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Reduced Bear Gulch Fire Area Closure (10/07/25)
The recent arrival of multiple days of rain reduced fire activity significantly. The threat of further damage from the fire is minimal. Effective today, October 7, 2025, some Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest closures in the Skokomish, Duckabush, and Dosewallips areas have been lifted.
Significant gravity hazards - such as rockfall, treefall, and landslides– are widespread in burned areas and exacerbated by rain. To ensure public safety from gravity hazards and remaining wildfire activity, some closures around Staircase and Lake Cushman persist.
Alert Start Date: October 7, 2025
Alert End Date: N/A
Rec Sites Affected:
Order Number: 06-09-25-11
Contact Information
Contact Number: 360-956-2402
Contact Email: sm.fs.oly_so_admin@usda.gov
Associated Documents
Forest Order
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST ORDER NO. 06-09-25-11
Bear Gulch Fire Area Closure
Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the area described below and shown in Exhibit A on the Olympic National Forest. These prohibitions are effective October 6th, 2025, through October 1st, 2026, unless rescinded earlier.
This Order supersedes Order No. 06-09-25-09.
PROHIBITIONS:
- Going into or being upon an area closed for the protection of public health or safety. [36 CFR 261.53(e)].
- Being on a National Forest System Road. [36 CFR § 261.54(e)].
- Being on a National Forest System Trail. [36 CFR § 261.55(a)].
CLOSURE AREA DESCRIPTION:
All National Forest System (NFS) lands are closed to all occupancy and travel within the described closure area boundaries and as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A):
The northern closure area boundary begins at the Forest Road 2400 intersection with the National Park Service boundary. From this point, the boundary follows the National Forest boundary and Park Service boundary north to its junction with Putvin Trail #813, then south along the western edge of the trail to its junction with the boundary of Mount Skokomish Wilderness, then south along the wilderness boundary to its junction with the northern border of Township 23 N, Range 5 W, Section PB 42, then east along the section line to the northeast corner of Township 23 N, Range 5 W, Section PB 42, then directly south to Forest Road 2400, then west along the southern edge of Forest Road 2400 until intersecting with the point of beginning.
The southern closure area begins at Township 24 N, Range 5 W, Section 9 and follows the Forest Service boundary with National Park Service land west to the northwestern corner of the Wonder Mountain Wilderness boundary, then southeast to its intersection with Wonder Mountain, then southeast to the junction of Dry Creek Trail #872 with Forest Road 2353-200, then east along the southern edge of Dry Creek Trail #872 to its junction with Township 24 N, Range 5 W, Section 9, then north along the section line to the point of beginning.
ROAD CLOSURE DESCRIPTION
Travel is prohibited on all NFS Roads within the closure area as shown on Exhibit A.
The closure of Forest Road 2400 begins at mile post 10.5 and ends at mile post 14.5 where it crosses the Olympic National Park boundary.
Road closures include NFS Road 2451 and all spur roads located within the closure area.
TRAIL CLOSURE DESCRIPTION
Travel is prohibited on all NFS Trails on Forest Service land as shown on the map within the closure area boundary, and as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A).
- #814 Mt. Rose Trail
- #822 Mildred Lakes Trail
- #872 Dry Creek Trail
- #876 Copper Creek Trail
DEVELOPED RECREATION SITES
All picnic areas and trailheads within the closure area or accessed by closed road are closed as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A).
- Bear Gulch Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 1 Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 2 Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 3 Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 4 Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 5 Picnic Area
- Mt Rose Trailhead
- Copper Creek Trailhead
- Mildred Lakes Trailhead
- Dry Creek West Trailhead
EXEMPTIONS:
Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:
- Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation Order), specifically exempting them from this order.
This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.
Violations of this prohibition are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both (16 USC § 551; 18 USC §§ 3551, 3559, 3571 and 3581.
Executed in Olympia, Washington on this 7th day of October 2025.
Kelly Lawrence
Forest Supervisor
Olympic National Forest
Maps
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