Pacific Northwest Trail Alerts

SEASONAL STATEMENT: September 30th, 2019

During the prime season, July-November, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association publishes trail alerts on this webpage and through a plain-text email system.

Winter-like conditions have arrived in the mountains and some higher elevation trails are covered with inches of snow. With seasonal employees at PNTA and our partners furloughed for the season, current reports may be unavailable. Always check road, weather and avalanche conditions before your visit. In the Northwest, fall, winter and spring bring heavy snowfall or rain to the trail. Some mountain roads may close for the season or become impassable to vehicles due to snow, ice or avalanche hazard. Washouts, downed trees, flooding and avalanches are common along higher elevation trails.

Low-elevation sections of the trail, like those in the temperate climate of the Puget Sound, can be accessed year-round. Other trails are popular for non-motorized winter recreation. Off-season visitors should always be prepared for route-finding challenges and winter weather.

The Diamond Creek Fire in the Pasayten Wilderness, July 2017. Photo by Jessica Foster.

Trail Alerts

Section 1 Rocky Mountains

No trail alerts are currently in effect. Check trail conditions here.

Section 2 Purcell Mountains

Section 3 Selkirk Mountains

Section 4 Kettle River Range

Section 5 Okanogan Highlands

Section 6 Pasayten Wilderness

Section 7 North Cascades

Section 8 Puget Sound

Section 9 Olympic Mountains

Section 10 Wilderness Coast

Section 2 Purcell Mountains

No trail alerts are currently in effect. Check trail conditions here.

Section 3 Selkirk Mountains

Alert	Alert 3-8. Sullivan Lake Road Closures
Area	Colville National Forest
Date
Last Updated	9.16.2019
Current Status	Intermittent road closures will affect access to trailheads and campsites. The primary and alternate routes of the PNT will remain open.
Map Pages	Map Pages: 033, 31b
Road/s Closed	Sullivan Creek Road, Johns Creek FS 500 Road, Nordman-Metaline Road
Description	Sullivan Creek Rd will be intermittently unavailable for through traffic from Oct 7-18. Access to the Thunder Creek TR 526 may be affected by closures between Oct 7-14. Access to the Noisy Creek/ Grassy-Hall Divide/ Hall Mountain from John’s Creek Road will be affected Oct 15-18. These trails which form the popular route of the PNT between the Idaho border and Sullivan Lake can still be reached via trailheads at the Noisy Creek Campground.

Resources	Colville National Forest

Alert	Alert 3-2. Deep Lake/ Boundary Road reroute east of Northport, WA
Area	private property, east of Northport, WA
Date
Last Updated	5.1.17
Current Status	No Access to PNT (Black Canyon or O’Hare Creek Roads) due to private property issues
Map Pages	Map Pages: 038, 039
Trail/s Closed	Black Canyon Rd and O’Hare Creek Rd
Description	The former primary route of the PNT between Northport and Cedar Lake is closed for the 2017 season due to private property issues. Instead, the Deep Lake/ Boundary Road reroute is recommended for those thru-hiking in the 2017 season. Unofficial or outdated data sets may still show this route. Hikers are advised that taking this route should be considered trespassing.
	The 2017 PNTA map set has been updated to reflect this route change.
Resources

Section 4 Kettle River Range

Alert	Alert 4-1: Hazardous Trail Conditions PNT Primary Route
Area	Bushwhack to the Sanpoil River west of Highway 21, south of Republic, Washington.
Date	6.25.2018
Last Updated
Current Status	Primary route is not recommended until further notice
Map Pages	050
Trail/s Closed
Description	Status – PNTA has received a user report that the primary route of the PNT between Hwy 21 and waypoint 484P is badly overgrown and can not be recommended at this time. Westbound, this route begins as a cross-country/ bushwhack. West of 484P, the route becomes overgrown and involves steep side hill traverses with fall risk hazards due to loose scree.
Resources

Section 5 Okanogan Highlands

No trail alerts are currently in effect. Check trail conditions here.

