Sitting Bull Falls temporarily closed because of staffing shortages

May 9—Sitting Bull Falls is one of the most popular recreation areas in the Lincoln National Forest, but access roads to the day-use area west of Carlsbad are closed because of staffing shortages in the Guadalupe Ranger District.

Sitting Bull Falls is the only closure planned in the Lincoln National Forest, said Amanda Fry, a spokeswoman for the Lincoln National Forest. Many of the campsites in the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Ranger districts are scheduled to open Friday after seasonal closures over the winter. Other sites have already reopened.

With 150-foot, spring-fed waterfalls and a large natural pool, Sitting Bull Falls is an oasis in the desert. Visitors can rock-climb and access the falls, and it has historic picnic areas built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

But the recreation area is remote, almost 43 miles west of Carlsbad, which can make it difficult to staff, according to Fry.

This isn't the first time the recreation area has been closed. In September, Sitting Bull Falls also had to be shut down because of staffing shortages, Fry said. The Guadalupe Ranger District is hiring for a range of jobs, including work in recreation, land management and range management. Staff from other ranger districts are filling in, Fry said.

A key position needed to reopen the recreation area is the volunteer position of camp host — someone who camps out in the recreation area to keep the spot clean, answers questions from visitors, monitors the area, collects fees and opens and shuts the gates. Camp hosts have an agreed upon length of stay with the district ranger and usually stay in their own camper.

"Staying there for long term, you do have to be dedicated to that lifestyle, living in a rural area, being able to really embrace that outdoors lifestyle," Fry said.

Sitting Bull Falls is not a location where people are normally allowed to camp, so camp hosts have a unique opportunity.

While the access roads to the day-use area are closed, the trails are still open for hiking, and trekkers can still hike in through the Last Chance Canyon trail system.

Anyone interested in becoming a camp host in the Lincoln National Forest can contact Jennifer Thomas at 575-630-3010 for more information.