You never know what kind of information you will get. I remember the time I was supposed to lead a dayhike in early May. The ranger station said, "Oh, the valley is still completely covered with snow." Sure enough, the place was almost solid white--not with snow, but with blooming trilliums! The other people on the hike agreed it was one of the most beautiful wildflower hikes they'd ever been on.

Then there is the Wallowa Mountains Visitor Center in Enterprise, OR. I have called several times only to receive outdated information and nothing that hadn't been on their website months before. I know some people who have gotten not just outdated but completely erroneous information from them. They also apparently refuse to accept reports from hikers who have just returned from the field, which amazes me--most USFS ranger stations are happy to have hiker reports. I've found out since that the Wallowa Lake Lodge is a much better source of trail condition information in that area.

Admittedly, with continuing severe budget cuts, the Forest Service folks can't get out into the field as much as they used to, so it's no surprise that their information is often out of date. Keep in mind, also, that you'll probably be talking to a clerical employee in a woefully understaffed office!

The best information I've ever gotten from the US Forest Service was at the Shoshone NF ranger station in Lander, WY. The lady there printed me out a weather report, gave me lots of current info about the west side of the Wind Rivers even though it's in another national forest (she even offered to call the Pinedale Ranger Station for me), and gave me directions to several places in town where I could buy topographic maps, since they were out of the one map I most needed.

I can only say: yes, call the land management agency (ranger station), but do check other information sources as well! If there's a hiker's forum or two for the area you're in, keep tabs on their trip reports. If not, google to see if there are any nearby hiking or climbing clubs (another good info source) or recent trip reports in that area. Locally owned outdoor stores often have recent information for their area or know where to find it. And don't dismiss commercial outfitters as a source of information.