NW Horse Trails

09/01/2026

Dry Creek Horse Camp - Ochocos Nat’l Forest OR

We drove up to the horse camp to see how things were looking after the Rowe Complex fire. Other than the posts for the sign and “gate” burning, the camp itself was in very good shape. The corral to the far south end of camp has a big tree blocking easy access. The rest of the corrals, the picnic tables, the fire rings, the manure dump area and the pit toilet were all in fine shape. The Giddy Up Go TH sign was still standing and the little bit we could see of the trail looked fine. The single track from the horse camp down to the old barn looked to be in mostly passable condition with a few trees that would need to be navigated. At this time the gates were all open.

I’m hoping to get up there to ride soon and see what the actual Giddy Up Go trail (and the donut) look like. Definitely a lot was burned. But a lot was still standing too. We didn’t go past the horse camp so I’m not sure what things look like higher on the mountain.

08/26/2026

It's National Dog Day! Drop a picture of your prized pup down below so we can all celebrate 🐶 Kenzi (L) and Bella (R)

08/23/2026

On the Grasshopper Fire, east of Mt. Hood, Oregon, a strong, collaborative response is making a real difference.

Groups of ranchers and landowners have brought local expertise, equipment, and knowledge – strengthening efforts of our incident personnel.

In one remarkable example, a local horse-owner assisted the communications team by helping transport a mobile repeater system to a remote, hard-to-reach area, showcasing how community and Forest Service teams work together to bolster wildfire response efforts.

(Photo courtesy of the Grasshopper Fire)

08/20/2026

From Oregon Equestrian Trails:

The US Forest Service is proposing to rescind its Roadless Rule, allowing road construction in these protected areas and opening them to logging and mining. Roadless Areas are found all over Oregon (to find the Roadless Areas near you, go to https://oregonwild.org/resource/oregon-inventoried-roadless-areas-interactive-map/) and often serve as a buffer between populated areas and Wilderness Areas. The areas around Quinn Meadow and Todd Creek Horse Camps, for example, are currently protected by the Roadless Rule. Roadless Areas are enormously valuable for recreation and wildlife habitat, both of which could be negatively impacted by the proposed change.

Our friends at the nonprofit Outdoor Alliance have made it super easy to provide public comment about this proposed rule change. Please follow the link below and tell the Forest Service what you think. Outdoor Alliance has provided a sample comment, but your submission will have more impact if you tweak it with your own thoughts. I used their form this morning to submit my own comments, and including editing their sample letter, it took 4 minutes.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to tell the Forest Service what you think. We only have 30 days to comment, so don't wait!

https://action.outdooralliance.org/a/roadless-deis-usfs

iFrames are not supported on this page. Blue = USFS Inventoried Roadless AreasDarker Green = Protected WildernessFull size interactive map here.

08/18/2026

Hi Everyone,

Please be advised that the Milo McIver State Park equestrian parking area is currently being converted into a temporary fire camp for state wildland fire crews fighting the forest fires in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Expectation is between 500 to 1000 personnel. They will occupy not only the parking lot, but also the entire meadow to the Bat Barn.

Equestrians who wish to ride at the park will be directed to the smaller parking area farther down the hill near the river. This is the old equestrian parking area that is now used by summertime rafters. Because you will be sharing this space with rafters, we recommend visiting the park during the week to ride.

Given the current fire activity this year, this arrangement will likely remain in place until the fire season is over.

08/17/2026

"Leash laws exist for a reason." A trail runner's perspective on off-leash dogs (hint: they have the same issues stock riders do).

Is it ever OK to let Rover roam on the trail without a leash? If not, why do so many dog owners do it? Our outsider sniffs out some of the paws-ible answers.

08/13/2026

THREE QUEENS FIRE CLOSURE ANNOUNCED BY US FOREST SERVICE
**Please Share to spread awareness**

The USFS has announced the closure of a large area to ensure the safety of the public and to protect firefighting operations in the Three Queens Fire which is active on both sides of Lake Kachess. The order closes the public lands surrounding all of Lake Kachess, the western and southern sides of Lake Cle Elum, and the wilderness extending north from the lakes to the Pacific Crest Trail.

USFS personnel will be manning road closures and patrolling the impacted area to enforce the closure. Please stay out of the area for your safety and the safety of the federal, state, and local firefighters working to manage and contain this challenging fire.

Here is the USFS Closure Order including the extensive lists of trails, roads, and recreation facilities affected:

THREE QUEENS FIRE CLOSURE ORDER # 06-17-03-2026-32

Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. This Order is effective August 11, 2026 and will remain in effect through October 31, 2026, unless rescinded sooner.

PROHIBITIONS:
1. Entering into or being upon National Forest System lands, as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.53(e)].
2. Being on a National Forest System Trail, as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.55(a)].
3. Being on a National Forest System Road as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.54(e)].
4. Use of vehicle off of National Forest System Roads as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.56].

