Alerts
Conditions across Gifford Pinchot National Forest change often. Contact your local district office for more information on road closures, site closures, and other current conditions.
Forest orders are generally temporary in nature and are listed under 36 CFR 261 Subpart B. Designed for public safety or natural resources protection, forest orders can prohibit entry to wildfire areas, implement camping limits, restrict access to watersheds, and more.
Climbing Conditions
Forest Alerts
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Bridge Installation on High Bridge Trail
The High Bridge Trail (Trail #293) trail bridge is scheduled for replacement from September 21, 2026 to October 9, 2026. The whole of High Bridge Trail will be closed from the junction with Forest Road 29 to the junction with Tongue Mountain Trail. Work will consist of removing the damaged bridge… -
Fire Restrictions
There are no current fire restrictions on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Even with lower fire risk please continue to practice safe fire habits: never leave a campfire unattended and make sure it is completely extinguished until it is cold to the touch. For more wildfire safety guidance,… -
High Lava Fire Closure
Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(a), the following acts are prohibited on the area described in this order and depicted on Exhibit A, within and/or administered by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams Ranger Districts, until further… -
High Rock Closure Area
The High Rock Lookout and approximately 150 feet at and around the historic fire lookout will be closed from August 24, 2026 to October 31, 2026 for continued restoration work by volunteers. The closure area will be indicated by temporary fencing and signage. In the interest of safety, the public… -
Backbone Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on area described in this order and depicted on Exhibit A, within and/or administered by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, until further… -
Skyo Fire Road Closure
To protect the public and personnel the entirety of NFS Road No. 4710000 and its associated spur roads (located on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, Lewis County, WA) are closed during wildland firefighter operations for the Skyo Fire. This closure order is effective July 31, 2026, through… -
US Forest Service Road 64 Closure
To protect visitors from increased heavy equipment operations and falling trees along Forest Road 64 this Forest Order has been enacted while instream habitat work in the adjacent Dry Creek is underway. Forest Road 64 also known as Dry Creek Road will be closed from it's intersection with Highway… -
Ape Cave Resource Protection Restrictions
To protect the Ape Cave Interpretive Site on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest a Forest Order has been created to reduce the risk of spread of white-nose syndrome to bats on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest; and avoid adverse impacts to cultural resources, geologic features, wildlife, mosses,… -
Iron Creek Recreation Area, Road, and Trail Closure
The Iron Creek Area was heavily impacted by the the December 2025 high wind and flood events causing downed trees across the area and standing hazard trees. Due to a risk to public safety from downed trees, standing hazard trees, damaged infrastructure, and hazard mitigation efforts this forest… -
Parking Violations
Parking or leaving a vehicle in an area that is in violation of posted instructions is prohibited. -
Seasonal Road Closures
The gates along the following roads are still closed for the season. This annual seasonal gate closure is important for public safety as these roads are not maintained and become hazardous in the winter and spring spring. Forest Road 99Forest Road 26Get a free Motor Vehicle Use Map, listing all… -
Chinook Trail Bridge Closure
Repair work is scheduled to replace the Chinook Trail Bridge that was damaged in the 2020 Big Hollow Fire. Trailhead and road closure area (6/1/26 - 7/2/26):Observation Peak Trailhead & Forest Road 58 will be closed from the junction with Forest Road 57/58 to the junction of Forest Road… -
Road Repairs & Road Closures in 2026
There are several road closures and repair projects taking place on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest during the spring and summer of 2026. Repairs include asphalt road repairs and patches, grading, culvert replacements, drainage maintenance, aggregate placement, and bridge guardrail… -
Forest Service Road 6808 Emergency Closure
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest issued an emergency closure of Forest Service Road 6808 from mile marker 3.9 to mile marker 4.2 due to a sinkhole that has developed in the travel way. Â Closure timeframe is currently unknown, and travel will resume when roads are repaired. Â -
Rd 2810-041 Yellowjacket Bridge Road Closure
Rd 2810-041 will close Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, and will remain closed until mid-November for redriving piles at Yellowjacket. -
Spirit Lake Infrastructure Project Trail Closures
The replacement of the Spirit Lake Tunnel Intake Gate and Geotechnical Drilling project to support safe operations and maintenance of the Spirit Lake infrastructure will continue in 2025. Construction will require weekday recreation trail closures within the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic… -
Camping Restrictions
Camping in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is limited to no more than 14 consecutive days in one spot and no more than 28 total days per calendar year across all locations. -
Washout on Forest Road 93
Forest Road 93 is closed at milepost 6.95 due to a severe washout. Road signs are posted at the beginning of each side of Forest Road 93 to alert drivers of the inability to drive the entire length of road. Barricades may be present for public safety and block the section of road located by the… -
Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument Restrictions
This order outlines specific restrictions within Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. -
Upper State Route 504 closed at milepost 45.2 due to large slide
Closure Upper State Route 504/Spirit Lake Memorial Highway is closed between mileposts (MP) 45.2 and 51 until further notice with a possible re-opening date sometime in 2026. The road is blocked just outside the Hummocks Trailhead at the normal winter closure gate. *Johnston Ridge… -
Drift Creek Cove Fire Restrictions
Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, is prohibited on National Forest System lands identified as Drift Creek Cove in Exhibit A. -
Drift Creek Cove Camping Restrictions
Camping is prohibited on National Forest Lands in Drift Creek Cove on the south side of Swift Reservoir as described in the Forest Order and shown in the map (Exhibit A below). -
Forest Road 2801 Closure
Forest Road 2801 is closed on both ends of the road due to a washout at milepost 0.25 and a large slide at milepost 7. -
Adams Fork Bridge Closed (FR 5601)
The Adams Fork Bridge on Forest Road 5601 at MP 2.0 on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District is CLOSED. The bridge is beyond its service life, was damaged in flooding in 2015, and has suffered ongoing scouring of the foundation since that time. Recent inspections have shown that the bridge can only… -
Tatoosh Lakes Basin Restrictions
Camping and bringing horses or other pack animals is not allowed in the Tatoosh Lakes Basin. -
Packwood Lake Motor Restrictions
It is prohibited to land helicopters or other aircraft, or to use any motorized or mechanical devices to power a watercraft at Packwood Lake. -
Blue Lake Vehicle Restrictions
Using or having a vehicle is not allowed in the area from the nearby parking lot near the junction of Trail #271 and Trail #271A to high waterline of Blue Lake and land surrounding the lake for a distance of 150 feet. -
Prohibition: Entering areas closed for restoration & shortcutting trail switchbacks
Shortcutting trail switchbacks and entering areas closed for restoration are prohibited to protect natural resources. -
Wilderness Permit Requirements
Wilderness permits are required when entering Glacier View, Indian Heaven, Mt. Adams, Tatoosh, Trapper Creek, Goat Rocks, and William 0. Douglas Wildernesses. Required Wilderness permits are free and self issued at trailheads. -
Wilderness Restrictions
This forest order outlines restrictions in place in designated Wilderness areas to protect the vegetation around lakes, streams, and meadows, to reduce soil compaction and erosion in heavily used areas and to enhance the Wilderness character.