Holiday travelers: use caution on damaged roads across Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

WENATCHEE — With Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of camping season across North Central Washington, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is urging visitors to use caution on forest roads and trails still recovering from widespread winter storm damage.

Forest officials said crews have spent the spring assessing and repairing roads damaged during the heavy rain events of December 2025, but warned that many higher-elevation areas are only now becoming accessible as snow melts.

As conditions continue to change, new reports of damage are still coming in from across the forest. Problems range from clogged culverts and mudslides to washed-out roads, debris flows, fallen trees and damaged bridges. Some bridges have been closed entirely after suffering structural damage during winter flooding.

Forest Service crews are continuing to inspect roads and trails as they become reachable, though officials said it could take significant time to fully understand the extent of the damage throughout the sprawling forest system. Smaller repairs are being handled internally where possible, while larger reconstruction projects are still in planning stages as officials seek funding and determine long-term solutions.

Several closure orders remain in place across the Chelan, Entiat, Methow Valley and Wenatchee River ranger districts.

Officials also announced that post-fire repair work connected to the Labor Mountain Fire area is nearing completion after beginning in early May. The broader area closure associated with that fire has now been lifted, though several roads inside the burn area remain closed because of storm-related damage.

Visitors planning trips into the forest this weekend are encouraged to regularly check updated road and trail conditions online before traveling. Current conditions and closure information are available through the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest website at Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Current Conditions and Alerts.

Forest officials warned travelers to expect difficult conditions on many roads, including washouts, landslides, debris flows and downed trees. Drivers are advised to carry supplies, prepare for sudden turnarounds and avoid using roads or trails that are still muddy in order to prevent additional damage.

In the Methow Valley Ranger District, several trailheads remain inaccessible because of road washouts, including War Creek, Williams Creek, Reynold Creek and Monument Creek. Harts Pass Road, also known as Forest Road 5400, remains closed from the Monument Creek Trailhead junction to the road’s end. Additional roads in the district are closed to motorized use because of storm damage.

In the Chelan and Entiat ranger districts, Preston Creek Road remains closed from the Entiat River Road junction to the end of the route. A major landslide on Entiat River Road near the river trailhead and Cottonwood Campground continues to block standard access. Officials said a temporary route has been established through the slide area for high-clearance vehicles only. Trailers are prohibited, and visitors are being asked to use Three Creeks Campground as a turnaround location.

The Wenatchee River Ranger District also continues to see extensive impacts from winter storms. Closure orders affect areas including Chiwawa Road, White River Road, Little Wenatchee Road, Scotty Creek, Mission Creek Road near the Devils Gulch Trailhead, Old Blewett Road and Rainy Creek Road leading toward Smithbrook Trailhead. Multiple landslides along Icicle Road are also limiting vehicle access toward the upper end of the corridor.

Further south, the Naches Ranger District reported flood damage to several bridges, including structures on Little Naches Road, Nile Road and the Middle Fork Little Naches route connecting toward Greenwater. The Deep Creek Bridge is also considered impassable. Meanwhile, the Rimrock Dam and Tieton Reservoir Road remains closed between the South Fork Tieton and Conrad Meadows area, preventing through travel even though nearby forest roads themselves remain open.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media