Updated Bear Gulch Fire Area Closure (8/05/25)

Associated Documents

Forest Order

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE

OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST 

ORDER NO. 06-09-25-07

Bear Gulch Fire Area Closure

Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the area described below and shown in Exhibit A on the Olympic National Forest. These prohibitions will be effective beginning August 5th 2025, until Oct 01, 2025, unless rescinded earlier. 

PROHIBITIONS:

1) Going into or being upon an area closed for the protection of public health or safety. [36 CFR 261.53(e)].

2) Being on a National Forest System Road. [36 CFR § 261.54(e)].

3) Being on a National Forest System Trail. [36 CFR § 261.55(a)].

CLOSURE AREA DESCRIPTION:

All National Forest System (NFS) lands are closed to all occupancy and travel within the described

closure area boundaries and as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A):

The northern closure area boundary begins at the Forest Road 2400 intersection with the National Park Service boundary. From this point, the boundary follows the National Forest boundary and Park Service boundary north to the summit of Mt. Skokomish where it continues directly southeast to the Mildred Lakes trailhead. From that point the boundary continues directly to the southeast corner of Township 24 N, Range 5 W, Section 13, then directly south on section line to the southeast corner of Township 24 N, Range 4 W, Section 24, continuing east to the northeast corner of Township 24 N, Range 4 W, Section 30 and then to the southeast corner of Section 30. The boundary continues southeast directly to a high point at elevation 4,434 ft. and further southeast to a high point at 4,035 ft. near the north border of Township 24 N, Range 4 W, Section PB 38. At that point the boundary continues directly to the northwest corner of Township 24 N, Range 4 W, Section 3 and then directly south to Forest Road 2400 where it continues west, parallel along Forest Road 24 and 30 feet north of road centerline, until milepost 10.5 of Forest Road 2400. At that point the boundary continues west along the National Forest boundary until intersecting with the point of beginning.

The southern closure area begins at Township 24 N, Range 5 W, Section 9 and follows the Forest Service boundary with National Park Service land west to the intersection with the Upper South Fork Skokomish Trail # 873.1. From that intersection, the area boundary continues southeast, using trail # 873.1 as its western boundary until the trail intersects with Forest Road 2361, whereupon Forest Road 2361 becomes the western boundary, continuing southeast until the road intersects with Forest Road 2300; at this point the boundary continues parallel along Forest Road 2300, offset 30 feet north of road centerline until the road intersects with Forest Road 2353. From that intersection the boundary follows Forest Road 2353 northwest to the intersection with Forest Road 2340. From that point the boundary follows Forest Road 2340 west to the Forest Service boundary at Township 22 N, Range 5 W, Section 12. From that point, the boundary follows the Forest Service boundary north to the point of beginning.

ROAD CLOSURE DESCRIPTION

Travel is prohibited on all NFS Roads within the closure area as shown on exhibit A.

The closure of Forest Road 2400 begins at mile post 10.5 and ends at mile post 14.5 where it crosses the Olympic National Park boundary. 

Road closures include NFS Roads 2451, 2419, 2464, 2340, 2353, 2354, 2361, 2355, and all spur roads located within the closure area.

TRAIL CLOSURE DESCRIPTION

Travel is prohibited on all NFS Trails on Forest Service land as shown on the map within the closure area boundary, and as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A).

• #814 Mt. Rose Trail
• #872 Dry Creek Trail
• #812 and #812.1 Mt. Ellinor Trail Upper and Lower
• #827 Big Creek Campground Trail
• #827.1 Upper Big Creek Loop Trail
• #827.2 Mt. Ellinor Connector Trail
• #800 Jefferson Pass Trail
• #876 Copper Creek Trail
• #873 Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail
• #873.1 Upper South Fork Skokomish Trail
• #873.2 Lower South Fork Skokomish Lebar Creek Trail
• #873.3 Lower South Fork Skokomish 120 Access Trail
• #873.4 Lower South Fork Skokomish Homestead Trail
• #873.6 Lower South Fork Skokomish Camp Comfort Trail
• #870 Church Creek Shelter Trail
• #877 Brown Creek Trail
• #822 Mildred Lakes Trail 

DEVELOPED RECREATION SITES

All picnic areas, trailheads and campgrounds within the closure area or accessed by closed road are closed as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A).

• Big Creek Campground
• Bear Gulch Picnic Area
• Cushman Day Use Site 1 Picnic Area
• Cushman Day Use Site 2 Picnic Area
• Cushman Day Use Site 3 Picnic Area
• Cushman Day Use Site 4 Picnic Area
• Cushman Day Use Site 5 Picnic Area
• Mt Rose Trailhead
• Mt. Ellinor Trailheads Upper and Lower
• Copper Creek Trailhead
• Mildred Lakes Trailhead
• Brown Creek Campground
• Le Bar Horse Camp
• Lower South Fork Skokomish Trailheads
• Brown Creek Trailhead
• Church Creek Shelter
• Harps Shelter
• Upper South Fork Skokomish Trailhead
• Dry Creek West Trailhead
• Dry Creek Connector Trailheads

EXEMPTIONS:

 Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:

1. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
2. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation Order), specifically exempting them from this order.

This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A. Executed in Olympia, Washington on this 5th of August 2025.

Kelly Lawrence 

Forest Supervisor

Olympic National Forest

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