| Cabin Rentals Table Mountain A-Frame and the Teanaway Guard Station are available rentals on the Cle Elum Ranger District. For more information or to make reservations, please call 1-877-444-6777 or click here. |
| Updated on August 21st, 2010 |
NOTE: COMPLETE CAMPFIRE RESTRICTION! Campfires, including charcoal
BBQ's, are illegal in Kittitas County, including on the Cle Elum Ranger District
and all campsites, including hosted campsites. Fire Danger is HIGH.
HIKING TRAILS - PACIFIC CREST TRAIL IS NOW OPEN!!!!! The stretch between
Lemah and Mineral Creek has been logged out and is re-opened. This stretch
has been closed since the 2009 fire. The Katwalk is open. The north PCT is
closed at Mineral Creek and Lemah Meadow--
Thank-you to the Northwest Youth Corps, who finished work on the PCT last
week (repairing the trail from last year's fire). People can look on the OkaWen
website for descriptions of the detours.
The mosquito population is declining and the black fly population is increasing.
Volunteers - Thanks to our wonderful volunteers including the Washington Trail
Association for their work on the South PCT (brushing).
Our Motorized volunteers worked hard all summer with our ORV Rangers
clearing and repairing trails. A big thanks!!!!
The Backcountry Horsemen deserve a big thank-you for the work they did up on
Table Mountain.
Interpretive walks at Snoqualmie Pass will continue through Labor Day. People
can call 425-434-6111 for information and reservations. We will do special walks
on request.
BRIDGE INFORMATION -
Shoestring trail #1385. A tree hit a log-stringer bridge on this trail and tilted it.
Hikers, motorcycles, and mountain bikes can get across it (carefully), but it is not
recommended for stock. There is no good ford adjacent to it. It is our intention to
repair this as soon as practical.
Box Canyon bridge on Little Kachess trail #1312, immediately north of Kachess
Campground. This bridge rotted to the point it had to be removed in 2009. This
is a lower priority for replacement, so for now, this creek is crossable only at low
water late in the season. It is also no longer a barrier-free trail.
Lemah Creek bridge on the Pacific Crest trail #2000. Hikers and horsemen can
detour around this via the Lemah Meadows trail and Pete Lake trail, which
includes a ford of Lemah Creek. This bridge is also a lower priority for
replacement.
Waptus River bridge on trail #1310 near Waptus Lake. We are still looking for the
money to replace this bridge. Until that time, hikers still need to use the horse
ford, and it is not recommended early in the season.
Campground information -
Red Top, Lion Rock, South Fork Meadows and Tamarack Springs have been
decommissioned. Firepits and tables removed from all, toilets removed from
Tamarack, and South Fork.
Quartz Mountain is next to have all facilities removed.
BBQ's, are illegal in Kittitas County, including on the Cle Elum Ranger District
and all campsites, including hosted campsites. Fire Danger is HIGH.
HIKING TRAILS - PACIFIC CREST TRAIL IS NOW OPEN!!!!! The stretch between
Lemah and Mineral Creek has been logged out and is re-opened. This stretch
has been closed since the 2009 fire. The Katwalk is open. The north PCT is
closed at Mineral Creek and Lemah Meadow--
Thank-you to the Northwest Youth Corps, who finished work on the PCT last
week (repairing the trail from last year's fire). People can look on the OkaWen
website for descriptions of the detours.
The mosquito population is declining and the black fly population is increasing.
Volunteers - Thanks to our wonderful volunteers including the Washington Trail
Association for their work on the South PCT (brushing).
Our Motorized volunteers worked hard all summer with our ORV Rangers
clearing and repairing trails. A big thanks!!!!
The Backcountry Horsemen deserve a big thank-you for the work they did up on
Table Mountain.
Interpretive walks at Snoqualmie Pass will continue through Labor Day. People
can call 425-434-6111 for information and reservations. We will do special walks
on request.
BRIDGE INFORMATION -
Shoestring trail #1385. A tree hit a log-stringer bridge on this trail and tilted it.
Hikers, motorcycles, and mountain bikes can get across it (carefully), but it is not
recommended for stock. There is no good ford adjacent to it. It is our intention to
repair this as soon as practical.
Box Canyon bridge on Little Kachess trail #1312, immediately north of Kachess
Campground. This bridge rotted to the point it had to be removed in 2009. This
is a lower priority for replacement, so for now, this creek is crossable only at low
water late in the season. It is also no longer a barrier-free trail.
Lemah Creek bridge on the Pacific Crest trail #2000. Hikers and horsemen can
detour around this via the Lemah Meadows trail and Pete Lake trail, which
includes a ford of Lemah Creek. This bridge is also a lower priority for
replacement.
