12:16 PM
— 8:30 PM
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Fire Weather
Watch for lightning and gusty outflow winds, which is in effect
from Thursday morning through Thursday evening.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 659 West Slopes of the
Central Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet.
* LIGHTNING...Isolated to scattered thunderstorm coverage is
possible across the northern Cascade Mountains and the Olympic
Mountains. Thunderstorms will develop today from the northwest
and spread across the area.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...Any storms that develop will be capable of
gusty and erratic outflow winds between 20 and 30 miles per
hour. Outflow winds can occur ahead of and behind storms and
cause erratic wind directions.
* IMPACTS...Scattered lightning in dry fuels can cause multiple
fire starts. Thunderstorms can also bring sudden sharp wind
shifts on existing fires, causing rapid changes in a fire's
rate of spread and direction of spread. Thunderstorm outflow
winds can be a threat for several hours following the start of
a new lightning-caused fire. If a fire were to begin, air
quality may diminish in the surrounding area.
1:50 PM
— August 13th, 2:00 PM
The Washington State Department of Ecology, Benton Clean Air Agency,
and the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency have issued an Air Quality
Alert until further notice.
An Air Quality Alert has bee issued for Benton, Columbia, Franklin,
Kittitas, Walla Walla, and Yakima Counties until further notice due
to expected wildfire smoke from regional fires. North to northeast
winds will push smoke into the Columbia Basin beginning Wednesday
afternoon. Particulate matter (PM2.5) levels may reach Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups or worse. While occasional clearing and intermittent
good air quality is possible during periods of stronger winds, smoke
production continues to be significant from regional fires. Be sure
to check air monitors in your area before outdoor activities. When
air quality is Unhealthy, everyone should reduce exposure. Limit time
outside, avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and follow tips for
cleaner indoor air.
Information from the Washington Department of Ecology web site is
available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/air.html or call 360-407-6000.
Information from the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency web site is
available at http://www.yakimacleanair.org or call 509-834-2050.
Information from the Benton County Clean Air Agency web site is
available at http://www.bentoncleanair.org or call 509-783-1304.
12:47 AM
— August 13th, 12:00 PM
The Washington State Department of Ecology, Benton Clean Air Agency,
and the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency have issued an Air Quality
Alert until further notice.
An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Benton, Columbia, Franklin,
Kittitas, Walla Walla and Yakima counties until further notice due
to expected wildfire smoke from regional fires. Expect some clearing
out and intermittent good air quality but with significant fires on
the landscape conditions can worsen quickly to unhealthy air. Be sure
to check air monitors in your area before outdoor activities.
People can take the following precautions to protect their health:
* Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air
quality.
* Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.
* People with heart or lung problems and young children are
especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while
smoke levels are high.
* Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in
indoor heating ventilation, cooling, and air purification systems.
* Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke
if possible.
Information from the Washington Department of Ecology web site is
available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/air.html or call 360-407-6000.
Information from the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency web site is
available at http://www.yakimacleanair.org or call 509-834-2050.
Information from the Benton County Clean Air Agency web site is
available at http://www.bentoncleanair.org or call 509-783-1304.
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.
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.
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 (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.…
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on area described in this order and depicted on Exhibit A, within and/or administered by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, until further…
Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(a), the following acts are prohibited on the area described in this order and depicted on Exhibit A, within and/or administered by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount Adams Ranger District, until further notice:Going into or being upon an area closed for the…
To protect the public and personnel the entirety of NFS Road No. 4710000 and its associated spur roads (located on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, Lewis County, WA) are closed during wildland firefighter operations for the Skyo Fire. This closure order is effective July 31, 2026, through…
To protect visitors from increased heavy equipment operations and falling trees along Forest Road 64 this Forest Order has been enacted while instream habitat work in the adjacent Dry Creek is underway. Forest Road 64 also known as Dry Creek Road will be closed from it's intersection with Highway…
To protect the Ape Cave Interpretive Site on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest a Forest Order has been created to reduce the risk of spread of white-nose syndrome to bats on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest; and avoid adverse impacts to cultural resources, geologic features, wildlife, mosses,…
The Iron Creek Area was heavily impacted by the the December 2025 high wind and flood events causing downed trees across the area and standing hazard trees. Due to a risk to public safety from downed trees, standing hazard trees, damaged infrastructure, and hazard mitigation efforts this forest…
Parking or leaving a vehicle in an area that is in violation of posted instructions is prohibited.
Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on the area and trail described in this order and depicted on Exhibit A, within and/or administered by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. These prohibitions will be…
Due to persistent high fire danger, drought, and hot/dry weather conditions, and to minimize/eliminate the unnecessary risk of an escaped campfire or other human caused ignition to our local communities, the public, and responding fire fighters, we are implementing public fire prevention…
The gates along the following roads are still closed for the season. This annual seasonal gate closure is important for public safety as these roads are not maintained and become hazardous in the winter and spring spring. Forest Road 99Forest Road 26Get a free Motor Vehicle Use Map, listing all…
Repair work is scheduled to replace the Chinook Trail Bridge that was damaged in the 2020 Big Hollow Fire. Trailhead and road closure area (6/1/26 - 7/2/26):Observation Peak Trailhead & Forest Road 58 will be closed from the junction with Forest Road 57/58 to the junction of Forest Road…
There are several road closures and repair projects taking place on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest during the spring and summer of 2026. Repairs include asphalt road repairs and patches, grading, culvert replacements, drainage maintenance, aggregate placement, and bridge guardrail…
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 will close Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, and will remain closed until mid-November for redriving piles at Yellowjacket.
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…
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.
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…
This order outlines specific restrictions within Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
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…
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).
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 is closed on both ends of the road due to a washout at milepost 0.25 and a large slide at milepost 7.
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…
It is prohibited to land helicopters or other aircraft, or to use any motorized or mechanical devices to power a watercraft at Packwood Lake.
Camping and bringing horses or other pack animals is not allowed in the Tatoosh Lakes Basin.
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.
Shortcutting trail switchbacks and entering areas closed for restoration are prohibited to protect natural resources.
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.
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.
La Wis Wis Campground
A location closure has been issued, and the facility is closed at this time. Reservation-holders will receive an email with additional information. Please check back for location closure updates.
La Wis Wis Campground
**There is NO WATER available at this campground. Please bring all the water you will need during your stay. This is an ongoing situation and will probably last the entire 2026 season.**
North Fork Elk Group Camp
There will be a temporary water outage at this campground due to the generator needing repair. This should only take a couple of weeks. Please bring all water necessary for your use during your stay. You will receive a discount of $4.00/night of your stay after your departure. Once the generator has been fixed and the water is turned back on, if your reservation has not occurred yet, another email blast will be sent out. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Lower Falls Campground
ALERT: Please be advised that the road (Rt 90) into this campground is unpaved in sections and not recommended for low-clearance vehicles. Please follow the speed limit and watch for potholes while enroute. Thank you.
Iron Creek Campground
**IRON CREEK CG CLOSED FOR THE 2026 SEASON. **Due to a powerful windstorm that recently plowed through Iron Creek Campground, the USFS has requested that this campground be closed for the 2026 season. Many trees are down throughout the campground and it will take some time before cleanup will be completed.
North Fork Campground
There will be a temporary water outage at this campground due to the generator needing repair. Please bring all water necessary for your use during your stay. Thank you.
North Fork Beaver Group Camp
There will be a temporary water outage at this campground due to the generator needing repair. This should only take a couple of weeks. Please bring all water necessary for your use during your stay. You will receive a discount of $4.00/night of your stay after your departure. Once the generator has been fixed and the water is turned back on, if your reservation has not occurred yet, another email blast will be sent out. Thank you for your patience and understanding.