Hiker Headlines: Olympic National Park fire, national park fire bans, speak up for trails, rainy weekend

It’s June 25. Washington Trails Day is this Saturday, June 27! A fire is burning in Olympic National Park. More areas have added restrictions on campfires, including a parkwide ban at Mount Rainier and North Cascades national parks. Twanoh State Park will be closed for part of the summer. Help speak up for trails by asking Congress to revive the Legacy Restoration Fund. And there’s rainy weather in the weekend forecast! Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

The Mount Tom Creek Fire is burning near Mount Olympus in Olympic National Park. Photo courtesy of Olympic National Park. 

Happy Washington Trails Day! This Saturday, June 27, is Washington Trails Day, a day of celebration for the many trails that connect us to Washington’s outdoors. Washington state loves our public lands, and it’s a part of what makes us so great. From city neighborhoods to the backcountry, trails benefit our health, support local economies and help protect the lands they pass through. We’re excited to see all the ways the community celebrates trails and public lands this weekend. If you’re looking for a way to make it more fun, check out our bingo card! Submit your card with a bingo by June 30 for a chance to win trail-themed prizes. 

Olympic National Park fire: A lightning-caused fire is currently burning in the Mount Tom Creek drainage near Mount Olympus in Olympic National Park. The Lake of the Gods backcountry campsite is closed. Fire crews are responding to the fire and backpackers are encouraged to make adjust their routes to avoid the area. Fires are limited in Olympic National Park to metal rings in established campgrounds and picnic areas.  

National park fire bans: Mount Rainier National Park is implementing a parkwide fire ban, starting tomorrow, June 26; North Cascades National Park will ban all fires starting Monday, June 29. All campfires will be banned in the parks, including in fire pits, fire pans and barbeque grills. Only portable cooking stoves with off switches will be allowed. 

State park closure: Twanoh State Park’s day-use area will be closed July 5 through late August for a salmon habitat, shoreline and creek restoration project. Camping will remain open on a first-come, first-served basis during construction. 

Speak up for trails! Last week, a Senate committee voted to fund trails in 2027 and beyond. Congress is working on the federal budget for the 2027 fiscal year. The U.S. House of Representatives’ proposed budget rejects cuts to Forest Service and National Park Service funding requested by the White House. WTA is watching the Legacy Restoration Fund, a landmark public lands investment Congress made in 2020, which expired in 2025. Bipartisan members in Congress are working to revive it. WTA also supports the Senate’s America the Beautiful Act and the House’s Great American Outdoors Act 250. Take 60 seconds to ask Congress to fund national parks and forests, and sign up to join WTA's Trail Action Network to stay up-to-date on more ways to take action. 

Rainy weekend: After a week of hot weather across the state, the temperatures are cooling down and there’s even rain in the forecast! Be sure to pack some waterproof and warm layers, especially if you’re heading into the high country. 

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