Navigating the 2024 Fire Season in Washington State
Every summer in Washington State, we face the challenge of wildfires impacting our communities and our recreation opportunities. However, even with the fires, Washington State remains an amazing place to recreate as long as you follow a few basic rules.
Here is how to recreate safely and some great alternatives to places that are currently closed.
Be aware:
Before you head out, check for the latest fire conditions in the areas you will be visiting. Agencies’ closure maps and announcements are generally limited to land that they manage, but many fires cross jurisdictional boundaries, so make sure to check the Northwest Portal fire page and the Northwest Portal apps, which show officially declared closures. However, you should also check other sources as it can take a couple of days after a fire starts before the closures are officially declared; Northwest Portal can take a few days to get the closures up (it is hard to keep up on everything in the peak of fire season, and although not every fire has an officially designated closure area, you still want to avoid the fires. Good sources for information on the fires include the Northwest Portal fires page, where we post maps showing fire activity as detected by satellite mapped along with recreation lands and closures; the Federal wildfire incident page, InciWeb, that includes information about major fires; and the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ active wildfires page.
Fire maps are published to the fire page every few days, and are updated daily when fire activity is high. This map is from one of the peak periods of fire activity in 2024.
Be flexible:
This year, the biggest concentration of fires is in the Northern Cascades from US-2 to the Canadian border, with the Williams Mine Fire in the Mt. Adams area, the Retreat Fire on White Pass in Yakima County, and the Cougar Creek Fire in the SE corner of the state. But every year, fires pop up in different locations and new fires can start anywhere. Washington fires are most common in the Cascades, Northeast Washington, and Umatilla National Forest, but they can occur anywhere. Be prepared to adjust your plans if needed because of fire activity, smoke (from Washington or Canadian fires), and road closures. If your first choice destination is closed, don’t despair. Washington has a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities. You can use the Outdoors Northwest or Off-Roading Northwest maps and apps to find other places for your favorite activity, and the Washington Trails Association is an amazing resource for local insights into the state trails.
Here are five alternatives for places that are closed due to the fires:
If you were hoping to travel into North Cascades National Park in the summer of 2024, be aware that there are extensive closures in the National Park and adjoining Forest and Wilderness areas, but there is still a wealth of opportunities in the North Cascades. Consider going to the Mount Baker National Recreation Area or Baker Lake or Diablo Lake and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area in North Cascades National Park. Another option is to explore the area around Winthrop where you can enjoy the extensive hiking and mountain biking system managed by Methow Trails that connects into National Forest Trails, and if you want to camp, it is hard to beat the Pearrygin Lake State Park, nestled in the mountains above Winthrop on the shores of a mountain lake. And while you are in Winthrop, stop at Three Fingered Jack’s for good food and drink and darts/pool. Check out the Winthrop map.
If you were hoping to head up to Stehekin, but are stopped by the Pioneer Fire on the east side of the lake, you can still enjoy the town of Chelan and the numerous campgrounds and Airbnbs on the west side of the lake. If you want to have fun on the lake, stop by Jet Skis Ahoy to rent jet skis or boats; or get information at the Chelan Chamber visitor office (and make sure you say you saw them on Northwest Portal as they are supporters who help keep the maps free). Plus, good news, as of August 22nd, Stehekin is open once again.
If you want somewhere a little off the beaten path, consider heading up to Republic, Washington, in Ferry County. Enjoy a 31-mile rail-to-trail system: the first 5.7 miles, known as the Golden Tiger Trail (5.7 miles), is open to ORVs, while the remaining 25 miles of the Ferry County Rail Trail is non-motorized. You can camp and boat at Curlew Lake State Park, and dig for fossils at the Stonerose Interpretive Center (location on map).
If you want to explore the Cascades, as of mid August, both the I-90 corridor and the US 2 corridor are open. You can hike the Pacific Crest Trail south from Stevens Pass (US 2) all the way to US 12 (you can go south of US 12 but there is a closure in the Mt. Adams Wilderness). Catch the trail at the top of any of the major passes, or, for a less crowded section, head up one of the Forest Service Roads, such as Stampede Pass, and park where the road crosses the trail. One of my favorite hikes is Mirror Lake. This trail, that starts at the end of Lost Lake Road just east of Snoqualmie Pass, takes you past two pristine mountain lakes and up to the Pacific Crest Trail. Head south along the trail, and make a loop with the Twilight Lake Trail. End your day with a swim in Lost Lake.
If you were hoping to hike the Mt. Adams Wilderness but cannot because of the Williams Mine Fire, consider exploring Mount St. Helens. The last part of the road to the Johnston Ridge Observatory is still closed, but you can drive up to Coldwater Lake and hike up the rim, or head up FS Rd 99 to the Windy Ridge Interpretive Site.
Stay Safe:
If you see fire activity in your area, head back to the trailhead. Do not risk getting stuck behind the fire.
If you see planes or helicopters dipping into a pond or lake, keep your distance.
Do not fly drones near a fire. Drones pose a serious threat to pilot safety, so firefighting planes are grounded if drones are in the area.
Be smart with fires: Respect burn bans: when conditions get too dry, it is not possible to have a safe fire! If campfires are allowed, make sure to attend to your fire at all times and put it out completely before you leave. USFS instruction on safe campfires.
