Deschutes National Forest Fall Trail Access and Conditions Update Updated November 25, 2014 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! Cascade Lakes Hwy closed beyond Mt. Bachelor for the winter season. Closed hwy section now becomes snowmobile and ski trails. Currently 20 snow on Dutchman Flat, low snow hazards exist. None of the winter signing is in place; sign installations will take place with adequate snow depths. New Kapka Butte Sno-Park currently has 12-14 snow and is plowed. Sign installations and a few more inches of snow and this new sno-park will serve as a higher elevation alternative to Wanoga Sno-Park. Thanksgiving Holiday Report! Fall Trail Highlights Currently, cloudy/part sun, windy, mild temps with chance of rain is forecast across much of the Deschutes. Recent strong winds brought down hundreds of trees across Deschutes trails and roads. Limited trail clearing in progress. Most summer trails are under patchy- 30 snow depth. Some trails becoming soft, soggy snow to muddy in coming days with mild temperatures. Most Deschutes snow parks do not have adequate snow. Dutchman Flat on 11/25 had 20-21 snow depth; Kapka 14-16,Meissner and Wanoga Snow Pks 6-8, Swampy 10-12, 10 Mile 12, 6 Mile - 3. Currently, 0% of the approx. 700 winter snow pole signs are in place in the Dutchman Flat to Moon Mt. area. Seasonal closures of Hwy 46, Hwy 242, Road 21, 370 Road and Road 16 to Three Creek Lk are now in effect for the winter season. Additional road closures in effect starting Dec. 1. Watch weather forecasts closely. Go prepared with your Ten Essential Systems: Navigation (map and compass) Sun protection (sunglasses/sunscreen) Insulation (extra clothing) Illumination (headlamp/flashlight) First-aid supplies Fire(waterproofmatches/lighter/candles) Repair kit and tools Nutrition (extra food) Hydration (extra water) Emergency shelter
GENERAL SNOW, WINTER TRAIL CONDITIONS ON NOVEMBER 25: The broken remains of sledding devices, only 6 of soggy snow and obvious rough terrain as seen here at Wanoga Snow Play Hill indicate poor sledding conditions. Current conditions are hazardous and rough at Wanoga Snow Play and not recommended. Know before you go! Currently, snow conditions at most Deschutes National Forest snow parks are inadequate for safe winter trail use. Dutchman, Vista Butte, new Kapka Butte, Swampy Lakes, Wanoga snowmobile and Ten Mile Sno-Parks currently are the only snow parks with marginally adequate depth for marginally safe winter trail use. Low snow hazards do exist! With the current forecast of mild temps, windy and chance of rain showers over the coming days most of these will likely have inadequate snow depth for the holiday weekend. Wanoga Snow Play (with ski/snowshoe dog trails), Meissner, Edison, Skyliner, Upper Three Ck Lk and Six Mile Snow Parks have inadequate 3-8 snow depth and with warmer temperatures and chance of rain showers in the forecast may become patchy snow over the coming days. EARLY SEASON/LOW SNOW HAZARDS EXIST ON AND OFF TRAILS! Snow depths/conditions can vary day to day and we attempt to provide weekly updates on snow conditions and access into the winter season. Be aware that strong/fast moving fall and winter storms can change conditions very quickly. Check weather forecasts closely and go prepared!
Water/slush and down trees are just a few of the hazards on and off trail users may encounter during the winter season. With mild temperatures, possible rain and very windy conditions in the forecast, these hazards may be more evident over the next few days. The new Meissner Sno-Park warming shelter is nearing completion and will be open in time for the winter season. The shelter will have wood heat, tables, benches, change room and volunteers will provide area trail information.
A Central Oregon Interagency youth crew is building and installing bulletin board supports for the new Kapka Butte Sno-Park which opens this winter season. The new sno-park is only 3 miles east of Dutchman on Road 45 and will provide good snow conditions and access for snowmobiling hundreds of miles of connecting snowmobile trails. Ski, snowshoe and snowmobile club volunteers assist with stocking several Deschutes National Forest warming shelters. When using these day use shelter over the coming months, please conserve firewood by using it only in shelter woodstoves and not outside campfires, no overnight camping and pack out personal litter.
