A budget fight in Olympia could slam the gate on some of Southwest Washington’s favorite outdoor escapes, from quiet campgrounds to an off-road playground. A handful of small campgrounds, a popular day-use spot and an off-road vehicle park are on a Department of Natural Resources list of recreation areas that could close if lawmakers sign off on proposed cuts to recreation maintenance money. The agency warns that with less cash, routine work like vault-toilet pumping and storm cleanup at already lean, remote sites would be spotty at best, and local riders, anglers and the small businesses that count on their weekend traffic could feel the squeeze.
The agency and local media have zeroed in on four Southwest Washington locations that could see full or partial closure: Winston Creek and Anderson Lake campgrounds in Lewis County, Dougan Creek Campground in Skamania County and the Bradley Trails off-road vehicle area in Wahkiakum County, as reported by KOIN. The outlet also reports that Gov. Bob Ferguson’s proposed 2026 budget trims roughly $750,000 from the Washington Department of Natural Resources' operating funds for recreation maintenance.
Top DNR officials say those reductions would not just sting in Southwest Washington, they would cause real problems at trail systems and campgrounds across the state. In a news release, Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said, "I understand difficult choices must be made this year," and urged lawmakers to rethink the proposed cuts, according to Washington DNR.
Agency materials cited in local coverage lay out just how thin staffing already is. The DNR recreation division has about 60 field staff to cover hundreds of sites statewide, which pencils out to roughly one employee for every 333,000 visitors. A former agreement with the Washington Conservation Corps used to add around 70 field workers to that workforce, but funding for that partnership ended last year, as KOIN reported. DNR officials told lawmakers that the loss of that extra help is a key reason certain sites are now flagged for reduced service or possible closure.
Which Southwest Washington Sites Are on the List
The locations specifically called out include Winston Creek Campground and Anderson Lake Campground in Lewis County, Dougan Creek Campground in Skamania County and the Bradley Trails ORV area in Wahkiakum County. The DNR campsite calendar already shows some of these areas subject to seasonal closures or reservation systems, a reminder that winter shutdowns are nothing new, but the concern is that fresh cuts could turn temporary closures into longer or even permanent ones, per Washington DNR.
Internal DNR materials referenced in recent coverage list nearly 20 recreation sites around Washington that could see reduced service levels, and indicate that up to 11 locations might have to close completely if maintenance funding is not restored. Northwest Sportsman and a range of local outlets have highlighted similar lists, underscoring that the potential fallout stretches well beyond any single county.
The agency says its commissioner plans to keep pressing lawmakers in the coming weeks to restore recreation maintenance funding, and that final House and Senate budget decisions will determine whether these sites stay open or face extended closures. For now, campers, riders and other regulars at small campgrounds and ORV areas are keeping a close eye on Olympia as the 2026 session moves forward.
