Hiking Trails in California State Parks Saved – For Now

Like most states, California has suffered major budget woes caused in large part by the economic downturn, which means hiking trails could be off-limits if California State Parks are closed. So Governor Schwarzenegger targeted 48 state parks for closure. However, the final budget negotiations restored enough funding to keep all the parks open, albeit with less money.

California State Parks Hiking Trails Still Open

Here’s what the excellent nonprofit organization the California State Parks Foundation said in their October 2008 newsletter:

The budget did give the Department additional “fee authority.” I hate that phrase, it always sounds like it is a gift to the Department. In fact, it imposes the requirement to generate more fee revenue. Obviously, that money can’t be spent unless it is raised. With the summer over, and revenues down because of the massive fires this summer, this amounts to a silent cut for the Department.

As we suspected, our collective hard work to put out a real solution to the parks’ financial problem—the State Parks Access Pass—did not make it into the budget. We are down, but not out. We certainly got enough support from the public and policy makers to be back next year, to try again.

We can’t give up because this year’s budget kind of “kicked the can” into next fiscal year, as one of our Board members succinctly put it. We are concerned because it leaves state parks vulnerable in the next budget cycle.

Three trails featured in my 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California, fourth edition were in state parks initially targeted for closure:

Del Norte Redwoods State Park
Anderson Marsh State Park
Henry Coe State Park

It’s quite likely California State Parks will face closure pressures again next year. Let’s put our own pressure on our elected representatives to keep all the parks open and affordable.

Here’s a map with all the California State Parks that escaped the budget knife this year, and are likely targets next year. Any of your favorite parks here? What makes them special?

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