Areas Closed by Wildfires Begin to Open

After almost a full month of fighting fires sparked by a lightning storm on Sept. 8, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest officials and fire managers have contained a majority of the wildfires. They are also opening areas that had been closed, including opening some hiking trails around Leavenworth and on the west side of Blewett Pass.

Below are some of the change details officials announced on Oct. 8:

Cashmere Mountain Fire, Alpine Lakes Wilderness - The area closure surrounding the 2609-acre Cashmere Mountain Fire in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area about 5 miles southwest of Leavenworth has been scaled back along the western edge of the closure area. This change opens the Trout Creek Trail; and approximately a 2.5 mile section of the Eightmile-Troutcreek trail #1554 is open from Trout Lake to Windy Pass. The remainder of the #1554 trail remains closed.

The Jack Creek trail #1558 is also open to public use, and campgrounds along Icicle River Road are also open.

This closure area still includes Eightmile Road, Colchuck, Stuart, Eightmile, and Caroline lakes portion of the Enchantment area in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness due to a fire. Many Enchantment area overnight camping permits are cancelled. However, the Enchantment Basin itself remains open at this time with access via Snow Creek Trail.

Please call the Wenatchee River Ranger Station for more information on which permits are cancelled.

Klone and Pyramid Fire Closure Area Description - The large closure area has been reduced and national forest system lands south and east of the FS #5900 Shady Pass road and Middle Tommy Creek Trail #1424 south are now open. National forest systems lands north and west of the #5900 Road, and Middle Tommy Creek Trail #1424 to the Glacier Peak Wilderness Boundary are closed to public access. The Lake and Fox Creek Campground on the Entiat River Road will be open for public use. However, the main #51 Entiat River road beyond Lake Creek Campground will remain closed.

Cle Elum Ranger District - The trail and road closures in the Stafford Creek, Upper Teanaway Ridge, and Ingalls Creek areas located west of Blewett Pass and U.S. Highway 97 have been lifted.

Trail closures remain in effect for the French Cabin FS trail #1307 and Kachess Ridge trail #1315 from Knox Creek Junction to the saddle that drops into Silver Creek, north of the town of Easton.

Naches Ranger District - trail closures remain in effect for in the Gold Hill area of the William O. Douglas Wilderness area and Kettle Creek of the Norse Peak Wilderness Area.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest – While the Cascade Creek fire has largely been contained, other fires have flared up in the area. Closures include Forest Road 21 from US 12 to and including FR 2130 and spurs. South Point Lookout Trail #123 is closed.

The Mt. Adams Wilderness also remains closed along with the adjacent national forest areas north of the forest border, west of the Yakima Reservation, east of FR 23/2329 and south of FR 5603.

Fire danger remains high, check before you hike

Conditions continue to be dry and many fire bans remain in place. Officials think it will take a season ending rain or snow event to fully suppress all the fires.

WTA and forest officials recommend checking in with ranger districts to get the latest information on closure areas.

>> Check out the interactive topographic map

>> Get the latest fire news, photos and alerts on closures at inciweb.org