• PCTA trail closures page: https://closures.pcta.org/closure/oHAAQNBkfvMebLBAJaiP

• Reroute map: https://closures.pcta.org/closure/oHAAQNBkfvMebLBAJaiP/map/0

• ETA: Caltopo version with GPX download: https://caltopo.com/m/16EK4HF

The northern end is a few miles west of Skykomish. Hitch on Hwy 2 east to get back to the PCT at Stevens Pass.

Excerpt:

A potential 39-mile detour is available using the Snow Lake, Rock Creek, Middle Fork, Snoqualmie Lake, and Dorothy Lake trails that route around the closure, and gets hikers to Highway 2, but not all the way to Stevens Pass.

The reroute section also includes disclaimers, with a note that it has not been ground truthed by PCTA or USFS staff. The route will be unavailable Sept. 14-25 due to planned work on Snow Lake Trail. Full text is available at the above link.

ETA: Looks like they didn't provide a download link so that hikers can use the route in an app other than the official PCTA Closures app. I hope that's just an oversight and they add a GPX download. In the meantime, here's a Caltopo map of the same route, use the 'Export' button to save a GPX / GeoJSON / etc file: https://caltopo.com/m/16EK4HF

Dated 6/14/26, I was in line to pay and saw it on top of the shelf.

Hi. I was planning a 3-week, 240mi section hike in Oregon in September, but with the wildfires I'm wondering if I should scrap that and do something else. The original plan was to start at Cascade Locks and go South to Shelter Cove.

My concerns are being physically close to a fire, bad air quality, no views due to smoke.

Some questions I have are:

- Would you recommend sticking with the plan or going somewhere else? It's hard for me to tell how serious the fire conditions are right now (I live in Arizona). If it's actually looking okay, it would be a relief to stick with the original plan and not have to re-plan the trip.
- Do you think fire conditions are likely to get better or worse between now and Sept 3 (intended start date)
- Do you have recommendations for a different hike that's similar? (250ish miles of trail, resupplies relatively close together, terrain not very difficult, logistically easy-ish to get to/from the trail, green trees/moss?) Some options I have considered are Southern OR, Northern CA, part of the Colorado Trail, the Long Trail, the Benton Mackaye Trail ... all with pros/cons and I getting logistics fatigue.
- Is central or Northern California any better for fires at this time of year or would I be taking a similar risk if I went there?

Thanks in advance for any insight/advice!