Willamette National Forest Fire Information, 541-225-6350

Deschutes National Forest, Kassidy Kern, 541-383-5517

Date: August 14, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Closures Issued for Large Portion of Three Sisters Wilderness Area
Springfield, Ore The Willamette and Deschutes National Forests are implementing
an area closure that will cover a large portion of the Three Sisters Wilderness
beginning August 15, 2017.

On Tuesday at 12:01 a.m., the Willamette National Forest will close all trails south of
Highway 242 into the Three Sisters Wilderness on the Willamette National Forest
with the exception of Proxy Falls, which remains open. Also closed is the Obsidian
Trailhead and Obsidian Limited Entry Area.

The area closure also includes Deschutes National Forest managed lands within the
Three Sisters Wilderness that are threatened by fire activity. The northern closure
area border includes trails south of Highway 242 and west of Forest Road 1018 and
east of the Three Sisters Wilderness Boundary on the Willamette National Forest down to
approximately Scotts Pass Trail, which is also included in the closure. In addition, the closure
area contains trails north of Cascade Lakes Highway, west of the South Sisters Climber Trail and
includes all of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Elk Lake north to the PCT Trailhead near Lava
Camp Lake Campground.

While the closure includes all trails east of the PCT from Elk Lake to the South Sisters Climber
Trail, the South Sisters Climber Trail and Elk Lake Trail remain open. Popular areas like Wickiup
Plains and Sisters Mirror Lake are closed.
Recreationists should be aware of these additional trail closures: Black Crater Trail
#4058, Millican Crater Trail #4066, Scott Pass Trail #4068, North Matthieu Lake Trail
#4062, Trout Creek Tie Trail #4067, Millican Crater Trailhead, Scott Pass Trailhead,
Green Lakes Trail #17 to Pole Creek Trail #4072 to Scott Pass Trail #4068,
Moraine Lake Trail from South Sister Climber Trail to Leconte Crater Trail,
Leconte Crater Trail, Devils Lake Trail, Mirror Lakes Trail, Elk-Devils Trail,
and Horse Lake Trail.

USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

NEWS RELEASE
Continued

Forests in the higher elevations are very dry and firefighters in the region are responding to
numerous fires ignited by recent lightning storms. As hot, dry and windy conditions persist, fire
managers anticipate that more undetected lightning fires will surface in the coming days and
weeks. This area closure has been put in place for the safety of the public recreating in the area
while firefighters work to suppress the fires in the Wilderness. The order will be in place until
rescinded.

The public is urged to use caution in the Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson Wilderness areas as
there are now two large area closures in effect for active wildfires and firefighters continue to
respond to new starts around the Cascade Crest. As always, if you are planning to visit the
National Forest, it is a good idea to KNOW BEFORE YOU GO by contacting 541-225-6350 for
Willamette Fire Information or calling 541-316-7711 for Central Oregon Fire Information. For
Pacific Crest Trail information, visit: https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/trail-conditions-
and-closures/

For additional information visit us on facebook

(https://www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest/, https://www.facebook.com/willamettenf/) or
on Twitter (@DesNatlForest, @willametteNF ) call 541-225-6350 or visit our webpage at
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices

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The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nations
forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Agency manages 193
million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the
largest forestry research organization in the world.