Olympic National Park sites reopen after Bear Gulch fire
The impending anniversary of the Bear Gulch fire brings welcome news for Washington residents eager to camp, hike and spend a day at the lake.
On July 8, Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park will reopen the Staircase Campground, day use sites along Lake Cushman and several trailheads along Forest Road 24, including Mount Rose. All the sites reopening are listed below.
The announcement comes just shy of a year after the human-caused wildfire began on July 6, 2025. The fire smoldered throughout much of last summer, worsening air quality in south Puget Sound and ripping through mountainsides in the steep terrain of the Olympic Mountains. Burning over 20,000 acres, it was the largest blaze on the Olympic Peninsula since 1951 and was not fully contained until November.
Only over winter and spring could cleanup begin, which involved stabilizing roadways, clearing out drainages, installing barriers to prevent rockfall, repairing trails and taking down hazard trees across both the national forest and national park.
"Our teams have worked tirelessly to recover access to this cherished area," said Joyce Hamilla, acting forest supervisor for Olympic National Forest, in a statement. "We are grateful for the collaboration across agencies and for the patience of the community as we restore safe access to these public lands.
However, restoration work remains ongoing throughout the summer. While the campground will reopen at the Staircase entrance to Olympic National Park, the trails beyond remain closed. The Forest Service cautions that even on reopened trails, there are still risks in burned areas from branches and trees.
Olympic National Park and National Forest sites reopening on July 8:
• Day use sites along Lake Cushman
• Mount Rose Trailhead and Trail
• Mildred Lakes Trailhead and Trail
• Dry Creek East Trailhead
• Staircase Campground
• Staircase Ranger Station
• Rapids Loop Trail
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This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 11:33 PM.