A wildfire closure in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness area was reduced, while another was expanded in the Mount Bachelor area Thursday, heading into what should be a fun weekend in the Central Cascade mountains.
Here’s what you need to know.
The Mount Jefferson Wilderness closure area has been reduced
The 200-acre Bingham Fire, located near Marion Forks, saw containment grow to 65% Thursday, allowing fire crews to reopen some of the closed land.
The reopened areas include Pamelia Lake Trail and Trailhead, Pine Ridge Trail and Trailhead, Blue Lake Trail and Grizzly Peak Trail. Highway 22 and the Pacific Crest Trail through the Mount Jefferson Wilderness remained open.
The most notable area that remained closed was the Marion Lake Trail and Trailhead. However, it is possible to hike to the popular lake from the south, if one enters from another trailhead. Other trails still closed included: Bingham Ridge Trail and Trailhead, Independence Rock Trail and Trailhead, and Lake of the Woods Trail.
The fire was first reported on September 30. The official cause is unknown, forest officials said.
Bachelor complex closure extended
It was a different story across the Cascades, where the growth of the Little Lava Fire led to an extensive closure in the Mount Bachelor, Cascade Lakes and Three Sisters area.
The closure area was expanded to include the area west of Forest Service Road 4180 north of the Cascade Lakes Highway.
“This updated closure is intended to minimize impacts to those who wish to hunt and recreate in the area while ensuring that fire operations, including the use of heavy equipment, can occur safely,” according to a news release from Deschutes National Forest.
Recreationists were asked to check the closure map before heading out to ensure they were in an open area.
Bachelor Complex Closure Area by Zach Urness on Scribd
The following developed and distributed recreational locations were temporarily closed:
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AC/DC shelter
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Corral Swamp Trailhead
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Edison Shelter
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Edison SnoPark
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Kapka Butte Sno Park
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Kwohl Shelter
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Lucky Lake Trailhead
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Sheridan Shelter
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Six Lakes trailhead
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Wake Butte Trailhead
Road closures:
All National Forest System roads found within the closure area were closed, with the exception of Cascade Lakes Highway (NFSR 46) and NFSR 40, both of which remained open for public use.
The Metolius-Windigo Trail between Quinn Meadow and Todd Creek remained closed.
For information about temporary emergency closures of the Deschutes National Forest, visit fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and hosts the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him at X at @ZachsORoutdoors.
This article originally appeared in Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon wildfire closure in Mount Jefferson Wilderness has been reduced
