The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and the U.S. Forest Service announced a pair of Good Neighbor Authority recreation agreements Tuesday that will fund trail maintenance and restore recreation access across broad swaths of the state.
More hands for high-priority trail repairs
One agreement, covering the Idaho Panhandle and Nez Perce–Clearwater national forests, is the first in the nation to use the EXPLORE Act’s Good Neighbor Authority recreation pilot. That partnership brings roughly $166,000 to pay for maintenance on trails and improved signage for winter recreation systems in north Idaho.
The second agreement focuses on the Salmon–Challis National Forest and the areas surrounding the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Under that deal, the state parks department will assist federal crews in clearing downed trees and other obstacles across hundreds of miles of trails damaged by wildfire, insects and disease, and will help construct a motorized trail intended to restore public access to backcountry areas outside the Frank Church Wilderness.
“These agreements represent the future of public land stewardship in Idaho,” Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Director Susan Buxton said. “By partnering with the U.S. Forest Service through the Good Neighbor Authority, we’re protecting some of Idaho’s most treasured landscapes while making them more accessible for residents and visitors alike.”
The deals build on authorities in the EXPLORE Act of 2025, which directed new flexibility for state and federal agencies to collaborate on recreation projects. Idaho’s agreements combine targeted funding with state crews and management support to tackle backlogged maintenance and safety work on multiuse trail systems.
Where the work will happen
Key elements of the agreements include:
- Maintenance of 115 miles of non-motorized trails in the Idaho Panhandle and Nez Perce–Clearwater national forests.
- New or upgraded signage across roughly 1,200 miles of winter recreation trails in north Idaho.
- Clearing and repair work on 542 miles of trails in the Salmon–Challis National Forest impacted by wildfire, insects and disease.
- Construction assistance on a motorized trail to restore access to backcountry outside the Frank Church Wilderness.
These projects address both safety and recreation access: fallen trees and erosion can block routes for hikers, riders and emergency responders, and lack of signage complicates winter travel on miles of groomed or multiuse routes.
| Item | Amount / Miles |
|---|---|
| Funding for Panhandle / Nez Perce–Clearwater work | $166,000 |
| Non-motorized trail maintenance | 115 miles |
| Winter trail signage coverage | 1,200 miles |
| Trails restored in Salmon–Challis area | 542 miles |
Federal and state land managers say these kinds of cooperative efforts help stretch limited budgets and speed up repairs that would otherwise wait years for federal contracting. The use of the EXPLORE Act authorities signals a new route for states to take on more hands-on roles in maintaining national forest recreation infrastructure.
For Idahoans who use trails for commuting, recreation or guiding visitors, the agreements promise more predictable access and safer routes this coming season. Work schedules, specific trail priorities and timelines will be set in coordination with local forest supervisors and will be announced as crews mobilize.
As federal land management budgets remain constrained and Idaho’s outdoor recreation demand keeps growing, these Good Neighbor Authority projects offer a model for combining state resources and local knowledge with federal oversight to deliver repairs and improvements more rapidly.
