Mount Hood closes trails, campgrounds

Mt. Hood National Forest has widened access restrictions around the Grasshopper Fire, closing a long list of trails, campgrounds, trailheads and roads on the mountain’s east side. The Forest Service said its expanded closure took effect on August 4 and applies on the Barlow and Hood River ranger districts. The order is scheduled to remain in place until December 31, 2026, unless it is updated or rescinded. A separate forest-wide fire restriction that began July 1 also bans campfires and other open fires across the entire forest. ### Which places around Mount Hood are actually closed right now? The Forest Service closure order names Little John Sno-Park & Campground, the Barlow Ranger District, Tamanawas Falls Trailhead, Tamanawas Falls Trail, and White River West Sno-Park among the closed sites. The same order also lists Boulder Lake Trail, Badger Lake Campground, Polallie Campground, Polallie Trailhead, Sherwood Campground and Day Use, Nottingham Campground and Day Use, Bonney Crossing Campground, Bonney Meadows Campground and Badger Creek Trailhead. (fs.usda.gov) The closure covers National Forest System lands, roads and trails inside the mapped fire area. The Forest Service says people are prohibited from entering the closed area, being on closed roads and being on closed trails while the order is in effect. ### When did the restrictions change? August 4 is the effective date for the expanded closure now posted by Mt. Hood National Forest. That order superseded an earlier Grasshopper Fire closure that had taken effect on July 25, according to Forest Service documents. (fs.usda.gov) The Forest Service alerts page shows the Grasshopper Fire closure expansion as an active alert and separately lists the forest-wide fire restrictions that started July 1. (fs.usda.gov) Those restrictions prohibit campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires and other open fires, including in developed campgrounds. ### Is the Pacific Crest Trail closed near Mount Hood too? The Pacific Crest Trail remains open near the Grasshopper Fire, according to the Pacific Crest Trail Association. (fs.usda.gov) The association said in an alert updated August 4 that the fire is burning east of the trail and that multiple county evacuation levels overlap sections of the PCT near the fire. Hood River County’s Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation warning overlaps parts of the trail, the PCTA said. (fs.usda.gov) The group warned hikers that conditions can change quickly even though the trail itself remains open. ### How long could these Mount Hood closures last? December 31, 2026, is the outside date listed in the current Forest Service order. The agency also says the closure can be updated or rescinded earlier, which means access could change before then if fire conditions shift. (closures.pcta.org) The Forest Service has pointed visitors to its alerts page for the current closure list and to county evacuation notices before traveling into the area. (closures.pcta.org) The closure notice links to Clackamas County emergency alerts for official evacuation information. ### What should hikers and campers check before heading out? Mt. Hood National Forest says visitors should check whether an area is under Level 3 “Go Now,” Level 2 “Be Set,” or Level 1 “Get Ready” before heading to the forest. (fs.usda.gov) The agency’s alerts page is carrying both the Grasshopper Fire closure expansion and the forest-wide fire restrictions. The Pacific Crest Trail Association is maintaining a separate Grasshopper Fire alert page for PCT users near Mount Hood. (fs.usda.gov) Forest Service maps and order documents, and the PCTA closures page, are the two main places where named closures and trail status are being updated. (fs.usda.gov)