9/14/23
SR 20 is open. Travelers should anticipate unexpected closures due to wildfire activity.
WSDOT North Cascades Pass Website: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/North-Cascade-Hwy
Follow WSDOT'S Social Media Pages for the latest:
https://www.facebook.com/WSDOT
https://www.instagram.com/wsdot/
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/warlp-sourdough-fire
Blue Lake: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/waowf-blue-lake
DOWNLOAD THE TREAD MAP APP FOR EASY ACCESS TO TRAIL, FIRE, AND ROAD CLOSURE UPDATES: https://stateofwatourism.com/tread-map-app/
Burn Ban Lifted in All Areas of
North Cascades National Park Service Complex
Sedro Woolley, WA– Effective Friday, September 22, 2023, the burn ban is lifted on all lands within North Cascades National Park Service Complex. This includes all National Park Service lands and campgrounds in Stehekin, along State Route 20 and the Ross Lake area.
Campfires are allowed in designated areas only in both frontcountry and backcountry campsites. Keep campfires small to decrease the chance embers will spread. Always attend campfires to ensure they do not grow into costly, damaging wildfires. Campfires must be fully extinguished. An extinguished campfire is completely out when it’s cool to the touch. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.
Additional Areas, Trails, and Camps Reopen – Continued Minimal Fire Behavior on Sourdough Fire
Sedro Woolley, WA – Park officials have reopened additional areas, trails, and camps today, Monday, September 11. Diablo Lake, Thunder Point and Hidden Cove boat-in camps, Happy Panther Trail, Ross Lake Resort, and Ross Dam Trail from the trailhead to Ross Lake Resort are now open. Ross Lake is open for day use only. Colonial Creek South Campground walk-in sites 64-73 are open on a first-come, first-served basis with limited services available. Camping remains closed at Colonial Creek North and the remainder of Colonial Creek South campgrounds.
Ross Lake boat-in camps, Ross Lake overnight use, and other area, trail, and camp closures remain in effect. Closures continue to be assessed to manage visitor safety, firefighter access, and emergency response in conjunction with firefighting efforts on the Sourdough Fire.
Trail closures include:
Camp closures include:
Area, trail, and camp closure information can be found on the park’s Fire Closures page.
The Sourdough Fire has seen a season slowing event over the last two weeks with cooler temperatures, higher humidities, and slight moisture across the area. Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation is expected throughout the next week bringing warm and dry conditions; minimal to moderate fire behavior is expected. Smoke may be visible from State Route 20 from heavy, downed fuels smoldering in the interior of the fire perimeter. The Sourdough Fire is at 6,280 acres and 25% containment.
Visitors should be aware of fire restrictions in all areas of the park complex. Campfires or the ignition of wood, briquettes, or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans, and barbeque grills, are banned in in all portions of North Cascades National Park Service Complex – North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. This includes all National Park Service lands and campgrounds along State Route 20 as well as Hozomeen and the entire Stehekin Valley. If you see smoke or flames dial 911 or report to a park visitor or information center. Contact the Wilderness Information Center for trail information at noca_wilderness@nps.gov.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) does an amazing job of keeping our roadways safe and well-maintained. They also are an essential partner in keeping us and our travelers informed about any accidents, closures, or other issues that can impact the normal flow of traffic. Be sure to check out your itinerary using the following resources before you head out!
WSDOT Resources
No one can see the future, but you can plan the best vacation possible with travel alert resources on this page
==============================================================
Special thanks to Voortex Productions (Follow them on Facebook and Instagram)
and
Jamie Petitto (Follow Jamie on Facebook and Instagram)
Chelan County Emergency Management -- https://www.facebook.com/CCSOEM/
Okanogan County Emergency Management -- https://www.facebook.com/Okanogan.County.Emergency.Management/
Okanogan County Incident Report -- https://www.okanogancounty.org/government/emergency_management/current_incidents/current_incidents_.php
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest -- https://www.fs.usda.gov/okawen/
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest -- https://www.fs.usda.gov/mbs
Department of Natural Resources Twitter -- https://twitter.com/waDNR_fire
