WA Department of Natural Resources to close four campgrounds after lawmakers cut funding

The Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that four Washington state campgrounds will be closed for the rest of the year and several others will be partially closed following two consecutive years of funding cuts.

The state Legislature has slashed roughly $8 million from the department’s recreation program. In 2025, lawmakers reduced the program’s budget by more than 20%, and this year, they cut another nearly $600,000 of maintenance funding.

The decrease in funding means sites will be less maintained, storm recovery work will take longer and trailhead bathrooms won’t be stocked, according to the agency.

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The campgrounds to close this year include Anderson Lake in Elbe, Rock Lakes in Conconully and Upper Clearwater in Forks. Island Camp in Glenwood will be closed to overnight use, but the cabin and day use area will remain open.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/wa-department-of-natural-resources-to-close-four-campgrounds-after-lawmakers-cut-funding/