All offices to be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day

SILVER CITY, NM, Dec. 19, 2023 – The Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger District will be closed from noon through the end of the day on Friday, December 22.

All Gila National Forest offices will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25 for Christmas, and Monday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. Offices will reopen with normal hours on Tuesday, Dec. 26, and again on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

“All Gila National Forest offices are working through numerous staff vacancies, and many employees across the forest will use their accrued annual leave at the end of the year,” said Gila National Forest Supervisor Camille Howes. “However, we make every effort to keep our doors open, other than on Federal Holidays, and office closure is truly a last resort.”

Staffing will be thin across the forest over the next couple of weeks, and front desks may be staffed by employees not authorized to sell maps, passes, and permits. Please be patient with them as they do their best to serve customers in a role outside of their normal duties. It is recommended to call ahead to your local forest service office before heading that way to ensure the services you require will be available when you visit.

Visitors are advised to check the weather forecast at www.weather.gov and be prepared for changing conditions. Dress in layers that can be added or removed as weather conditions change. You can check up on conditions on state highways at https://nmroads.com/mapIndex.html? .

You can find information about the Gila National Forest by visiting our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila . For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov .