State Area Miles Closed Description Detour More Info
Washington Section 7, Stage 31, North Cascades National Park 41 miles Due to the Sourdough Mountain Fire, the PNT has been closed west of the East Bank Trailhead for visitor safety. Ross Lake is closed to recreation and Ross Lake Resort is closed until further notice. 

Continuous travel between Ross Lake and Mt Baker will not be possible during the 2023 season.

The new closure of the PNT begins at the East Bank Trailhead and extends west for 41 miles toward the U.S. Cabin backcountry camp.

PNT hikers may resume travel along the Sourdough Fire Detour as of 9-22-23. Fire Closures – North Cascades
Washington Section 9, Stage 44, Olympic Ntl. Park 32 miles Due to multiple wildfires in the park, the congressional route of the PNT is currently closed between Hayden Pass and the Whiskey Bend Trailhead near the Elwha Ranger Station.

Alternate routes in the park are also impacted by wildfire closures. Please visit the park’s alerts and notices webpage for current information.

 

Alerts and Notices Olympic Ntl Park

Last Updated:  September 23rd, 2023

Pacific Northwest Trail Alerts

Major issues, such as trail and road closures affecting access to the Pacific Northwest Trail are logged as Trail Alerts. The information shown on this webpage is reported by agency partners, staff, and visitors like you. 

The PNT is wild and rugged. It passes through remote areas where current conditions may be unknown. Be prepared for a variety of conditions on the PNT. Mountains are dynamic places and the conditions you experience may be different than those reported here. 

Are you planning to hike the Pacific Northwest Trail? Sign up to get important email updates from PNTA about wildfires, trail closures and other events that could affect your trip.

Seasonal Statement — Between late September and June seasonal closures of suspension bridges and mountain roads may affect your visit. Always check road, weather, and avalanche conditions before you go. Check current trail conditions here.

From mid-June to mid-July, mountainous areas along the PNT are in their shoulder season. Visitors should be prepared for snow travel and snow hazards above 3,000 feet, and for cold wet conditions. In low elevation areas, many creeks along the PNT are running high with spring snowmelt, and some may be hazardous to ford.

Always check roadweather and trail conditions before your visit. Visitors should always be prepared for rugged conditions, route-finding challenges, and inclement weather.

Trail Conditions —  PNTA and our partners’ trail crews have begun working in low elevation areas, but remote high elevation trails have not been serviced in 2023. Early season visitors may encounter a large number of downed trees along some trails. Every year, strong winter storms knock down thousands of trees along the PNT that must be removed. PNTA crews typically finish logging out the PNT in remote areas, like the Pasayten Wilderness, in late summer.

Learn more about trail conditions here.

Contact Us

To speak with a PNTA representative, contact us at 360-854-9415 and we will return your call as soon as possible. You may also email us at info@pnt.org.

If you see smoke or flames along the Pacific Northwest Trail, please dial 911 or report the incident to a ranger as soon as possible.

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