< All Press Releases

RENO, Nev. – The health and safety of our visitors and staff remains the number one priority of the Bureau of Land Management. In accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state of Nevada and its public health officials, the BLM will temporarily close the public-facing functions of its BLM offices and visitor centers in Nevada are closed to the public for the indefinite future to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

“The safety and health of our employees and the public is a top priority,” said BLM Nevada State Director Jon Raby. “We have taken steps to ensure that we can continue to carry out our multiple use mission while following the guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health authorities.”

In addition to offices and visitor centers across the state, the following recreation facilities have been closed:

• Sand Mountain Recreation Area (Carson City District)
• Winnemucca Sand Dunes (Winnemucca District)
• California Trail Center (Elko District)
• Southern Nevada District
  • The Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive and Visitor Center
  • Sloan Canyon parking area and visitor contact station
  • Red Rock Overlook
  • Late Night Trailhead
  • Red Spring picnic area and boardwalk
  • All campsites at the Red Rock Campground

Despite the closure of these facilities, multiple opportunities remain for the public to enjoy the outdoors as long as visitors heed orders, guidance, and advice of local and state officials and the Centers for Disease Control. BLM-managed trails, and open spaces remain open across Nevada.

“While visitors are still welcome to enjoy BLM’s trails and open spaces, we ask they follow the guidance provided by the CDC and their local health authorities,” Raby said. “Other things to consider if you are going out is to avoid congregating in areas where there are more than 10 people or there are a lot of parked vehicles and keep in mind that if you get injured, medical response may be delayed or fewer resources may be available since many health care professionals and first responders are busy dealing with COVID-19.”

Many employees are teleworking and are available by phone or email. If you’d like to do business with the BLM, please do so by email or phone whenever possible.  If you need to come into one of our offices, please contact us first so we can arrange an appointment to help you during normal business hours. Contact information is available on our website at www.blm.gov/nevada.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• Consider looking for alternatives closer to home including walking around your neighborhood or local park, as long as you’re maintaining at least 6 feet of space from other people.
• Listen to local health officials and the CDC. The CDC has tips for protecting yourself (https://bit.ly/2y9F3NY) and traveling within the US. (https://bit.ly/39gLlZ2)
• BLM's recreation area closures are consistent with our local, county, state and federal partners, so before you head out to your favorite alternative to a BLM area, first check to see whether it's open.  Here are some links to more information about outdoor recreation sites managed by the following agencies:
• US Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/htnf/
• Nevada State Parks http://parks.nv.gov/
• To ensure public lands and waters remain intact for future generations, visitors are encouraged to utilize Leave No Trace practices, such as picking up all trash and human waste, while services at recreational facilities are suspended. Please bring your own sanitary products, including toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
• If the area you wanted to visit is closed, also consider that going to another area may contribute to overcrowding and the inability to maintain social distancing there.

Providing for recreation opportunities during this time is just one of the many activities BLM Nevada staff continues to perform each and every day because they remain vitally important to the nation and our neighbors. Our work continues to support the nation’s energy and food security. We provide for sustainable timber harvests and provide protection from wildland fire. We are stewards of amazing landscapes and provide for enjoyment of all types of outdoor recreation.

Information on the affected BLM Nevada facilities will be posted on https://www.blm.gov/nevada. Please check with individual field and district offices and visitor centers for specific details on operations in your area.

-BLM-