Current Conditions

Office hours have changed at some ranger district offices so check our website to confirm their hours before visiting. If you call during business hours and don't get through, they are likely assisting another customer. We appreciate your patience.

Recreationists looking for first come, first served campsites in the forest should have alternate plans in mind in case their favorite campground has already filled up. Most campgrounds fill up by Friday evening on holiday weekends.

If utilizing a dispersed camping area, be sure to leave it looking as natural as you can when you leave. These dispersed areas never have water, garbage service, or outhouses, so practice Leave No Trace camping.

When camping, be sure to store food and smellable things in a manner to avoid conflicts with bears and other wildlife. The basic rules of food storage are to keep your food, garbage, coolers, pet food, canned or bottled beverages, and other bear attractants in a hard-sided vehicle, in bear-resistant metal food lockers provided at some developed campgrounds, or hanging from a tree. Don’t leave anything out that might attract wildlife. Keep a clean camp and pack out and dispose of your trash properly.

Drinking water will not be available at some campgrounds this summer. Please bring drinking water and water to clean up with.

Pack home garbage if trash receptacles are full or are not available.

With more than 6,000 miles of trail, current conditions are not always available. Many of our fantastic partners do have resources on their websites to help you plan your trip. We recommend checking the individual recreation site on this website for the authoritative information on pass and fee requirements, closures, and other rules, then visit one of our partners' pages for more information on conditions and what to expect. The Forest Service does not monitor or validate the information on these partner pages, and most rely on user input, so please use caution and prepare for all possible conditions.

Washington Trails Association hiking guides and trip reports have information on most non-motorized trails across the forest. 

In the Methow Valley, visit the Methow Valley Trails Collaborative trail conditions page.

Along the 1-90 corridor in the Cle Elum Ranger District, the Mountains to Sound Greenway maintains information on exploring the region.

FYI Cle Elum Ranger District: Trails in the Taneum area have been logged out at lower elevations up to Windy Pass and Four Corners. The 4x4 jeep trails in the Liberty area are open and the surrounding jeep trials are clear. The Pete Lake Trail has been logged out to Lemah Ford. Waptus River Trial has been logged out.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest spans a large area. Visit the National Weather Service and enter the location closest to your planned activities to get the best information. Pay attention to the elevation of the forecast area you select, as higher elevation areas can have much different conditions than surrounding valleys. During winter and spring months, make sure to check avalanche danger through the Northwest Avalanche Center.

National Weather ServiceNorthwest Avalanche Center

Snow and water interactive map