Section 6 Pasayten Wilderness

Alert	Alert 6-10. Canyon Creek Bridge Destroyed
Area	Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, PNT Section 6
Trail/s	Jackita Ridge Trail (Side trail to the PNT)
Date	6.19.19
Last Updated	6.19.19
Status	Canyon Creek Bridge destroyed by tree
Map Pages	N/A
Description	The Canyon Creek Bridge just north of the Canyon Creek Trailhead on Jackita Ridge Trail #738 was destroyed by a fallen tree. Canyon Creek normally runs very high and would be difficult or dangerous to ford until mid to late summer. This impacts access to the popular Devil’s Dome loop, not the Pacific Northwest Trail.
Resources	Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Alert	Alert 6-7: East Bank Trail Partially Closed to Stock
Area	Ross Lake National Recreation Area
Trail/s	East Bank Trail / PNT
Date	5-23-2018
Last Updated	6-25-2018
Status	Trail closed to stock animals beyond may Creek due to a trail collapse on the north end of Devil’s Cliffs.
Map Pages	PNT 073
Description	Trail closed to stock animals beyond may Creek due to a trail collapse on the north end of Devil’s Cliffs. Estimated date for reopening, August, 2018.


Resources

Section 7 North Cascades

Alert	Alert 7-9. No Vehicle Access to Pioneer Camp Trailhead
Area	Mt Baker-Snoqualmie NF, PNT Section 7
Trail/s	N/A
Date	4.21.19
Last Updated
Status	Status – A washout prevents access to vehicles to the Pioneer Camp Trailhead
Map Pages	Map Page/s: 085
Description	A washout of Loomis Nooksack Road FR 12 prevents access to vehicles to the Pioneer Camp Trailhead (PNT waypoint 849P). The road is impassable past mile 12 or approximately, 0.5 miles east of the trailhead.
Resources	Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Alert	Alert 7-8. Timber Harvests on Mt Josephine
Area	Harry Osborne-Les Hilde State Forest, PNT Section 7
Trail/s	Red Cabin Creek Trail / Pacific Northwest Trail, primary route
Date	4.21.19
Last Updated
Status	Status – The PNT will be closed for the Quaker Timber Harvest between 869P and 871P until further notice.
Map Pages	Map Page/s: 87
Description	Timber harvests on WA DNR land, beginning in the fall of 2018 will bring logging activity, heavy truck traffic and trail closures to 3.5 miles of the PNT until further notice. The Mt Josephine Truck Trail Alternate will also be affected by the harvest. Westbound PNT users can detour around the closure by taking the Les Hilde Trail to Forest Road 2000 to the Cascade Trail in Hamilton. They can rejoin the primary route by following the Cascade Trail west to Lyman and then following the Pipeline Road north to rejoin the PNT at waypoint 873.5P.
Resources	Washington DNR

Alert	Alert 7-6. No Vehicle Access to Hannegan Pass Trailhead
Area	Mt Baker-Snoqualmie NF, PNT Section 7
Trail/s	Hannegan Pass Road
Date	5.7.18
Last Updated	7.20.18
Status	Status – Storm damage prevents access to vehicles beyond mile 5.2. Trail crews have repaired storm damage to the Hannegan Pass Trail 674 between the trailhead and Granite Mountain.
Map Pages	Map Page/s: 079
Description
Resources	Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Section 8 Puget Sound

No trail alerts are currently in effect. Check trail conditions here.

Section 9 Olympic Mountains

Alert	Alert 9-10 Mountain Goat Translocation Project
Area	PNT Section 9 – Olympic National Park
Trail/s	Hurricane Hill Road
Date	3.22.20
Last Updated
Status	The Hurricane Hill Road beyond the Hurricane Ridge VC will be closed to all access beginning in late July through August
Map Pages	Map Pages: 100e
Description	Hurricane Hill Road, beyond the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center parking lot, will be closed to all access during both operational periods. The road will then be closed completely beyond the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center from August 18-31st for mobilization, capture operations, and demobilization. This closure includes the Hurricane Hill Trail, Little River Trail, and Wolf Creek Trail.
Resources	Olympic National Park

Alert	Alert 9-9 Little Skidder Hill Detour
Area	PNT Section 9, Stage 42
Trail/s	Pacific Northwest Trail
Date	7.28.19
Last Updated
Status	Multiple trails in Stage 42 have not been maintained in recent years. Consider using alternate routes to bypass the primary route until further notice.
Map Pages	Map Pages: 101
Description	The Little Skidder Trail has not been maintained in several years and requires extensive bushwhacking to traverse. To bypass the area, take the alternate route shown. From waypoint 1019P at Crocker Lake, follow Hwy 101 south to Boulton Farms Road. Proceed through the orange gate with a white sign labeled, “Private Tree Farm… non-motorized use welcome.” Then follow forest road marked with yellow signs along second forest road labeled, “Warning buried water main” south toward Snow Creek Road FR 2850. No camping or fires are permitted on private property. Dispersed camping is permitted on the adjacent Olympic National Forest west of waypoint 1024P.
Resources

