BOISE — The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation announced a new agreement with the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday, impacting public lands in north and central Idaho.

The two Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) recreation agreements, which allow federal agencies to partner with state partners, are aimed at impacting trails, restoring access to public lands and improving outdoor recreation opportunities in the state, a news release from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation said.

The agreements are being facilitated through the 2025 EXPLORE Act, allowing state and federal agencies to work together on recreation projects for national forest lands. The framework put in place through the GNA will allow for recreation-oriented projects to begin in 2026 and expand across the state in subsequent years, the release said.

“These agreements represent the future of public land stewardship in Idaho,” Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Director Susan Buxton said in the release. “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. Together, we’re ensuring our trails and recreation opportunities remain safe, sustainable, and enjoyable for generations to come.”

The agreement covering the Idaho Panhandle and the Nez-Perce Clearwater National Forest is the first in the nation to brokered under the EXPLORE Act’s GNA pilot program. The partnership will provide $166,000 for recreation improvement, including 115 miles of non-motorized trails and new or upgraded signage across 1,200 miles of winter recreation trails in North Idaho.

“The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation have a long-standing history of working together to improve and maintain recreational access and opportunities,” Jon Word, forest supervisor for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, said. “Expanding this partnership through Good Neighbor Authority leverages our shared resources across boundaries, benefiting the public and the places we love to recreate.”

The second agreement covers the Salmon-Challis National Forest in central Idaho with a focus on maintaining recreation access in and around the Frank Church Wilderness. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) will assist with removing downed trees and other obstacles across 542 miles of trails that have been impacted by wildfire as well as insects and disease. IDPR will also support the constriction of a motorized trial to restore access to backcountry area outside of the Frank Church Wilderness.

Tuesday’s announcement represented expansion upon GNA agreements between Idaho agencies and the U.S. Forest Service. Last year, Gov. Brad Little joined directors for the Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service to announce a joint, cross-jurisdiction agreement aiming to effectively double timber production in the state over the coming years, as was previously reported by the Idaho Press.