Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, USFS - Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Trails Reopen
Release Date: Jan 1, 2021
Columbia River Gorge, Ore. — January 1, 2021 – Several popular trails in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area will open today, some for the first time since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire.
Several trails have been closed since the Eagle Creek Fire that burned 48,000 acres in early September, 2017 while others were closed for public safety due to COVID-19. Trails re-opening today include the Eagle Creek Trail, the Wahclella Trail, the Gorge 400 Trail (specifically, Eagle Creek to John B. Yeon State Park and Ainsworth State Park to Horsetail Falls), the Larch Mountain Trail between Multnomah Falls and the Wahkeena Trail.
- Forest Order: Eagle Creek Fire Closure area (Reduction) (.pdf)
- Maps: Full MAP (.pdf) MAP Eagle Creek area (.pdf).
For the past 3½ years, the Forest Service and Oregon State Parks have worked side-by-side with the Gorge Trails Recovery Team which includes Pacific Crest Trail Association, Trailkeepers of Oregon, Washington Trails Association, and Friends of the Columbia Gorge. Employees and volunteers worked thousands of hours to clear and rebuild trails, cut and move downed trees, replace bridges, rebuild structures, and mitigate invasive species in order to make the trails available for hiking.
“The reopening of the Eagle Creek Trail and other trails impacted by the Eagle Creek Fire has required working in community with each other and we would not have been able to get to this day without the dedication and service of our key partners and all the agency employees, ” said Lynn Burditt, Forest Supervisor. “On behalf of our interagency team I would like to express our gratitude to the public for your patience and support and to all the volunteers whose unwavering commitment, dedication and resources, facilitated our ability to open these trails today.”
When hiking these trails in the winter, be prepared for rapidly changing conditions and be sure to have the 10 Essentials with you.
Hikers should consider avoiding areas burned during Eagle Creek Fire during or immediately following high winds, heavy rains, and winter storms, as these conditions can trigger tree fall and landslides. “While we are very pleased to see the re-opening of this cherished trail system in the gorge, we urge those who choose to explore to employ caution on their outing,” said Hood River County Sheriff Matt English. “Historically, we see a very high volume of search and rescue calls in that area. A large portion of those incidents are avoidable as they have been attributed to lack of preparation or engagement in high-risk behaviors. While you may just plan on a quick hike, we implore recreationists to wear appropriate clothing and bring necessary supplies, preparing for worst case scenarios.”
A closure order for the fire affected area remains in place and there are still some trails within the Eagle Creek fire perimeter that remain closed.
To plan around closures and to find open outdoor recreation areas, please visit ReadySetGOrge.com and remember to be safe and always recreate responsibly. Be mindful to avoid crowded areas, large groups, practice social distancing, and wear face coverings when needed.
Eastbound Exit 41 has closed several times this year due to rain-induced landslides. Please go to TripCheck to see the current status of road conditions prior to traveling.
To check the status of Forest Service hiking trails in the Gorge, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/crgnsa/recreation
To check the status of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department sites, visit: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=visit.status
Contact:
- Karen Davis, US Forest Service, (c) 503-522-8377, karen.a.davis@usda.gov
- Don Hamilton, Oregon Dept of Transportation, (c) 503-704-7452, don.hamilton@odot.state.or.us
- Chris Havel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept., (c) 503-931-2590, chris.havel@oregon.gov
- Chris Liedle, Multnomah County Sheriff, chris.liedle@mcso.us
- Joel Ives, Hood River County Sheriff, jives@hoodriversheriff.com
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The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area encompasses 292,500 acres of Washington and Oregon, where the Columbia River cuts a spectacular river canyon through the Cascade Mountains. The USDA Forest Service manages National Forest lands in the National Scenic Area and works with the Gorge Commission, states, counties, treaty tribes, and partners to protect and enhance scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Columbia River Gorge while encouraging local economic development consistent with that protection. Learn more at www.fs.usda.gov/crgnsa or follow updates at facebook.com/crgnsa or www.twitter.com/crgnsa.
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Alerts & Warnings
- Dog Mountain Permits
- Lower Cape Horn Trail Seasonal Closure
- Concept Development for Mosier to The Dalles Trail Underway
- Pile Burning
- Effective Jan 1, 2024-October 20, 2024: Eagle Creek Fire Closure
- Drones prohibited in wilderness and select recreation sites
- Klickitat Mile One Overnight Use & Large Boat Launch Prohibition
- Guard against car theft
- Check road and weather conditions