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I originally thought the standard was Helvetica, but looking at these examples we see the font is narrower and the 'R' doesn't look like Helvetica.
Also, these signs are typically routed -- so the router will give a rounded profile to sharp corners.
Does anyone know what font is used here, or anything that comes close?
The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has a thorough set of guidelines for all of its signage. You can purchase the fonts through DGI Traffic.
The type used by the Forest Service is referred to as ASA Series C in the FS docs. The FHWA more commonly refers to the type as FHWA Series fonts but they appear to be the same. That name is applied to both the routed and printed type. You can read up on some of the specs at the Sign and Poster Guidelines for the Forest Service (PDF) page. Section 14.4 speaks to the routed signs.
The FHWA type is available in Series A-F, A being the narrowest, F being the widest. The document Standard Alphabets For Traffic Control Devices (PDF) shows the types in all their glory with the spacing parameters.
Tobias Frere-Jones produced a full-featured replica under the name Interstate.
Generally these are single line/stroke fonts for Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines. Most don't have a specific name or foundry. They simply are supplied with CNC software from the manufacturer.
CNC machines are computer driven cutters/engravers used in manufacturing many items which need to be custom shaped or carved. I suspect signs such as those are carved by machines. Most likely CNC machines, but there is a possibility that laser engravers were used. In the case of laser engravers, any font will work.
You can find several single stroke fonts if you google for "CNC Fonts"
US Forest Service signs do use ASA 2000 fonts, with varying font thicknesses, depending on the type & size of the sign for area clear cutting, but EM-7100 shows TD-x trail signs have a 1/8" width on all lettering strokes.
A freebie version is available of ASA 2000 called "Blue Highway" for large forest signs (it comes with the various width versions), and a simple open vector ASA font for trail signs.
I've gone through every letter, though, to adjust cutting start, sequence, and direction to maximize speed and minimize tear-out, and make other small adjustments in kerning, especially for fractions. Despite the 1/8" stroke spec. in EM-7100, I now use a 5/32" end mill, which really looks great, but will increase your sign width by 10% or so.
