Favorite Gorge Trail Closed? Find a Different Hike

General discussions on hiking in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest
Post Reply
justpeachy
Posts: 3066
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: Portland, OR
Contact:

Favorite Gorge Trail Closed? Find a Different Hike

Post by justpeachy » October 12th, 2017, 7:00 am

The Friends of the Gorge have put together this handy list: https://gorgefriends.org/hike-the-gorge ... ities.html

The Forest Service also has a resource page here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/crgnsa/h ... EPRD561601

alexap
Posts: 2
Joined: October 1st, 2019, 9:02 am

Re: Favorite Gorge Trail Closed? Find a Different Hike

Post by alexap » October 1st, 2019, 9:13 am

Here is the updated list of open/closed trails 09/30/2019: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 574101.pdf

User avatar
drm
Posts: 6127
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: The Dalles, OR
Contact:

Re: Favorite Gorge Trail Closed? Find a Different Hike

Post by drm » October 2nd, 2019, 3:10 pm

That map indicates that Benson Way is closed, but it has been open for a long time. I hiked it last year and there were no signs until you got to Hunter's Camp, where the Ruckel Creek trail going down is closed below the camp.

I also have to wonder what's up with the lower section of the Wyeth Trail, which remains closed below North Lake.

User avatar
Bosterson
Posts: 2317
Joined: May 18th, 2009, 3:17 pm
Location: Portland

Re: Favorite Gorge Trail Closed? Find a Different Hike

Post by Bosterson » October 2nd, 2019, 3:14 pm

drm wrote:
October 2nd, 2019, 3:10 pm
I also have to wonder what's up with the lower section of the Wyeth Trail, which remains closed below North Lake.
The USFS wrote:Wyeth Trail #411 closed in the Gorge
Date(s): Jun 14, 2019

Due to damage and unstable terrain from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, the section of Wyeth Trail #411 that runs through the National Scenic Area is closed, so hikers cannot connect to Green Point Ridge Trail #418 on Mt. Hood National Forest. The Wyeth trailhead in Wyeth Campground is open, however, so hikers can access the Gorge 400 Trail.
The current closure order (including Wyeth) is in effect from 8/26/19 - 8/25/20. I'm guessing Wyeth has lots of downed trees and damage that is currently a low priority for them to fix.
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased

User avatar
bobcat
Posts: 2757
Joined: August 1st, 2011, 7:51 am
Location: SW Portland

Re: Favorite Gorge Trail Closed? Find a Different Hike

Post by bobcat » October 27th, 2019, 10:46 am

There are some inaccuracies on the current official list of closures I feel compelled to correct:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 574101.pdf

Franklin Ridge Trail #427: Closed indefinitely due to severe damage and unstable slopes. (CRGNSA)

No "severe damage" on the trail and no "unstable slopes." It just got really brushy after being neglected for two years. The trail has been brushed out, but deep tread work still needs to be done. However, it needs to be opened so that boot tracks can mitigate the issue until more work parties go in; otherwise, crews will have to start all over again.

George W. Joseph State Natural Area: Closed full length. (OR State Parks)

Inaccurate: this is the state park that contains Upper Latourell Falls. It's open.

Gorge 400: Closed from Angels Rest (MP 0) to Eagle Creek (MP 22.5). Open between Eagle Creek and Cascade Locks. (CRGNSA & OR State Parks)

Innaccurate. It's open from Angels Rest to Larch Mountain Trail, closed from Larch Mountain to Cascade Locks, open from Cascade Locks to Wyeth. Significant sections of the closed 400 have been worked on in the past 1 1/2 years, but crews will have to start all over again because, without boots on the trail, they're getting brushy from lack of use.

West Benson Way Trail #405B: Closed full length with no timeline for reopening. (Mt. Hood NF)

Nope. It's open.

Post Reply