Download a GPX file

Alert	Alert 9-7 Hurricane Hill Trail Project
Area	PNT Section 9 – Olympic Mountains
Trail/s	Hurricane Hill Trail
Date	6.6.18
Last Updated	3.22.20
Status	The Hurricane Hill Trail (part of the the Gray Wolf – Hurricane Ridge Alternate route) will be under construction in 2020 and will close periodically. Check NPS’ Project Webpage for more information. PNT thru-hikers should consult with Park Staff to detour around the closure using alternate routes, such as the Hayden Pass Trail – Elwha River Trail route.
Map Pages	Map Pages: 100e
Description	Hurricane Hill Trail will be open during periods when crews are not working. During the closure periods, the trail will remain closed to access 24 hours a day for visitor and job site safety. Update 10/10/19: The trail is currently open. The project will resume in late spring 2020.
Resources	Hurricane Hill Project webpage

Alert	Alert 9-6 Bogachiel River Trail Washout/s
Area	PNT Section 9 – Olympic Mountains
Trail/s	Bogachiel River Trail 825
Date	11.25.17
Last Updated	4.17.18
Status	Status – trail impassable to stock due to washout, hikers should use caution
Map Pages	Map Pages: 112-114
Description	Two washouts on the PNT between miles 1151 and 1150 on the Olympic NF are considered impassable to stock. On the National Park, above Flapjack Camp, mile 1142, a third washout/ landslide is considered unstable and hazardous to pass. Large numbers of down trees have also been reported on trail to the east.
Resources	Bogachiel Trail Condition Updates

Alert	Alert 9-5 PNT, Olympic Hot Springs Road Closure
Area	Olympic NP, PNT Section 9
Trail/s	N/A
Date	1.27.18
Last Updated	4.17.18
Status	Status – Closed to Vehicles (will not affect PNT hikers traveling through)
Map Pages	Map Pages: 108
Description	Road closed to vehicle traffic due to flooding/washout, the Madison Falls parking area is open. From intersection with Hwy 101: 2 miles to park boundary, 9.6 miles to end of road. Paved, narrow and steep past Glines Canyon.
Resources	Current road conditions in Olympic NP

Alert	Alert 9-1. PNT, Gray Wolf – Hurricane Ridge Alternate/s
Area	Olympic National Forest
Trail/s	Lower Gray Wolf Tr 834
Date
Last Updated	5.1.17
Status	Status – Lower Gray Wolf Trail 834 is impassable until further notice
Map Pages	Map Page/s: 090
Description	The bridge near Pass and Cat Creek is still out for the 2017 season. According to Olympic National Forest, a safe ford is not possible and attempts would be very dangerous as the creek runs through a canyon. This makes trail 834 totally impassible, but the upper Gray Wolf Trail 834.2, can be accessed from the Slab Camp Trailhead and day hikers may still use trail 834 – they will simply need to turn back at the creek.
	Thru-hikers taking this PNT alternate will be rerouted either on FR 2870 and FR 2875 (between the Slab Camp and Gray Wolf trailheads) to avoid this section of trail, or be rerouted south to the primary route of the PNT. To minimize confusion, trail 834 has been removed from the 2017 map set.
Resources

Section 10 Wilderness Coast

Alert	Alert 10-4. No access to Cape Flattery or Shi Shi Beach
Area	Olympic National Park North Coast and Makah Tribal Lands

Date	3.13.20
Status	The Shi Shi Trail, 3rd Beach Trail and Cape Flattery Trail are closed to the general public until further notice
Map Pages	N/A
Description	The Pacific Northwest Trail is not located on Makah Tribal Lands; its western terminus is located on public land at Cape Alava in Olympic National Park. However, many park visitors, including PNT thru-hikers choose to explore areas further north along the coast that may only be accessed by trailheads on Makah Tribal Lands. Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 and until further notice, businesses and properties owned by the Makah Tribe will be limiting or closing public access… The Shi Shi Trail and Cape Flattery Trail will remain open to Makah Tribal members, however it will be closed to the general public until further notice, as well as the 3rd Beach trail commonly used for surfing activities. Learn more at: www.makah.com

Alert	Alert 10-3. Mudslides on Wilderness Coast Route
Area	Section 10 – Olympic National Park, South Coast
Trail/s	Coastal route between 1185P and C1193P
Date	6.25.18
Status	New mudslides in 2018 require 5 and 6′ tides to cross safely
Map Pages	PNT 115, 117, and 118
Description	A large mudslide, approximately 75 yards wide covers the route of the PNT between the creek at Third Beach and the headland trail over Taylor Point. This area now requires a tide of 5 feet or less tide for safe crossing, per Olympic National Park. A second landslide between the Goodman Creek overland trail and Mosquito Creek that requires passing below a 6 ft tide.

