Hiker Headlines: Little Giant Pass, PCT Northern Terminus, Rachel Lake and more fire closures

It’s July 30. Tomorrow is World Ranger Day! WTA is hiring for an Outdoor Leadership Training Gear Library Assistant. Maintenance projects will temporarily close some trailheads on Highway 20 in August, including Rainy Pass. And fires are burning across the state, resulting in dozens of trail closures. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

The Little Giant Fire continues to burn in the Wenatchee River Ranger District. Photo by trip reporter pnw_rover. 

Happy World Ranger Day! Tomorrow, July 31, is World Ranger Day: a day to celebrate the great work rangers do for our public lands and those who enjoy them. Rangers are incredibly knowledgeable about the trails and public lands we recreate on. Check out our page on ranger station info if you’re looking for more information about specific places in Washington, and learn more about the importance of rangers from this blog.

Now hiring: WTA is hiring for a seasonal, part-time Outdoor Leadership Training Gear Library Assistant! The position will assist community partners with borrowing gear at WTA’s gear libraries; the ideal candidate has some experience with hiking and camping, is comfortable with the physical demands of the position and will demonstrate a flexible and proactive attitude. The gear library assistant will be based at the Seattle Gear Library and will work from now through Jan. 29, 2027. Read the job description and apply today.

Highway 20 trailhead closures: The Selkirks to Surf transportation project, which involves major maintenance projects along Highway 20, will close multiple trailheads and campgrounds in August.

• The Rainy Pass picnic area and north trailhead will be closed Aug. 14–19. The Heather - Maple Pass Loop, Rainy Lake, Lake Ann and Pacific Crest Trail north trails will be open to hikers, but hikers may be delayed, and parking will be extremely limited. Have alternative hiking options in mind. 
• The Cutthroat Lake trailhead and entry road will be closed Aug. 14–18. The Cutthroat Lake trail will be inaccessible from this trailhead. 
• Washington Pass Overlook will be closed Aug. 14–18. The ADA trail will be inaccessible. 
• The Bridge Creek trailhead will be closed Aug. 19–21. The PCT south will be open to hikers but parking will be extremely limited due to the trailhead closure. Please take care if walking across or along Highway 20. 
• Klipchuck Campground will be closed Aug. 3–27. This restricts access to the Driveway Butte and Early Winters trails. 
• Lone Fir Campground will be closed Aug. 28–Sept 4. This restricts access to the Lone Fir trail. 

Fire closures: This week is rife with fire activity. Colville National Forest has implemented fire restrictions; Gifford Pinchot National Forest and North Cascades National Park have shared recent fire updates in those regions. Additionally: 

• The Ptarmigan Fire is closing the Pacific Crest Trail from Methow Pass north to the Northern Terminus (approximately 50 miles). This includes Hart’s Pass and the surrounding area. The Ptarmigan Fire has also closed several other trails in the Pasayten area. 
• The Little Giant Fire has closed over 60 trails in the Wenatchee River and Entiat ranger districts in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, including the Little Giant Pass, Dirty Face, Carne Mountain, Buck Creek Pass and Myrtle Lake trails. Many campgrounds and forest roads are also now closed. 
• The Three Queens Fire has closed the Rachel Lake, Little Kachess and Mineral Creek trails, as well as Cooper Pass and Box Canyon roads. 
• The West Twin Fire is currently burning in the Mount Muller area, and Olympic National Forest has asked the public to avoid the area. 
• The Sinlahekin Fire has closed portions of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in Okanogan County. Access to multiple lakes, several campgrounds and all access to Loomis State Forest is now closed. 

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