This year, Washington cut more than $500,000 from the state’s Department of Natural Resources. 

These budget cuts are going to mean campground closures, less trail maintenance and dirtier bathrooms at a lot of popular trailheads. 

Many are wondering how it’ll impact their outdoors time, because the Department of Natural Resources maintains a lot of land. 

We checked in with The Mountaineers to hear how they're feeling about these cuts.... and then we called up the Department of Natural Resources to figure out what all this means for outdoor recreation. 

Guests:
Tom Vogl, CEO of The Mountaineers 
Dave Upthegrove, Commissioner of Public Lands  

Related links: 
State Budget Cuts Prompt DNR to Reduce Recreation Services | Department of Natural Resources
Popular I-90 trailheads, bathrooms will feel budget crunch, WA says | The Seattle Times
The Mountaineers - Explore, Learn, Conserve  
WA Department of Natural Resources to close four campgrounds after lawmakers cut funding | Washington State Standard

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

This year, Washington cut&nbsp;more than $500,000&nbsp;from the state&rsquo;s Department of Natural Resources.&nbsp;
These budget cuts are going to mean campground closures, less trail maintenance and dirtier bathrooms at a lot of popular trailheads.&nbsp;
Many are wondering how it&rsquo;ll impact their outdoors time, because the Department of Natural Resources maintains a lot of land.&nbsp;
We checked in with The Mountaineers to hear how they're feeling about these cuts.... and then we called up the Department of Natural Resources to figure out what all this means for outdoor recreation.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Tom Vogl, CEO of The Mountaineers&nbsp;</li>
<li>Dave Upthegrove, Commissioner of Public Lands&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://dnr.wa.gov/news/2026/state-budget-cuts-prompt-dnr-reduce-recreation-services">State Budget Cuts Prompt DNR to Reduce Recreation Services | Department of Natural Resources</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/popular-i-90-trailheads-bathrooms-will-feel-budget-crunch-wa-says/?utm_source=marketingcloud&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Morning+Brief+04-27-26_4_27_2026&amp;utm_term=">Popular I-90 trailheads, bathrooms will feel budget crunch, WA says | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mountaineers.org/">The Mountaineers - Explore, Learn, Conserve&nbsp;&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/wa-department-of-natural-resources-to-close-four-campgrounds-after-lawmakers-cut-funding/">WA Department of Natural Resources to close four campgrounds after lawmakers cut funding | Washington State Standard</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Washington cut more than $500,000 from the state’s Department of Natural Resources, which means campground closures, less trail maintenance and dirtier bathrooms at some of your favorite trailheads. 