Pacific Northwest Trail Conditions
Last Updated: May 19th, 2023
Last Updated: May 19th, 2023
Find information about the latest conditions on the Pacific Northwest Trail, here. The PNTA shares the latest information from our Trail Crews, Scouts, and Volunteers, below. You can also find helpful links to our partners’ websites at the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and other land management agencies. PNT users should always be prepared to expect the unexpected; conditions on remote trails can change quickly and may go unreported for some time.
Major issues, such as trail and road closures affecting access to the Pacific Northwest Trail are logged as Trail Alerts, here.
Have you recently visited part of the Pacific Northwest Trail?
You can volunteer with the PNTA by submitting a field report. Contact us here or use our Trip Report Form. This fillable PDF form can be downloaded and printed, or it can be used with the free Adobe Acrobat App on your desktop PC or smartphone. Thank you for helping to scout trail conditions on the PNT!
The best season for hiking the PNT generally falls between July and September. By mid-July, most trails will have become snow free, wildflowers are in bloom, and PNTA and our partners’ trail crews will have removed hundreds of fallen trees from the trail corridor. Visitors should still expect to encounter downed trees on remote parts of the trail system, especially roadless wilderness areas. Several hundred downed trees must be removed from the Boundary Trail in the Pasayten Wilderness each year. It typically takes PNTA crews 8-10 weeks to log-out each year.
By mid-July, seasonal bridges have been installed along the PNT at key locations in Glacier National Park, in Montana. Many other locations along the PNT have unbridged crossings and visitors should be prepared to ford streams safely. Some crossings may be difficult, dangerous, or even impassable on the Pacific Coast and in the Mt Baker Wilderness. During periods of rapid snow melt in mid summer, the crossing at Swift Creek (south of Mt Baker) can be impassable until early August, depending on the snowpack and rate of snow melt. Consult PNTA Strip Maps and our Challenges and Risks webpage for more information about coastal travel and these crossings.
Always check road, weather, trail alerts, and fire danger levels before your visit. In the Northwest, maintenance projects take place in the dry summer months when mountain trails and roads are most accessible. By mid to late summer, many regions along the PNT will experience hot dry conditions and the risk of wildfire will become greater. Visitors should be prepared to do their part to prevent human-caused wildfires, and to learn about current wildfire activity and closures before they go. Smoke from wildfires burning a significant distance from the trail can impact air quality. It’s always a good idea to check air quality forecasts before a summer trip on the PNT.
Land Management Agencies in Section 1
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. Belly River Trail.
Glacier National Park Trail Alerts and Road Conditions
Trail Conditions in GNP, PNT mile 0-20
Trail Conditions in GNP, PNT mile 20-34
Trail Conditions in GNP, PNT mile 34-48
Flathead National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 55-88
Trail Reports on the Flathead National Forest
Kootenai National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 88-217
Trail Reports on the Kootenai National Forest
Land Management Agencies in Section 2
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. Vinal Creek Trail.
Kootenai National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 88-217
Trail Reports on the Kootenai National Forest
Idaho Panhandle National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 217-320
Recreation Conditions on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Land Management Agencies in Section 3
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. Parker Ridge Trail.
Idaho Panhandle National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 217-320
Recreation Conditions on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Recreation Conditions for the Priest Lake Area
Colville National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 320-495
Recreation Conditions on the Colville National Forest
Land Management Agencies in Section 4
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. Kettle Crest Trail.
Colville National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 320-495
Recreation Conditions on the Colville National Forest
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 495-717
Land Management Agencies in Section 5
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. 4th of July Trail.
Colville National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 495-717
Land Management Agencies in Section 6
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. Boundary Trail.
Loomis State Forest Alerts and Notices
Loomis Natural Resource Conservation Area
Colville National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 495-645
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Methow Ranger District Trail Conditions, PNT mile 645-732
North Cascades National Park Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 732-792
Trail Conditions in North Cascades National Park
Land Management Agencies in Section 7 East
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. Baker Lake Trail.
North Cascades National Park Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 717-776
Trail Conditions in North Cascades National Park
Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 776-854
Trail and Road Conditions on the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie NF
Land Management Agencies in Section 7 West
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. Chuckanut Trail.
Trail and Road Conditions on the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie NF
Harry Osborne-Les Hilde State Forest
Alger State Forest
Squires Lake Park – Whatcom County Parks
Blanchard Mountain State Forest
Cascade Trail – Skagit County Parks
Land Management Agencies in Section 8
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. John Tursi Trail.
Notices and General Trail Information:
Bay View State Park
Padilla Bay Shore Trail, Skagit County Parks and Recreation
City of Anacortes Community Forest Lands
Deception Pass State Park
Fort Ebey State Park
Whidbey State Park
Fort Casey State Park
Land Management Agencies in Section 9
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. High Divide Trail.
Olympic Discovery Trail Alerts and Notices
Olympic Peninsula State Forests
Olympic NF Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 1024-1054 and 1154 -1160
Recreation Conditions on the Olympic National Forest
Olympic National Park Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 1054-1150
Olympic NP Trail Conditions, Hurricane Ridge Area
Olympic NP Trail Conditions, Dosewallips Area
Olympic NP Sol Duc/ Bogachiel Area
Land Management Agencies in Section 10
For the most current notices, and to learn about the condition of specific trails, visit our partners’ websites using the links below. Note: the PNT will be described by its local trail name, i.e. Ozette Loop Trail.
Olympic National Park Alerts and Notices, PNT mile 1179-1217
Olympic NP Trail Conditions, Coastal Area
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
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 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
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
Contact information for local sheriff and emergency offices. In the event of an emergency, call 911.
Montana State Official – Website and Twitter
Glacier – Website and Facebook
Flathead – Website and Facebook
Lincoln – Website and Facebook
Idaho State Official – Website and Twitter
Boundary – Website and Facebook
Washington State Official – Website, Facebook and Twitter
Pend Orielle – Website
Stevens – Website
Okanogan – Website and Facebook
Whatcom – Website, Facebook and Twitter
Jefferson – Website