managed campgrounds and trails this season are encouraged to check the DNR’s website for the latest closures and service reductions before traveling.
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