Recreating in the Cedar Creek Fire Burned Area (June 2023)

Please use caution when recreating in areas that were impacted by the 2022 Cedar Creek Fire. A burned landscape presents a number of safety hazards that either did not exist prior to the fire or have been exacerbated by the effects of the fire. In some cases, these hazardous conditions may persist for several years after a fire. Be very aware of your surroundings, follow warning signs, area closures and directions from agency personnel, and pay particular attention to these potential safety hazards. Be especially wary of hazard trees after rain events or during wind.

When recreating in a burned area:

• LOOK UP for upslope burned areas, snags, and exposed rocks that may fall. 
• LOOK DOWN for debris from falling rocks, erosion – especially at road and trail edges, and ash pits (which may form from root pockets or stumps of burned trees). 
• LOOK AROUND. Be situationally aware. Check the weather before you travel, including at higher elevations. Wind, rain, ice and snow can increase the risk of tree fall, rock fall, slides and other hazards. Flash floods and landslide risks are elevated below severely burned areas. 
• LOOK BELOW the surface of standing water and moving water for floating logs, submerged trees and other debris, which can strike or entangle swimmers and boaters and damage other infrastructure. 

LEARN MORE about impacted trails & recreation sites.

See the Willamette National Forest for their information regarding the Cedar Creek Fire burned area on the Willamette National Forest.