STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Sawtooth National Recreation Area offices in Ketchum and Stanley are closing just as the busy Memorial Day Weekend, which marks the unofficial start of summer, commences.

The offices will reopen three days a week beginning June 16 through Labor Day. When hours for reopening are established, the information will be posted on the Sawtooth National Forest Offices website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/offices. 

The closures are taking effect following the Trump administration’s decision to lay off thousands of federal forest and parks employees nationwide and to cut funding for agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Parks.

“Adjusting our office hours as we enter our busiest season allows our rangers some flexibility with their available staff to continue to carry out all aspects of our mission – caring for the land while serving people,” said acting Forest Supervisor Shawn Robnett. “Ensuring our employees are still out on in the field accomplishing their work also affords our employees the opportunity to meet stakeholders where they are--out on the Forest.”

The Fairfield Ranger District and Minidoka Ranger District have also adjusted hours to deal with available staffing and resources.

The Fairfield Ranger District will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. The Minidoka Ranger District will be open 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

Stakeholders requiring assistance from these offices outside of the listed hours should call and leave phone messages at the office from which they require services. Forest staff in these offices will follow up on all calls and messages at their earliest convenience.