Hiker Headlines: Free Day, Sourdough Mountain Trail and Lakes Angeles Area Closures, FR 25 Closure Reduced

It’s Aug. 3. Parking fees will be waived in some areas tomorrow, Aug. 4, for Great American Outdoors Day. Be aware of some new closures and restrictions, and a reduction in the Forest Road 25 closure. Also, sign a petition to protect the Green River Valley from mining activity. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Lake Keechelus will be closed to vehicles to protect the spawning bull trout population. Photo by Isabelle C. 

Fee-free day: Tomorrow, Aug 4, is Great American Outdoors Day! Parking fees will be waived on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. 

Closures and restrictions in place: Please keep the following closures and restrictions in mind while planning your next hike:

• The Lake Angeles area in Olympic National Park is closed until further notice due to a recent cougar incident. The closure includes the Heather Park, Lake Angeles, Klahhane Ridge, Mount Angeles and Switchback trails. Although cougar encounters are rare in Washington, it's a good idea to be prepared if hiking in cougar country.
• The Sourdough Mountain Trail to the Big Beaver Trail (including both Sourdough and Pierce Mountain camps), the road into the town of Diablo, the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center and Gorge Lake Campground are closed due to the Sourdough Fire in the North Cascades. 
• Be prepared for upcoming closures in the Heather Meadows area due to reconstruction and maintenance projects funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. Expect temporary closures, detours or delays starting Aug. 7 on the Picture Lake, Wild Goose, Fire and Ice, Bagley Lakes and Artist Ridge trails. Table Mountain will also have a temporary closure at a yet undetermined date.  
• The Lake Keechelus basin is closed to vehicles to protect spawning bull trout. This closure includes a year-round closure to vehicles on the lakebed and shoreline, as well as a seasonal closure of the boat ramp parking lot and part of Forest road 9070-219 when the lake level is low. 

Forest Road 25 closure reduced: The closure of FR 25 near Mount St. Helens — which happened following a landslide in June — has been reduced by 15 miles on the southern side of the road closure, moving the southern closure up to milepost 27.25. The northern road closure remains at milepost 23, near Elk Pass. Although the closure is reduced, please be aware that FR 25 is still unable to be used as a through-route due to this closure. 

Sign the petition to protect the Green River Valley: WTA is part of the Green River Valley Alliance, a coalition working to protect the Green River Valley from proposed open pit mining. Because of its recreation opportunities, ecosystem services, cultural significance and proximity to Mount St. Helens National Monument that put it at risk for disturbance, we believe this area is no place for a mine. The coalition will be submitting a request to Congress to protect the area from future mining activities. Individuals and businesses can lend your support by signing this petition before August 13.

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