Some areas will remain closed for public safety. Fox Creek, Lake Creek, Silver Falls, and Cottonwood campgrounds are now open. Shady Pass Road #5900, North Fork Entiat Trailhead, and trails within the Glacier Peak Wilderness area on the Entiat Ranger District are open and accessible. In addition, the Chiwawa River Road, and campgrounds and trails off that road, are open for use.
To ensure public safety, road and trail closures remain in effect in the Tyee Ridge, Mad River, Upper Mad River, and Maverick Saddle areas.
The Closure Area was reduced in size on September 29.
Due to the Crescent Mountain Fire, part of the Twisp River Road and upper Twisp River valley are CLOSED. Many trails, campgrounds and roads are closed.
See interactive Closures Map for current information on area and trail closures on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. You can zoom way in on map for details.
The forest is generally open to this activity. Regulations address areas where shooting is prohibited, see below. Exploding targets are not allowed anywhere on National Forest. Hanging targets on trees is prohibited because it causes resource (timber) damage. Use earth slope as a back stop to any shooting activity. Most towns prohibit shooting within 1 mile of city limits.
36 C.F.R. § 261.10
Prohibited:
(d) Discharging a firearm or any other implement capable of taking human life, causing injury, or damaging property as follows:
(1) In or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, or
(2) Across or on a National Forest System road or a body of water adjacent thereto, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result in such discharge.
Weight restrictions are implemented for public safety on two bridges that access popular recreation areas.
On Road #4330, the Fish Lake Road, a 5-ton weight limit has been placed on Big Boulder Creek Bridge, located 2.4 miles north of Salmon la Sac Campground. No public restrooms are available beyond Paris Creek Trailhead. Sanitation trucks cannot access toilets at Scatter Creek, Fish Lake Campground, and Deception/Cathedral Trailheads so they are closed indefinitely. Dispose of human waste using blue bags or by burying 6 inches deep at least 200 feet from water.
The other bridge affected by weight restrictions is on Forest Service Road #4308 which crosses the Cle Elum River and accesses the popular French Cabin Creek dispersed camping area near Cle Elum Lake. A weight limit of 10 tons has been placed on this bridge. Vehicles over 20,000 GVW are prohibited.
Beginning Monday, October 16, 2017 Upper Mad River Trails CLOSED to wheeled travel and pack and saddle stock.
Blue Creek #1426
Upper Mad River #1409.1
Alder Ridge #1523
Upper Chickamin #1561
The annual seasonal closure is to protect natural resources, minimize damage to trails, and maintain quality trail systems. The seasonal closure protects trails from damage caused by wheeled and stock travel on muddy trails. When closed, the trails are open to hikers only.
Be sure to stay on open trails and out of meadows.
The following trails on Cle Elum Ranger District are closed to motorized use (except for snowmobiles), in order to promote public safety, protect Forest lands and resources, and enhance quality of big game hunting, lessen impacts on wildlife during calving and fawning season, and reduce impacts on soils and meadows. The following are closed October 15 through June 15:
Tumwater Campground is closed until further notice. This closure also affects Hatchery Creek Road and dispersed camping areas in the Chiwaukum Trailhead area.
The Chiwaukum Fire in 2014 burned many acres and vegetation that normally can hold water and soil. Because Tumwater Campground and Chiwaukum dispersed camping sites (and area near the settling ponds) is located on or near an alluvial fan, these areas are subject to flash flooding and debris flows AT ANY TIME. We monitor these areas and when conditions improve, the areas will reopen, but it may not be until 2016.
Please respect these closures -- they are to protect you from harm.
Area(s):
Tumwater Campground, Tumwater Picnic Area
Date(s): Oct 3, 2014
Due to upstream slope and vegetation damage caused by Chiwaukum Fire, and the associated risk of debris flows and flash floods, Tumwater Campground and Picnic Area are closed until further notice.
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