Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

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.
User avatar
drm
Posts: 6133
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: The Dalles, OR
Contact:

Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by drm » May 16th, 2020, 1:53 pm

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordp ... eprd739017


Gifford Pinchot National Forest Announces Reopening of most Day-Use and Trailhead Sites
NEWS RELEASE
Release Date: May 15, 2020

Contacts: Sue Ripp, (360) 891-5222; Tracy Calizon, (360) 891-5156

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is announcing the reopening of developed day-use and trailhead sites to recreational users. Beginning Friday May 15, 2020, most trailheads and day-use areas on the forest, as well as Forest Road 81, 83 and 90, will be reopened to the general public for use.

To align with Governor Jay Inslee’s Executive Order directing people to stay home and stay healthy, several sites will remain closed including:

Campgrounds
Lower Falls Recreation Area
Ape Cave Interpretative Site and Forest Road 8303 leading to the site
Johnston Ridge Observatory. State Route 504 – also known as Spirit Lake Memorial Highway will remain gated and closed at milepost 45.0, near Coldwater Lake.
Closures are necessary to address social distancing guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control, and to help reduce pressure on local emergency services. Ape Cave Interpretive Site and Lower Falls Day Use site will also undergo major construction projects this summer. Remaining closures will be evaluated as the state moves into Phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s Safe Start Washington plan.

For a complete list of developed recreation sites both open and closed, please check the Gifford Pinchot National Forest’s website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/gifford ... recreation

Campgrounds currently remain closed and will not be open for Memorial Day Weekend. Campsite reservation holders will be notified by Recreation.gov if there are any changes affecting their reservation. Refunds will be issued for all cancelled reservations. Forest recreation staff and campground concessionaire Rocky Mountain Resource Co., are working together to evaluate how to safely reopen campground areas and facilities.

Mount St. Helens climbing permits issued prior to the COVID-19 closure for May 15th and later are valid and the climbing route will open on May 15th. Permits to climb Mt. Adams will only be available online at recreation.gov beginning in early June 2020.

"We are looking forward to re-opening many previously closed areas on the forest, while prioritizing the health and safety of the public and employees,” said Tom Torres, acting Gifford Pinchot National Forest Supervisor. “Safety is our top priority as we continue coordinating with local Counties, adjacent forests and landowners through this health crisis”.

Some facilities, such as vault bathrooms, may remain open for public use but will not be maintained as we do not currently have the proper personal protective equipment necessary to ensure the safety of our employees. Members of the public wishing to utilize these facilities are doing so at their own discretion and must take all necessary precautions to ensure for their own personal health and safety. We cannot guarantee a COVID free facility. It is recommended that all visitors prepare to provide for their own sanitation and be as self-contained as possible while recreating.

Enjoy your public lands and please remember to respect all closures, recreate responsibly, and practice social distancing. Please help us keep the outdoors and enthusiasts healthy by following these easy guidelines from Tread Lightly!: https://www.treadlightly.org/tread-ligh ... a-distance. Also review current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and focus on protecting yourself, your family, and your community. 

The Mount Hood National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area still have closures currently in effect. For more information visit: www.fs.usda.gov/mthood and www.fs.usda.gov/crgnsa.

User avatar
adamschneider
Posts: 3711
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:02 pm
Location: SE Portland
Contact:

Re: Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by adamschneider » May 16th, 2020, 6:01 pm

As of right now (Saturday evening 5/16), Mt. Hood NF's "developed" sites are still closed, and the Gorge is still completely shut down.

I'd expect MHNF's trails to open up in the next week or two.

Hood River County's lands are also still closed... and we haven't heard anything about Skamania County's hiking ban, which is interesting given that DNR lands and GPNF are now allowing access.

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

Re: Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by Bosterson » May 16th, 2020, 7:10 pm

adamschneider wrote:
May 16th, 2020, 6:01 pm
...and we haven't heard anything about Skamania County's hiking ban, which is interesting given that DNR lands and GPNF are now allowing access.
Skamania reopened yesterday.
8275d2c8739d83fef3eafa51a6eed6d972ed4fc0-14.jpg
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased

User avatar
adamschneider
Posts: 3711
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:02 pm
Location: SE Portland
Contact:

Re: Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by adamschneider » May 16th, 2020, 7:26 pm

Bosterson wrote:
May 16th, 2020, 7:10 pm
Skamania reopened yesterday.
Where'd you find that? I didn't see anything on the County web site.

User avatar
drm
Posts: 6133
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: The Dalles, OR
Contact:

Re: Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by drm » May 16th, 2020, 7:30 pm


User avatar
adamschneider
Posts: 3711
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:02 pm
Location: SE Portland
Contact:

Re: Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by adamschneider » May 16th, 2020, 7:49 pm

drm wrote:
May 16th, 2020, 7:30 pm
Yeah, it should be here: https://www.skamaniacounty.org/departme ... -microsite
You'd think. Maybe they're not in the mood to advertise it yet. I eventually found it on the Skamania Chamber of Commerce's Facebook page.

User avatar
retired jerry
Posts: 14398
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by retired jerry » May 17th, 2020, 5:10 am

"Maybe they're not in the mood to advertise it yet."

That would make sense because they don't want to open to huge crowds of pent up demand

slow opening

User avatar
dmthomas49
Posts: 267
Joined: May 16th, 2013, 6:51 am

Re: Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by dmthomas49 » May 17th, 2020, 7:06 am

On Friday, We drove from White Salmon, WA to Vancouver and were surpised how many people were fishing and at certain trailheads. The PCT trail on the Washington side of the Cascade Lock bridge was mobbed. I thought that it seemed odd. Somehow a lot of people got the word on Friday that things were opening up. Not sure how we find out what is open. I don't trust that all website are updating their information quickly.
"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."
— John Muir

User avatar
drm
Posts: 6133
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: The Dalles, OR
Contact:

Re: Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by drm » May 17th, 2020, 8:15 am

It's important to note that in Gifford Pinchot the trail team has not even started clearing anything. Almost every trail is going to have logs down, sometimes a lot.

User avatar
kepPNW
Posts: 6411
Joined: June 21st, 2012, 9:55 am
Location: Salmon Creek

Re: Gifford Pinchot Trails Reopen (mostly)

Post by kepPNW » May 17th, 2020, 10:15 am

Skamania is just not all that organized on their website. I think they want to welcome visitors, but just not too damn many all at once. For those not inclined to read the press release, they also provided both porta-potties, and a map to find them. Given the parks and businesses are mostly all closed, that seems to be a very kind gesture indeed.
Karl
Back on the trail, again...

Post Reply