This closure prohibits entry or use of roads, recreation sites, campgrounds and trails on national forest system lands within a defined area within the Cle Elum Ranger Districts to ensure the safety of the public and firefighting resources during the Three Queens. View the attached updated closure order and map for location details. A portion of the closure has been lifted, it provides more access to the north end of Cle Elum Lake, and areas around the north end of Kachess Lake, and Keechelus Ridge areas to the east of I-90.
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Cle Elum, WA
Three Queens Fire Closure
Closure Order: 06-17-03-2026-45
Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. This Order is effective October 1, 2026 and will remain in effect through October 31, 2026, unless rescinded sooner.
PROHIBITIONS:
- Entering into or being upon National Forest System lands, as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.53(e)].
- Being on a National Forest System Trail, as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.55(a)].
- Being on a National Forest System Road as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.54(e)].
- Use of vehicle off of National Forest System Roads as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.56].
CLOSURE AREA DESCRIPTION:
Area closure only applies to USFS lands, roads, and trails within.
The area, trail, and road closures are defined as follows:
The closure area begins in the northeast corner of Section 15 in T. 22 N. R. 12 E. It then follows the section line south to the southeast corner of Section 15, it then turns east on the north section line of Section 23 and 24 to where it intersects the Box Canyon Creek Road 4930 in T. 22 N R. 12 E, Section 24. It follows and includes FSR 4930 south to its junction with FSR 4948, Gale Creek Road in T. 22 N , R 13 E Sec. 32. It then turns east across the north edges of Sections 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 31 to where it intersects with French Cabin Creek Road FSR 4308 in T. 22 N. R. 14 E, Sec. 31. It follows FSR 4308 to the west edge of the Cle Elum River in T. 22 N. R 14 E. Sec.32. FSR 4308 is open. It follows the Cle Elum River north to where it intersects the Cooper River Road, FSR 4600 in T. 22 N. R. 14 E. Sec. 21 FSR 4600 is closed. It then follows and includes FSR 4600 north to where the road intersects the east section line of Section 17 in T. 22 N. R 14 E. It follows the east section line of Sections 17 and 8 to where it meets FSR 4316-111 in T. 22 N. R 14 E, Sec 8. It then follows FSR 4316-111 to the Salmon la Sac Trailhead and the
start of the Waptus River Trail #1310 in T. 22 N. R 14 E. Section 8. It follows the Waptus River Trail to its junction with the Trail Creek Trail in T. 23 N. R 12 E. Section 13. Waptus River Trail is open to the Trail Creek Trail junction. It follows the east edge of Sections 13, 12, 1 north to thenorth east corner of Section 1 in T. 23 N. R 12 E. It then turns west on the north edge of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, in T. 23 N. R 12 E, and continues on the north edge of Section 1 to its intersection with the Forest Boundary in T. 23 N. R 12 E. It then follows the Forest Boundary south to Section 23 in T. 23 N, R 11 E. It follows the section line south to its intersection with the Alaska Lake Trail 1314.1 in T. 23 N. R 11 E. Section 24. It then follows and includes the Alaska Lake trail to its intersection with the Wilderness Boundary in T. 23 N. R 11 E. Section 1. It follows the Wilderness Boundary south to the mid-point of the west edge of Section 12 in T. 23 N. R 11 E. It then heads east to the northeast corner of Section 15 in T. 22 N. R. 12 E Section 15 where it intersects the start point of the closure.
TRAILS CLOSED:
- Little Kachess Trail 1312
- Rachel Lake Trail 1313
- Mineral Creek Trail 1331
- Lake Lillian Trail 1332
- Gold Creek Valley Trail 1314
- Pete Lake Trail 1323
- Thorp Creek Trail 1316
- Knox Creek Trail 1315.1
- Little Joe Lake Trail 1330.1
- Kachess Ridge Trail 1315 -North of the Knox Creek Trail
- Red Mountain Trail 1330
- Alaska Lake Trail 1314.1
- Cooper River Trail 1327
- Pacific Crest Trail #2000 – Ridge Lake to Spinola Creek Trail #1365
- Escondido Lake Trail 1320
- Tired Creek Trail 1317
- Waptus Pass Trail 1329
- Lemah Meadows 1323.2
- Waptus Burn Trail 1329.3
- Polallie Ridge Trail 1309
- Spade Lake Trail 1337
- Dutch Miller Gap Trail 1362
- Spectacle Lake 1306
ROADS CLOSED:
| 4309 |
| 4312 |
| 4600 |
| 4613 |
| 4616 |
| 4616-114 |
| 4617 |
| 4930 |
DEVELOPED SITES CLOSED:
- Owhi Campground
- Owhi Boat Launch
- Mineral Creek Trailhead
- Rachel Lake Trailhead
- Pete Lake Trailhead
See Exhibit A for closure map.
EXEMPTIONS:
Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
- Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- 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.
These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A.
Violations of these prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for an individual or $10,000.00 for a corporation, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. (16 USC § 551; 18 USC §§ 3551, 3571, and 3581.)
Executed in Wenatchee, Washington this 5th day of October, 2026.
Camp Observer