Waptus River bridge on trail #1310 near Waptus Lake. We are still looking for the
money to replace this bridge. Until that time, hikers still need to use the horse
ford, and it is not recommended early in the season.
Campground information -
Red Top, Lion Rock, South Fork Meadows and Tamarack Springs have been
decommissioned. Firepits and tables removed from all, toilets removed from
Tamarack, and South Fork.
Quartz Mountain is next to have all facilities removed.
| BE PREPARED! Day trips can turn into two or three day adventures fast! |
The twelve essentials...do you carry them? Day hikers and riders often forget or
do not want to carry all their trail survival essentials. This past weekend, we
were called out to look for three hikers who had planned to spend two to three
hours out on the trail. The packed and dressed lightly. But their short trip
turned into a 40 hour ordeal when then got lost. No food. No water filter. No
extra cloths. The evening temperature in the mountains dropped below 45
degrees. When you head out for a day in the forest, remember to expect the
best, but prepare for the worse. Even if it isn't you that twists and ankle and
cannot walk out, or gets turned around and lost....you will have the essentials
available to help fellow travelers. The 12 Essentials do not add that much
weight to a day pack, and they can literally save a life. Don't think it can happen
to you? Too experienced? Consider this: Most of our Search and Rescues
involve experienced trail goers. And there aren't many feelings better than the
one you get when you help someone else! So BE PREPARED to stay the night,
even on day trips! Here are the 12 Essentials: 1. A MAP! 2. Compass (even if
you have a GPS!), 3. Flashlight, 4. Food (trail mix, nuts, high caloric...), 5.
WATER! You can live without food for a long time, but not without water! Add a
water filter to your pack! 6. Extra cloths (check the weather and pack
accordingly), 7. Sun Protection (including sun screen and sunglasses), 8.
Pocket knife or multi-tool. I wrap duct tape around my knife. Always a great
addition! 9. Matches. Make sure they are water proof. My matches sit next to a
survival candle because I can't seem to keep a match lit long enough to start a
warming fire! 10. Whistle. Two short pops, and someone is looking for you.
Three return whistles...."I AM HERE!" 11. Tarp. Pack a small survival tarp. 12.
A First Aid Kit! Don't forget to add your identification, a list of medications you
might be on, and any medical conditions you suffer from....just in case you
cannot speak for yourself.
Stay Safe and Live to Hike or Ride another Day!
do not want to carry all their trail survival essentials. This past weekend, we
were called out to look for three hikers who had planned to spend two to three
hours out on the trail. The packed and dressed lightly. But their short trip
turned into a 40 hour ordeal when then got lost. No food. No water filter. No
extra cloths. The evening temperature in the mountains dropped below 45
degrees. When you head out for a day in the forest, remember to expect the
best, but prepare for the worse. Even if it isn't you that twists and ankle and
cannot walk out, or gets turned around and lost....you will have the essentials
available to help fellow travelers. The 12 Essentials do not add that much
weight to a day pack, and they can literally save a life. Don't think it can happen
to you? Too experienced? Consider this: Most of our Search and Rescues
involve experienced trail goers. And there aren't many feelings better than the
one you get when you help someone else! So BE PREPARED to stay the night,
even on day trips! Here are the 12 Essentials: 1. A MAP! 2. Compass (even if
you have a GPS!), 3. Flashlight, 4. Food (trail mix, nuts, high caloric...), 5.
WATER! You can live without food for a long time, but not without water! Add a
water filter to your pack! 6. Extra cloths (check the weather and pack
accordingly), 7. Sun Protection (including sun screen and sunglasses), 8.
Pocket knife or multi-tool. I wrap duct tape around my knife. Always a great
addition! 9. Matches. Make sure they are water proof. My matches sit next to a
survival candle because I can't seem to keep a match lit long enough to start a
warming fire! 10. Whistle. Two short pops, and someone is looking for you.
Three return whistles...."I AM HERE!" 11. Tarp. Pack a small survival tarp. 12.
A First Aid Kit! Don't forget to add your identification, a list of medications you
might be on, and any medical conditions you suffer from....just in case you
cannot speak for yourself.
Stay Safe and Live to Hike or Ride another Day!
| Manastash Lake, Photo by Scott Cronk |
| Cle Elum Ranger District, 509-852-1100 |
| Download an ORV Map here (downloads are 8x10...most people prefer purchasing a complete map for $4.00's. Call our front desk or drop by the station to purchase maps, trail guides, and Northwest Forest Passes. Okanogan Wenatchee Current Conditions Campfire Restrictions Off-Road Vehicle Maps and Information Okanogan Wenatchee Wilderness Information |
| Fun Links Cascade Remote Cameras |