Oregon wildfires close these popular camping, hiking spots in Cascade Mountains

Oregon's wildfire season has been busy this year, with 38 large active wildfires burning in just about every corner of the state.

While evacuations and smoky skies are the biggest concern, it also means the closure of large tracts of public lands popular for hiking and camping.

Here's a breakdown of recreation closures in Oregon's Cascade Mountains — from the Columbia Gorge into southern Oregon and including some of the state's most popular recreation sites.

Whiskey Creek and Microwave Tower fires bring closures to northern cascades

The 856-acre Whisky Creek fire has caused closures of national forest lands inside the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, east of the Pacific Crest Trail and within Mount Hood National Forest — including the following recreation areas:

• Black Lake Campground & Trailhead
• Herman Creek Campground & Trailhead
• Indian Springs Trailhead
• Mt. Defiance South Trailhead
• Rainy Lake Campground & Trailhead
• Wahtum Lake Campground & Trailhead
• Warren Lake Trailhead

The 762-acre Microwave Tower in Wasco County has closed down the East and West Hatfield Trailheads which connect Hood River and Moiser.

Slate, Pyramid and Ore fires bring closures to Old Cascades

The 45-acre Slate and 856-acre Pyramid fires have brought closures in the Santiam Junction area, including the popular Old Cascades hiking and camping area around the Middle Santiam Wilderness.

Closures include the following national forest trails, campgrounds and recreation sites:

• Big Springs Snow Park
• Bridge to Nowhere Trailhead
• Chimney Peak Trailhead
• Crescent Mountain Trailhead
• Daly Lake Campgroud
• Gordan Peak Trailhead
• Maxwell Butte Snow Park
• McQuade Creek Trailhead
• North Pyramid Trailhead
• Parish Lake Trailhead
• Pyramids Trailhead
• Pyramids bypass loop
• Riggs Lake Trailhead
• Scar Mountain Trailhead
• South Pyramid Creek Trailhead
• South Pyramid Horse Camp Campground
• Swamp Peak Trailhead

Closures for the 1,223-acre Ore Fire fall within the Willamette National Forest, state, Lane and Linn County boundaries.

Closed campground and recreational sites due to the Ore fire include:

• Mona Campground
• Lookout Campground
• Saddle Dam Boat Launch
• Buck Mountain Trailhead East and West
• Goldhill Trailhead
• Tidbits Trailhead

Fires in the Oakridge lightning, Homestead and Diamond complexes bring closures to the southern Cascades

The seven fires, totaling 5,027 acres, which make up the Oakridge Lightning Complex, have brought temporary road barricades near High Prairie and Chalk Mountain as well as the following closures:

• Alpine Segment 5 trailhead
• Alpine Trailhead 3
• FS Road 1911
• Tire Mountain Trailhead
• Vivian Lake Trailhead

Twenty-four fires, totaling 4,166 acres, make up the Diamond Complex. The seven fires of the Homestead Complex have burned 1,179 acres. The two complexes have brought the following closures to the Umpqua National Forest:

• Diamond Lake
• Thielsen View
• Broken Arrow Campgrounds
• Castle Creek Trailhead
• Skimmerhorn Trailhead
• Fish Lake Trailhead
• Beaver Swamp Trailhead
• Acker Divide Trailhead

Elliott Deins is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at edeins@salem.gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon wildfires close these popular camping, hiking spots in Cascade Mountains