What Federal Cutbacks Mean for Life on the Trail

Government cutbacks to National Parks, the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management could impact many making plans to hit the off-road trails in 2025.

Please note: what you’re about to read is not a political statement in any way. It’s news. It is impacting all of us, regardless of our politics. We’re not talking about taking a side. We’re talking about what life is going to be like out on the trail right now.

Government workers, especially those directly affected by layoffs, are saying all the worst-case scenario things you would expect: access will be limited, services affecting water, trash and sewer will become unreliable, and support for operations for everything from guided tours to search and rescue will be spotty at best.

Business operators supporting recreational areas from gas stations to restaurants too are saying they expect to have to cut back because they fear visitor flow will slow to a trickle.

Politics, of course, reaches across the border in these times. Early season reports out of Moab, Utah suggest Canadians are not coming this year.

What many do not realize is that the recent cuts of as many as 5000 government workers pales in comparison to reductions suffered since 2010.

So, these are not new events.

For better than 15 years staff support has diminished while visitation to recreation areas has skyrocketed.

Debates online do not reflect disagreement that these things are happening.

Conversation is instead focused on whether it is a problem or an opportunity.

Fewer people?  Not as many people on the trail, at the restaurants, on the lake, or checking out the vista?  Is that really true? Does that sound like a bad thing?

~ What Can We Expect? ~

It might be.

At the time of this writing – mid-April 2025 – it’s just too soon to speculate.

But we have seen cutbacks before and we know how things like the pandemic pushed huge crowds to recreation areas while cutbacks to staffing were going on.

So what’s happening now, this year, 2025?

Early going adventurers are reporting brisk weather, open trails and good fishing. That’s totally normal. But what lies ahead when the weather heats up?

Some recreational areas have already announced adjustments to operations:

• Visitor center hours and days of operation have been reduced.
• Some reservations have already been cancelled.
• Delays in the reservation system have been installed to help staff stay in control.
• Some locations are planning to limit the amount of visitors, campers, hikers and adventurers to match the level of staffing that remains.
• Some trails for hikers and off-roaders will be closed all season due to reduced staffing levels.
• Contracts for waste management have in some cases been cancelled.
• Water and other vital features in some places have been shut off.
• Entrance kiosks and ranger stations have been reduced and will not re-open in some cases.
• Phones may not be staffed and web sites might not be updated.

All of this will lead to the perception that parks and recreation areas are more crowded this year.

There will be wait time increases to get in, to pay fees, and to get information.

~ How to Prepare ~

All of that cheery news does not mean that public lands and national parks will not be accessible.

It will just require a lot of advanced planning and plenty of know-before-you-go efforts.

We suggest:

• Turn to social media groups, influencer channels and websites dedicated to the areas you want to explore
• Talk to others who have recently visited
• Pack water in, prepare to pack garbage out.
• Think safety first in everything: from water purification to fire containment and prevention.
• Assume you will have no help. Prepare extra food, extra supplies, and extra emergency essentials.
• Be flexible. Just because it was open last week, doesn’t mean it will be open when you get there.
• Support local. Give area businesses close to your adventure playground as much business as you can.
• Watch the weather. You can stay out of harm’s way by staying ahead of the weather and avoiding areas of impact.
• Honor closures. There will be signs up and gates locked in many locations. You can bet that if you go around them you will not have access to any kind of help. In fact, if you go into those areas that are closed you run the risk of taking resources from other areas that are open – so that hurts other people. Stay legal.
• Create a record, share what you know. As a public service for others wanting to enjoy public lands come back and tell your story. Others, like you, will be looking for current information you can help share.
• Consider state or local rec areas. Many states are approaching the Feds to see if they can operate some areas in the place of the federal government. State and local parks are also considering opening up more areas to compensate for areas that are closed at the federal level. Check for local resources and attractions you might not be aware of.

As we plan our own outdoor adventures for this year we are taking it all in much as we did during the summers of the pandemic: we worry about what we can control, we’re patient with those things we can’t and we make the best with what’s left over.