Nineteen sites across the state, 11 in western Washington, could see reduced services or shut down entirely under proposed budget cuts.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The bathrooms at Rattlesnake Trail in Raging River State Forest are in rough shape — backed up toilets, no supplies and in need of what mountain biker Chad Ronaldson calls “some love.”
They may soon get even less attention, or close altogether. The popular trail system east of Seattle is among 19 recreation sites across Washington facing closures or reduced services as early as this spring under proposed state budget cuts.
“That’s not what I wanted to hear,” said Ronaldson, who was biking the trail Thursday morning with coworkers. “Just like at Tiger Mountain, they could all use a little love.”
But the situation is far worse at other sites across the state.
Eleven campgrounds and parks in western Washington face full closures, partial closures or seasonal shutdowns under budget proposals moving through the legislature. The cuts stem from a more than $7 million reduction — roughly 20 percent of the maintenance and operations budget — approved during the 2025 legislative session. The governor’s proposed 2026 budget calls for an additional $750,000 in cuts.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources’ recreation program has been operating at a deficit for at least five years, according to Courtney James, a communications manager with the agency. The situation reached a crisis point last year when the legislature declined to fund the department’s request for Washington Conservation Corps crews, which had accounted for nearly half of the field capacity available for trail and campground maintenance.
“We just don’t have the staff or financial capacity to currently manage our levels of recreation across the state,” James said. “Already we’re having on the ground impacts from the budget of last session.”
The department now has only 60 field staff statewide, one staff member for every 22 miles of trail, 50,000 acres or 333,000 visitors.
If the cuts proceed as proposed, statewide recreation sites will see fewer cleanups, slower storm repairs, and less staff on the ground. Some campgrounds are at risk of closing altogether. The legislative session ends March 12.
“Bathrooms will definitely take a hit as we’re facing more cuts,” James said. “At least five years we’ve been facing the budget deficit.”
Agency officials said they chose sites for closure based on maintenance costs, distance from available staff, and the ability to physically secure them. Campgrounds were prioritized because they require the most staff time to ensure overnight visitor safety.
Even at sites that remain open, visitors should expect deteriorating conditions: bathrooms cleaned less frequently, downed trees left on trails, and storm damage going unaddressed.
“There’s going to be a lot more situations where bathrooms are not as maintained,” James said. “They might see more downed trees or other limbs or other things like that on trails.”
The department is urging recreationists to check its website before visiting and to respect closures.
For Ronaldson, who volunteers regularly for trail maintenance, the news reinforces the need for community involvement. He and fellow mountain bikers plan to continue their weekend work clearing trails and building new biking routes.
“We just all got to pitch in, and we can’t expect others to do it for us,” Ronaldson said.
But volunteers cannot fully replace professional staff and equipment. At nearby Tiger Mountain, bathrooms have already closed, forcing visitors to look elsewhere.
“Yeah, that’s really unfortunate,” Ronaldson said. “Tiger has no bathrooms right now, so bring your own toilet paper.”
Western Washington Sites Facing Closures or Reduced Services:
Full Closures:
- Anderson Lake Campground, Lewis County
- Bear Creek Campground, Clallam County
- Lyre River Campground, Clallam County
- Turnerville Campground, Pacific County
- Winston Creek Campground, Lewis County
Partial Closures:
- Reiter Foothills State Forest, Snohomish County
Seasonal Closures:
- Harry Osborne State Forest, Skagit County
- Snoqualmie area sites, King County (seasonal bathroom closures)
- Green Mountain State Forest Trails, Kitsap County (winter trail closures to dirt bike use)
Service Reductions:
- 29 Pines Campground, Kittitas County (late opening, reduced services)
- North Mountain Trails and Skills Park, Snohomish County
To ensure diverse coverage and expert insight across a wide range of topics, our publication features contributions from multiple staff writers with varied areas of expertise.