Alert	Alert 10-2. No access to Olympic NP via Oil City cut-off route
Area	Section 10 – private property/ Olympic NP
Trail/s	Oil City Cut-off Route between 1166P and 1185P
Date	4.17.18
Status	No access to coastal trails on Olympic NP via Oil City cut-off route
Map Pages	This route has been removed from the 2018 mapset. It is shown on previous versions on page PNT 117
Description	Access is no longer granted to this parcel of private property, and this route should be now be considered trespassing. Active logging operations and heavy truck traffic can make this route unsafe to visitors.

Helpful Links

Road Conditions

Fire and Weather Resources

Montana & Idaho Region Contacts

Eastern Washington Region Contacts

Western Washington Region Contacts

Emergency Management Contacts by State and County

Road Conditions

Looking to access a portion of the PNT or get to your favorite hike? Check with local authorities for any alerts, reports or closures.

Montana Department of Transportation – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Idaho Transportation Department – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Washington Department of Transportation – Website, Facebook and Twitter

US Forest Service Interactive Road Map – Website

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Road Conditions – Website

Colville National Forest Road Conditions – Website

Idaho Panhandle National Forest Road Conditions – Website

Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest Road Conditions – Website

Olympic National Forest Road Conditions – Website

Fire and Weather Resources

For the most up to date information on fires, weather patterns and snow conditions in your area.

InciWeb – Website, Facebook and Twitter. Search by state or fire name to get the latest updates and fire reports.

Northwest Interagency Coordination Center – Website. Washington and Oregon fire updates and news, evacuation information and interactive maps.

Northern Rockies Coordination Center – Website. Idaho, Montana and North Dakota fire updates and news, evacuation information and interactive maps.

National Interagency Coordination Center – Website. National intelligence and predictive fire services.

Northwest Fires – Website and Twitter. Regional briefings, outlooks and fire updates.

AirNow – Website, Facebook and Twitter. Air Quality Index (AQI) measurements, smoke maps and fire conditions.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Website, Facebook and Twitter. For up to date weather and forecasts for your area.

Northwest Avalanche Center – Website, Facebook and Twitter. Mountain weather, snow conditions and avalanche warnings.

Montana & Idaho Region Contacts

Montana and Idaho land management agency contacts.

Montana State Parks – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Glacier National Park – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Kootenai National Forest – Website and Twitter

Flathead National Forest – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Bureau of Land Management, Montana – Website, Facebook, Twitter and fire Twitter.

Idaho State Parks & Recreation – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Idaho Pan Handle National Forest – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Bureau of Land Management, Idaho – Website, Facebook, Twitter and fire Twitter

Eastern Washington Region Contacts

Eastern Washington land management agency contacts.

Colville National Forest – Website and Twitter

Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Bureau of Land Management, Oregon and Washington – Website, Facebook and Twitter.

Western Washington Region Contacts

Western Washington land management agency contacts.

Washington Department of Natural Resources – Website, Facebook, Twitter and fire Twitter. Links to daily updates and preparedness information.

Washington State Parks – Website, Facebook and Twitter.

North Cascades National Park – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Olympic National Forest – Website and Twitter

Olympic National Park – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Emergency Management Contacts by State and County

Contact information for local sheriff and emergency offices. In the event of an emergency, call 911.

Montana

Montana State Official – Website and Twitter

Glacier – Website and Facebook

Flathead – Website and Facebook

Lincoln – Website and Facebook

Idaho

Idaho State Official – Website and Twitter

Boundary – Website and Facebook

Bonner – Website and Facebook

Washington

Washington State Official – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Pend Orielle – Website

Stevens – Website

Ferry – Website and Facebook

Okanogan – Website and Facebook

Whatcom – Website, Facebook and Twitter

Skagit – Website and Facebook

Island – Website and Facebook

Jefferson – Website

Clallam – Website and Facebook

Pacific Northwest Trail Alerts

Trail Alerts

Helpful Links

Road Conditions

Fire and Weather Resources

Montana & Idaho Region Contacts

Eastern Washington Region Contacts

Western Washington Region Contacts

Emergency Management Contacts by State and County

Montana

Idaho

Washington

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