Deschutes National Forest Summer Trail Access and Conditions Update KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! Updated July 10, 2015 Summer Trail Highlights Fire danger is extreme and Public Use Restrictions on campfires, wood burning, BBQ, smoking, and chainsaw use begin 7-10 at 00:01. Summer trails are now snow free with most trails either cleared of downed trees or light to moderate. Expect downed trees on several trails. July 11/12, bike race out of Wanoga Sno-Park with possibly 250 riders. Tumalo Falls Road/Trailhead, all trails into TH and all access to the Falls and viewpoints now closed to all vehicle, foot and bike traffic until further notice. Pipeline construction in YCC crews help improve “defensible space” around Shooting Star Nordic Shelter by removing excess brush and trees progress thru the area. surrounding the shelter. 5/15-9/15 dogs on leash only on Deschutes River Trails. 7/15 – 9/15 dogs on leash only on several high use Wilderness trails. Hwy 46 (Cascade Lks Hwy), Road 21 into Newberry/ Paulina Peak Road, Road 16 to Three Creeks area and Hwy 242 open for the season. Road 370 beyond Todd Lk on or before 7/11; vehicles on open roadways only. Go prepared with your Ten Essential Systems: Navigation (map and compass) Sun protection (sunglasses/sunscreen) Insulation (extra clothing) Illumination (headlamp/flashlight) Volunteers are hitting their stride with trail clearing. Approx. 70% of Deschutes NF trails are now cleared of First-aid supplies down trees. Thank you volunteers and trail crew! Fire(waterproofmatches/lighter/candles) Repair kit and tools Nutrition (extra food) Hydration (extra water) Emergency shelter GENERAL SUMMER TRAIL CONDITIONS AS OF JULY 10: HOT, dry and mostly sunny weather has created dusty trails, dry creeks, lowered lake levels and elevated fire danger. All Deschutes NF trails are now snow free with just patchy snow possible above 9,000 ft.. The majority of trails have been cleared of blowdown but expect to find a few yet waiting their turn. Higher numbers of downed trees possible in fire/beetle kill sections. A few trails in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness continue to be considered “IMPASSIBLE” due to extremely heavy blowdown and brush blocking them. See Mt. Jefferson Wilderness section below! All trailheads, except for a special construction closure of at Tumalo Falls, are snow free and accessible. Peak summer use can be expected on many summer trails, including Wilderness areas. Expect high use on popular trails and backcountry areas, even on weekdays and especially during hot weather. Share the trail! If you are not interested in crowds and looking for a low trail traffic experience, avoid the high traffic summer trails and lakes like: Green/Moraine Lakes, South Sister, Sparks Lake, Hosmer Lake, Todd Lake, Mirror Lakes, Pole Creek, Deschutes River, Canyon Creek Meadows, Black Butte, Tumalo Mt., Tumalo Falls (currently closed), etc. These areas each typically see hundreds of users on weekend days and even some weekdays. This large ponderosa currently blocks the Metolius River Trail ¼ mile downstream of Canyon Creek Campground. A trail reroute is currently in place and the tree will be monitored for this season due complicated removal in the river and riparian area. The reroute is steep and narrow and may not be recommended for some hikers. Weather conditions can change rapidly so be sure to watch closely for most recent weather forecasts. On July 7, lightning struck these 4 large hemlock trees near the Crater Rim Trail in the Newberry Caldera. One of these, a 38” diameter tree was reduced to splinters. Just hours before a trail crew was working on the trail 100 yards away. With unsettled weather and summer thunderstorms, use extra caution and try to avoid being exposed to lightning hazards. North West Youth Corps Volunteers installing check steps to reduce effects of erosion on trails. Trail volunteers are increasingly hitting the trails for logout and general maintenance. Each year, hundreds of trail volunteers put in thousands of hours towards maintaining over 2,000 miles of Deschutes National Forest trails; summer and winter! Without volunteers, your public access trails would not be as enjoyable as they are. Remember to “Thank” our volunteers! Fire Restrictions begin in Central Oregon Due to extreme fire danger, Public Use Restrictions are now in effect and as of July 10 at 12:01 a.m.: campfires, warming fires and cooking fires, including charcoal fires, portable propane campfires, biomass or particle wood-burning stoves, and wood pellet grills or smokers, are prohibited on Forest Service and BLM lands, except in established fire rings at designated campgrounds. Wilderness: These campfire restrictions apply to all wildernesses on Forest Service and BLM lands. Please note that biomass or particle wood-burning stoves are not allowed in wilderness this year due to the severity of fuel conditions. For further information on current public use restrictions due to high fire dangers go to: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3844504 DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST SUMMER TRAILHEADS/TRAILS: Summer trail access has been 4-5 weeks ahead of average years. Most trails and areas are currently at average mid-late August conditions for fire hazard, and drying creeks and water levels. Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District summer trails/access: Phils TH area trails are fair to good with trails becoming dusty. For more information on COTA, who they are, what they do and how you can help, go to: http://cotamtb.com/ Tumalo Falls Trailhead and Falls area CLOSURE – Road 4603 from the gate to Tumalo Falls Trailhead and including the trailhead, Falls area and viewpoints, are now closed until further notice to all traffic including pedestrian and bikes. The Falls area is a new closure that was necessary due to many trail users continuing to use the closed trails and trailhead thru the construction area. Until further notice you cannot visit or view the Falls due to hazardous conditions. Also ALL trails into Tumalo Falls Trailhead (TFT) are closed including: Farewell from junction with Mrazek to TFT, North Fork Trail to TFT, South Fork from junction with Tumalo Creek Trail to TFT. Installation of new municipal water line is occurring thru TFT during the next few months. Sorry for any inconvenience but this closure is necessary for worker and public safety and we will have the trailhead, Falls are viewpoints and connecting trails reopened shortly after construction of the remaining pipeline. Deschutes River Trailheads/Trails - area trails are in good condition. Use has reached high summer levels and conflicts between users are possible. Bikers, while permitted to use the hiker trails are asked to be responsible and slow down and be aware of other users. Bikers please consider avoiding the primary hiker trail on weekends and holidays when hiker use is at its peak. Be aware that the handrails at the upper and lower viewing areas for Benham Falls are being refinished and will need a few days to setup. Avoid touching them if found to be sticky. The seasonal DOG LEASH regulation along the Deschutes River Corridor is in effect May 15 thru Sept. 15. During this time, due to high use and potential for user conflicts, dogs are required to be on leash when in the corridor between Meadow Picnic and Benham Falls East. This includes all the River trails and recreation sites between these two locations. Dogs are permitted off leash in the river. See below under Wilderness for the July 15 to Sept. 15 seasonal DOG LEASH regulation on high use Wilderness trails around Todd Lake, Broken Top, Green and Moraine Lakes and South Sister. Sun Lava Paved Path between Sunriver, Benham East and Lava Lands. Currently good condition; watch for high biker, hiker, stroller use on the path. Lava Lands Trails - Lava Lands is open seven days/week. Lava Lands interpretive trails and the trail on Lava Butte are open. Wanoga Mt. Bike Trails – area trails are in fair to good condition but some blowdown is possible. Swampy Lake Trails are snow free with trail clearing in progress. Flagline Trail is closed until Aug. 15 for elk calving. Tumalo Mt. – Snow free and trail is cleared of blowdown. Todd Creek Horse Camp – Hwy 46 open and snow free in camp area. Met/Win horse trail has not been cleared yet. Sparks Lake Trailhead – Hwy 46 open and open to trailhead. Trail snow free and blowdown possible on trail. Ray Atkison Trailhead and Sparks Lake boat ramp – Trailhead/boat ramp open but lake level is rapidly dropping. Boat launching from a trailer may not be possible due to low water. Trail cleared of blowdown. Lake and trails very busy! Quinn Meadow Horse Camp area trails – Hwy 46 open. Area trails have light to moderate blowdown and snow free. Metolius-Windigo Trail area trail clearing in progress with blowdown likely. Cultus Lake and Winopee Lk TH – Fair snow free access. Expect blowdown, limited clearing in progress. Lemish Lake TH – Area trails and trailheads snow free but difficult to access over rough roads. Expect blowdown on trails Charlton Lake TH – Snow free and accessible. Blowdown on trails with limited clearing in progress. PCT cleared to Lily Lake Trail and trail down to Lily Lake also cleared. Trail between Lily Lk to Lemish Lk Trail has heavy blowdown. Osprey Point TH – Trail currently has downed trees and some brush growing into it. South/North Twin Lakes area trails – Snow free and cleared of blowdown. Fall River Trail – Area trails and trailheads accessible, blowdown reported on some trails. Horse Butte to Swamp Wells area trails – Currently good conditions. Swamp Wells trail from horse camp to Crater Rim Trail now cleared of blowdown.