[Jordan]

Hey folks. Heading out in the next week or so. Anyone been out there recently. I can see there are fires in the area but not sure if they are close enough to shut the trail down. Any info is much appreciated. Thanks

[DadFly]

I was up there July 27-29. The smoke was just starting to come up the valley from a couple small fires. By now the place will be very hazy with a few big fires burning to the east. The Bannock lakes fire is close but to the north. https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=ed0a7dad32fe4848b20c6f91c74c79ea The higher you get the more likely the smoke will blow away with any wind.

[Merlin]

Chiwawa river road is closed as of 8/13/18 because of the Cougar Creek fire.

[Jordan]

[Julia]

https://www.facebook.com/cougarcreekfire/

[Jordan]

[jditty]

Yep - I just checked the forest service website at 10:30 last night and saw no closure...til I arrived 3 miles up the Chiwawa River road this morning to do the Spider Gap - Buck Creek loop for 4 nights. Sitting at Lake Wenatchee right now with my box of maps to come up with an alternate plan...

[Jordan]

Dang. That sucks, my worst nightmare. Good luck finding a new spot

[AlpineRose]

I sure wish the FS would update the website along with facebook. NOT EVERYONE IS ON FACEBOOK. It doesn't look like it's a public page either, that non-fbook users can access. During times like these, things can change rapidly. I would call the Ranger Station (Wenatchee, I think for the Chiwawa area?) before leaving the house to check on conditions. And even then, you can't be sure you'll be able to complete your trip. If they close an area while you are ON your trip, the FS sends its best, brightest and fastest out on the trails to clear everyone out. They do not stop until they can match up every vehicle left at the trailheads with the hikers they evacuate. Happened to me on the Spider-Buck loop a few years ago. If you are not leaving a vehicle at a trailhead, perhaps because you've been dropped off, make sure someone knows your itinerary and can keep track of closures so they can notify the FS you are in an area that's been closed after you started your trip.

[DadFly]

Anonymous tip: Send money to fund FS programs. The gvt has other priorities.

[Dale Wick]

No closure order of FS 6200 (Chiwawa River Rd) has been posted by the OWNF office or the Wenatchee River District. We were told that the road would have a fire closure starting 8/13 but that does not seem to have happened. I would check with the Wenatchee R.D. 509-548-2550 Fire is far down valley from the trailheads.

[Dale Wick]

No closure order of FS 6200 (Chiwawa River Rd) has been posted by the OWNF office or the Wenatchee River District. We were told that the road would have a fire closure starting 8/13 but that does not seem to have happened. I would check with the Wenatchee R.D. 509-548-2550 Fire is far down valley from the trailheads.

[AlpineRose]

Report with more Chiwawa Rd details from someone at the scene. WTA Chiwawa vicinity trip report Sure the road may be closed to the public in order to support fire fighting vehicles. However, a road may also be closed because the weather forecast is so extreme, the FS is considering the future likelihood of a wildfire blowing up and cutting off road access entirely. So they close the road as a safety precaution. Hard to say if that's the case now with the Chiwawa, since there is so little up-to-date info available.