CLOSURE AREA DESCRIPTION:
The closure begins at the junction of the Pacific Crest Trail North #2000 in T. 22 N. R 11 E. Sec. 4 WM and Interstate 90. It then follows the north and east sides of Interstate 90 to where it intersects the forest boundary in T. 20 N. R. 13 E. Sec. 3. It then follows the forest boundary east along the north edge of Sections 3, 2, and 1. It then turns south along the eastern edge of sections 1 and 12. It then turns east and follows the north, then east edge of section 18 in T. 20 N. R 14 E.
It then follows the forest boundary north of the Yakima River in Sec 17, T. 20 N R. 14E. It then follows the forest boundary north along the west edge of sections 16 and 9 in T 20 N. R 14 E. It then turns east on the north edge of section 9 and follows the north edge of sections 9, 10 to where it intersects the Forest boundary in T. 20 N, R. 14 E., Sec 10. Then it follows the forest boundary to the west edge of SR 903 in T. 20 N. R 14 E. Sec. 2. It then follows the east edge of SR 903 north to the intersection of FSR 4330 at T 22 R, 14, sec 16. The closure then follows FSR 4330 to its terminus at the Deception Pass Trail head in T 24 N, R 14 E, Sec 28. It then follows the Deception Pass trail 1376 to its intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 and forest boundary in T. 24 N. R 14 E Sec. 6. It then follows the forest boundary south to the beginning of the closure in T. 22 N. R 11. E Sec. 4.

TRAILS CLOSED:
• Little Kachess Trail 1312
• Rachel Lake Trail 1313
• Mineral Creek Trail 1331
• Lake Lillian Trail 1332
• Gold Creek Valley Trail 1314
• Pete Lake Trail 1323
• Thorp Creek Trail 1316
• Knox Creek Trail 1315.1
• French Cabin Creek Trail 1305
• Little Joe Lake Trail 1330.1
• Kachess Ridge Trail 1315
• Red Mountain Trail 1330
• Alaska Lake Trail 1314.1
• Cooper River Trail 1327
• Pacific Crest Trail #2000 – Snoqualmie Pass to Deception Pass
• Escondido Lake Trail 1320
• Tired Creek Trail 1317
• Waptus Pass Trail 1329
• Lemah Meadows 1323.2
• Waptus Burn Trail 1329.3
• Polallie Ridge Trail 1309
• Spinola Creek Trail 1310.1
• Peggy’s Pond Trail 1375
• Spade Lake Trail 1337
• Trail Creek Trail 1322
• Michael Lake Trail 1336
• Cathedral Pass Trail 1345
• Dutch Miller Gap Trail 1362
• Lake Vicente Trail 1365
• Deception Pass Trail 1376
• Davis Peak Trail 1324
• Kachess Ridge Trail 1315
• Easton Ridge Trail 1212
• Domerie Peak 1308
• Spectacle Lake 1306
• Glacier Lake 1360

FOREST SERVICE ROADS CLOSED:
• 128
• 4300
• 4308
• 4312
• 4315
• 4316
• 4316-111
• 4300-126
• 4600
• 4613
• 4616
• 4616-113
• 4617
• 4618
• 4818
• 4822
• 4824
• 4826
• 4828
• 4824-115
• 4832
• 4832-114
• 4832-136
• 4832-142
• 4832-146
• 4900
• 4930
• 4934
• 4936
• 4948

RECREATION SITES AFFECTED:
• Kachess Campground
• Owhi Campground
• Red Mountain Campground
• Rachel Lake Trail
• Mineral Creek Trail
• Lake Lillian Trail
• Pete Lake Trail
• Thorp Creek Trail
• Knox Creek Trail
• French Cabin Creek Recreation Area
• French Cabin Creek Trail
• Little Joe Lake Trail
• Kachess Ridge No Name Ridge Trail
• Crescent Hill Trailhead
• Escondido Lake Trail
• Cooper River Trail
• Waptus Pass Trail
• Tired Creek Trail
• Spectacle Lake Trail
• Domerie Peak Trail
• Trail Creek Trail
• Pacific Crest Trail North - Snoqualmie Pass Trailhead
• Davis Peak Trail
• Cathedral Pass Trail
• Lake Vicente Trail
• Dutch Miller Gap Trail
• Spade Lake Trail
• Lake Michael Trail
• Lemah Meadow Trail
• Waptus Burn Trail
• Polallie Ridge Trail
• Peggy's Pond Trail
• Davis Peak Trailhead
• Easton Ridge Trail
• Antilon Lake Campground
• Salmon La Sac Campground
• Cle Elum River Campground
• Cayuse Horse Camp
• Fish Lake Campground
• Wish Poosh Campground
• Speelyi Beach
• East Kachess Group Site
• Little Salmon La Sac Trail
• Salmon La Sac Trailhead
• Pacific Crest Trail - White Pass North Trailhead
• Rachel Lake Trailhead
• Pete Lake Trailhead
• Owhi Campground Trail

Violations of these prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for an individual or $10,000.00 for a corporation, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. (16 USC § 551; 18 USC §§ 3551, 3571, and 3581.)

You can access and review the published order at the USFS website here:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/okanogan-wenatchee/alerts/three-queens-fire-area-closure-cle-elum-ranger-district?fbclid=IwY2xjawTpnY1wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUh6eW8xRnpOd242VTcyVHNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeYUAlVlrpII4E7_cxgLsgpfxknQFUelhhOWEHNS6_LI4d9FZPIe-RXRF_-QM_aem_mwWlDz1x6YVuCc6lGTT-Mw

08/01/2026

07/28/2026