Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Alcohol Prohibitions
This Order describes acts that are prohibited upon lands, roads and trails within the National Forest System administered by the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region in regards to alcoholic beverages.
Aquatic Invasive Species
This Order prohibits 1) possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic invasive animal species AND 2) prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic or riparian invasive plant species - on National Forest System lands in the Pacific Northwest Region as specified in the Order.
Restrictions on Use of Forage and Mulch Products
This Order prohibits unloading, storing, or using any straw, hay, grain, seed, or other forage or mulch products that are not state-certified weed free on the National Forest System lands, roads or trails in any Closure Area as specific in the Order. Some examples of these include hay bales, hay…
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Forest Roads Closed Due to Rain Event
The past few days has shown heavy rainfall as an atmospheric river moved into the Northern Cascade Region bringing 16+ inches of rain to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This rapid increase in rainfall has resulted in localized flooding and has increased the risk of landslides, debris flows,…
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. Closure timeframe is currently unknown, and travel will resume when roads are repaired.
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…
Winter Road Closures
The gates along the following roads are closed for the winter season. This annual seasonal gate closure is important for public safety as these roads are not maintained and become hazardous in the winter. Forest Road 99Forest Road 25Forest Road 26Forest Road 52 (Skate Creek Road)Get a free Motor…
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 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).
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.
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…
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.
Tatoosh Lakes Basin Restrictions
Camping and bringing horses or other pack animals is not allowed in the Tatoosh Lakes Basin.
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.
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.
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 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.
Alcohol Prohibitions
This Order describes acts that are prohibited upon lands, roads and trails within the National Forest System administered by the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region in regards to alcoholic beverages.
Aquatic Invasive Species
This Order prohibits 1) possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic invasive animal species AND 2) prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic or riparian invasive plant species - on National Forest System lands in the Pacific Northwest Region as specified in the Order.
Restrictions on Use of Forage and Mulch Products
This Order prohibits unloading, storing, or using any straw, hay, grain, seed, or other forage or mulch products that are not state-certified weed free on the National Forest System lands, roads or trails in any Closure Area as specific in the Order. Some examples of these include hay bales, hay…
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Culvert repairs on FR 4220 to Olallie Lake begin May 4
A contractor will begin work to reinstall three culverts on SE Skyline Road/Forest Road 4220 toward Olallie Lake beginning Monday, May 4. The work is expected to last about a week. Forest Road 4220 was damaged during the December 2025 storms and several culverts were washed out. The contractor…
Prescribed burning near Rock Creek Reservoir
Mt. Hood National Forest plans to begin its annual prescribed fire operations on the Barlow Ranger District as early as Thursday, April 30. Underburning is planned about five miles west of Wamic off Forest Road 48 in the Irrigation burn unit of the Rock Creek prescribed fire project. Prescribed…
Erosion hazards on Pioneer Bridle Trail
Caution: Pioneer Bridle Trail has heavy damage in multiple sections due to erosion from winter storms. Deep ruts could be dangerous for mountain bikers and other users. Bikers should be prepared to dismount for stretches. Trails staff have flagged and signed a particularly dangerous section of…
Tamanawas Falls Trail #650A is CLOSED
Tamanawas Falls Trail #650A is CLOSED due to heavy damage from the December storms. Tamanawas Falls Trail #650A is blocked by multiple slides and completely washed out and destroyed in one section, making Tamanawas Falls inaccessible via that route. The nearby East Fork Trail #650 also has a bridge…
Hazards from Winter Storms
Heavy rains and strong winds created many hazards across Mt. Hood National Forest and surrounding areas during December storms. Although the storms have passed, conditions across the Forest may still be unsafe. Multiple trails and recreation sites across the Clackamas River, Hood River, and Zigzag…
Avalanches on Mt. Hood
Every year there is avalanche activity on the mountain. It is your responsibility to know before you go! Check road conditions, weather forecast, avalanche warnings & other special alerts. Mt. Hood Avalanche Forecast Oregon Highway Conditions Government Camp Weather Forecast Climbing Mt.…
Eagle Creek Fire Area Closures
In 2017, the Eagle Creek Fire caused extensive damage to surrounding areas in Columbia River Gorge and parts of Mt. Hood National Forest. Some trails are closed to the public in both the Gorge and Hood River Ranger District, pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR 261.50 (a) and (b). This closure is…
Health and Safety Closure Due to Roadside Danger Trees
This Order prohibits using any type of motor vehicle upon the following NFS Roads as described: 1) NFS Road 45 (Memaloose Road) from the bridge at highway 224 to the junction with NFS Road 45-310 and 2) NFS Road 54 from the highway 224 junction (at the bridge gate) to NFS Road 5410.
Bull Run Watershed Closure
This Order prohibits 1) Going into or being upon the area which is closed for the protection of public health or safety, 2) Being on a road, 3) Being on a trail within the area described in Exhibit A, except to travel on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 and Huckleberry Trail #617, and…
Camping Stay Restrictions
This Order prohibits 1) Camping in a single location for a period longer than 14 consecutive days and 2) Camping at any location for more than 28 days total during a calendar year on all National Forest System lands as described in this order.
Crane Creek bridge closed on the Barlow Road
The Crane Creek bridge on the Barlow Road (Forest Road 3530) is collapsed and closed. The Barlow Road is open, but it can't be driven from end to end.Crane Creek bridgeLocated approximately 0.4 miles east of the Forest Road 4885-Barlow Road junction.There are temporary barricades and signage…
Sportsman's Park Fire & Occupancy Restrictions
This Forest Order prohibits 1) Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire and 2) Camping on the Mt. Hood National Forest, Barlow Ranger District; T4S, R11E, Multiple Sections - Sportsman's Park Wildland Urban Interface Zone.
Gordon Creek Watershed Restrictions
This Order prohibits 1) Using a motor vehicle on Forest development roads, except Forest Road 15, which is also known as Larch Mt Road, 2) Using a motor vehicle on Forest development trails, 3) Possessing or using a motor vehicle off Forest development roads, and 4) Camping within the Gordon Creek…
The Dalles Watershed Closure
This Order prohibits visitors from entering or being on the roads or trails of The Dalles Watershed.
Overview
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is a spectacular 80-mile river canyon cutting up to 4,000 feet deep through the Cascade Mountain Range, spanning portions of Oregon and Washington. The area is currently open with several important closures to note from December 2025 winter storms. Multiple trails are closed due to windfalls, landslides, and collapsed trail tread, particularly in the Eagle Creek Fire burn scar. The Historic Columbia River Highway (US 30) east viaduct at Multnomah Falls is closed through spring 2026 for structural repairs. Larch Mountain Road is closed above the snow gate near Milepost 10 (typical seasonal winter closure, reopens late spring). Eagle Creek area remains under long-term forest closure order through July 2026. The scenic area features dramatic climate zones from lush western conifer forests to eastern grasslands due to the Cascades' rain shadow effect. Standard camping limits are in effect (14-day limit in 30-day period), and drone use is prohibited at developed sites. Fire danger is currently low. The area is actively managed and remains a world-class destination for hiking, waterfalls, and scenic drives despite ongoing recovery efforts from past fires and recent storm damage.
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