Oregonian Report Of Trails Opening

Use this forum to post links to news stories from other websites - ones that other hikers might find interesting. This is not intended for original material or anecdotal information. You can reply to any news stories posted, but do not start a new thread without a link to a specific news story.
Post Reply
User avatar
MarkInTheDark
Posts: 220
Joined: August 11th, 2008, 3:58 pm
Location: Portland, OR

Oregonian Report Of Trails Opening

Post by MarkInTheDark » May 20th, 2018, 1:29 pm

5/19/18... From The Portland Oregonian:

EAGLE CREEK FIRE

More gorge trails reopening

Jim Ryan

The Oregonian/OregonLive

Break out your boots, Columbia gorge hikers. Authorities have reopened several trails and lakes in the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood National Forest that were closed for months because of a massive wildfire.

Been yearning to test yourself on the challenging Mount Defiance Trail? Do it. Ready to tackle the difficult Starvation Ridge Trail? It’s all yours.

Just don’t think you’ll be the only one taking advantage of the newly opened destinations.

Officials say Starvation Creek State Park — which grants visitors access to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and Starvation Ridge and Mount Defiance trails — has 29 parking spots. They encourage visitors to start early or plan midweek trips so they can get a spot in the lot.

And don’t head out the door thinking you can show up at any gorge trailhead. Many are still closed in the aftermath of the nearly 49,000-acre Eagle Creek fire, which swept through the treasured area last year.

Now open: Mount Defiance Trail No. 413; Starvation Ridge Trail No. 414; Bear Lake Trail No. 413A; Black Lake Trail No. 409A; Mitchell Point Trail No. 417; Rainy Lake Trail No. 423A; Rainy Wahtum Trail No. 409; Wahtum Express No. 406H; Warren Lake Trailhead and Warren Lake Trail No. 417A.

Partly open: Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail from Starvation Creek to Lindsey Creek; Anthill Trail No. 406B from Wahtum Lake to Rainy Wahtum Trail No. 409; North Lake Trail No. 423 from Rainy Lake Trail to North Lake; Wyeth Trail No. 411 from Mount Defiance Trail to North Lake in the Mount Hood National Forest.

Lakes now open: Bear Lake; Black Lake; North Lake; Rainy Lake;

Wahtum Lake and Warren Lake.

Reopening timelines: Officials say National Forest System trails east of Cascade Locks will likely open before the end of June. National Forest System trails west of Multnomah Falls are anticipated to reopen by the end of the year, officials say.

But there’s no timeline for reopening National Forest trails between Cascade Locks and Larch Mountain Trail, which runs to the top of Multnomah Falls and beyond.

Post Reply