When the North Rim of the Grand Canyon closed earlier this summer due to the devastating Dragon Fire, it rightfully made national headlines. But that high-profile closure isn’t the only one impacting public lands this year.
A lesser-known yet much-loved destination in southern Utah has also shut down—quietly, and for the rest of the 2025 season. The Pine Valley Recreation Area, part of the Dixie National Forest, is now officially closed due to wildfire damage, making it another unfortunate entry in a growing list of 2025 wildfire-related park closures.
A Different Kind of Park—But Still Worth Protecting
Pine Valley isn’t part of the National Park Service. It’s managed by the U.S. Forest Service and sits just north of St. George. During the warmer months, it draws campers, hikers, equestrians, and anglers to its cooler mountain climate and scenic trails.
While national parks are protected and preserved, national forests allow for mixed use—recreation, hunting, grazing, and even timber. That doesn’t mean they’re any less valuable or beautiful. In fact, the outdoor experiences many of us love most happen in forests, not parks. Not sure of the difference? We explain it in this post.
Everything That’s Now Closed
According to the Forest Service, the entire Pine Valley Recreation Area is closed through December 31, 2025, due to damage from the Forsyth Fire, which began in June after a lightning strike and burned over 15,000 acres.
This includes:
- All family and group campgrounds
- Picnic and day-use areas
- Hiking and horseback trails
- The Pine Valley Guard Station rental cabin
- Fishing access at Pine Valley Reservoir
Anyone with existing reservations has had them automatically canceled and refunded. Officials cited unsafe conditions, including water system outages, unstable trees, ash pits, and fire-damaged terrain. You can read about the fire and full closure here.
A Growing Pattern of Wildfire Closures
This seasonal closure may not have gotten the national attention that Grand Canyon’s North Rim did—but for locals and regional travelers, it’s a huge loss. Pine Valley is one of the more accessible recreation areas in the region and a favorite summer retreat.
As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense, full closures like this are becoming more common. Whether it’s a national park or national forest, wildfires are forcing popular parks to shut down for the season, sometimes with very little warning.
Cover Photo: Dixie National Forest/Facebook
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