Five wildfires were burning at once in Washington’s North Cascades National Park and the surrounding Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The park’s wildfire-closure list, updated September 4, listed trail, camp, and area closures associated with the Border 2, Luna, Thunder Creek, and Sisi fires, including the entire Hozomeen-area campground complex and part of Stehekin Valley Road. According to the National Interagency Fire Center’s September 5 situation report, recent rain in the area had reduced the risk of large-fire growth, but the fires were not out and closures remained in place.
Areas Affected
The largest closure was at Hozomeen, at the park’s northern end. The Border 2 Fire, at 8,043 acres and 72% contained, closed the entire Hozomeen area. Closures included the dock and common areas, as well as Winnebago Flats Campground, the Upper Loop and Lower Loop campgrounds, and Willow Lake, Hozomeen Lake, Desolation, DeRiek, and Nightmare camps. Willow Lake Trail, Hozomeen Lake Trail, Obelisk Trail, and Desolation Lookout Trail were also closed.
The Luna Fire, at 7,722 acres and 34% contained, was burning 10 miles north of Newhalem. A section of the Big Beaver Trail from Big Beaver Stock Camp to Stillwell Camp was closed, along with Luna Camp, Beaver Pass Camp, and 39 Mile Camp. The 950-acre Thunder Creek Fire closed the section of Thunder Creek Trail from the Fisher Creek junction to Park Creek Pass, as well as Skagit Queen, Thunder Basin, and Junction camps.
The most direct impact on RV travelers was in the Stehekin area. The Sisi Fire, at 2,244 acres and 11% contained, was started by lightning on August 14 on Sisi Ridge, 10 miles northwest of Stehekin, and had been burning for 24 days. The National Park Service closed Stehekin Valley Road from Stehekin Valley Ranch to High Bridge, along with the High Bridge area. Closures also included the Pacific Crest Trail from the park boundary to Bridge Creek Camp, Agnes Gorge Trail, McGregor Mountain Trail, and Company Creek Trail, plus Shady, Tumwater, High Bridge, and Hinton camps. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office had issued a Level 1 (Be Ready) fire advisory for this stretch of road.
The Little Giant Fire, burning in the same national forest, had burned 170,784 acres 30 miles northwest of Leavenworth and was 81% contained. Evacuation orders and area, road, and trail closures were in effect. Although outside the national park, the fire was near the departure area for the Lake Chelan ferry to Stehekin, so travelers were advised to also review Chelan County Emergency Management notices before traveling.
What RV Travelers Need to Know
According to the Forest Service, the community of Stehekin itself remained open, with stores and lodging operating outside closure areas. Some services at Stehekin Landing were limited, however, and local roads had more traffic as firefighting personnel and equipment continued to arrive. Site 1 at Purple Point Campground was closed for a separate reason.
RV travelers using North Cascades Highway (SR 20) were advised to check the Cascade Loop tourism association’s traffic alerts and Washington State Department of Transportation notices before departure. Smoke often settled in valleys near the fires even outside closure areas, so travelers accompanied by someone with respiratory concerns were advised to check air quality first.
Backcountry users traveling through wildfire areas should remember that entry into cross-country zones branching off closed trails was also prohibited. Areas burned before this season—including the Chilliwack, Little Beaver, and Stetattle Creek areas—remained under long-term closure because of the risk of falling dead trees. Even as containment increased, camp reservations would not be restored until the park completed safety inspections, so travelers holding backcountry permits in the area during September were advised to check the park’s wildfire-closure page daily.
Photo: NPS / Original photo. Public domain. Photo date: 2018.
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