Snow Park Conditions Table coding: Special area restrictions or notations relating to the table below are as follows: 1 = Area/trails closed to dogs except working dogs in harness on groomed snowmobile trails and only with a permit 2 = Area open to dogs 3 = Area/trails closed to motorized use 4 = Vehicles with trailers limited to 40 overall length 5 = High to extreme use with special area/trail restrictions, see sno-park information board, trail maps and area signing for full details. Very limited parking, try to avoid on weekends and holidays. All sno-parks (except Skyliner and Hwy 242) are plowed with State funds and require a Sno-Park Permit
SNO-PARK NAME Designated trails or activities with numerical notations explained above Meissner 1 Ski/snowshoe Wanoga Snow Play,2 3 Tubing/sledding Groomed ski/dog trails Wanoga Snowmobile 2 Snowmobiling Swampy 1 3 Ski/snowshoe Vista Butte 1 3 Ski/snowshoe Dutchman 1 4 5 Ski/shoe/snowmobiling Kapka Butte (new) 2 Snowmobiling/ski/shoe Edison 2 Ski/shoe/snowmobiling Skyliner 2 Ski/snowshoe Six Mile 2 Snowmobiling Ten Mile 2 Snowmobile/ski/shoe Lower Three Creek 2 Snowmobile/Ski Upper Three Creek 2 Snowmobile/ski/shoe Deschutes National Forest Snow Park Conditions Table Updated November 25, 2014 Snow conditions: Inadequate snow conditions for most Snow Parks and winter trails. LOCATION Hwy or Road and milepost PARK ELEV. APPROX. SNOW DEPTH TOTAL SNOW CONDITIONS AND SPECIAL COMMENTS (Conditions subject to change without notice and at the whim of Nature) HWY 46, MP 14 5,350 6 Inadequate snow conditions! Area roads closed to hwy vehicles Dec. 1 - April 1 HWY 46, MP 15 5,400 6 Inadequate snow conditions. Wear helmets! Sledding hill closed to snowmobiles. HWY 46, MP 15 5,500 6-8 Marginal snow conditions! Area roads closed to hwy vehicles Dec. 1 - April 1 HWY 46, MP 16 5,800 10-12 Fair to marginal snow conditions! Area roads closed to hwy vehicles Dec. 1 - April 1 HWY 46, MP 18 5,950 14 Fair to marginal snow conditions, a number of trees on trails. Area north of parking closed to snowmobiles, use Kapka Butte or Wanoga. HWY 46, MP 22 6,250 20-21 Fair snow for non-motorized. Fair/marginal for winter motorized. Low snow hazards exist on/off trails. 0% of winter signing in place. Limited parking/no overnight camping. 40 max length limit for vehicle/trailer combination. Expect heavy use! ¼ mi. s. of Hwy 46, 5,900 12-14 Marginal snow conditions, snow park is not yet on Road 45 4 mi. s. of Hwy 46 on Road 45 ready for use lacks adequate signing. 5,000 4-6 Inadequate snow conditions. Heavy beetle killed lodgepole in area, high number of trees on trails. Area roads closed to hwy vehicles Dec. 1 Skyliner Rd MP 9 4,700 4 Inadequate snow conditions. Gate/road to Tumalo Fall closing without notice. Road 21, MP 6 4,400 3 Inadequate snow. Road 21 beyond Ten Mile East of Hwy 97 closed to vehicles for winter season. Road 21, MP 10 5,560 12 Marginal snow. Road 21 beyond Ten Mile closed East of Hwy 97 to vehicles for winter season. Road 16, MP 8 4,400 4 Inadequate snow. Sno-park not plowed. Road 16, MP 11 5,250 8-10 Inadequate safe snow depth. Road 16, closed for the winter season. Three Creek nordic trails reopen this winter, currently limited diamonds and signs marking winter trails due to Pole Creek Fire. Hwy 242 (Mckenzie Pass)2Snomo/ski/shoe Crescent Junction 2 Snowmobiling Crescent Lake 2 Snowmobiling/BC (no ski/snowshoe trails) Hwy 242, MP 7 from Sisters Hwy 58/Road 60 MP 1/2 Hwy 58/Road 60 MP 2 3,800 8 Inadequate snow. Hwy closed to summer access. Parking area may not be plowed. 4,750 Patchy Inadequate safe snow depth. 4,700 Patchy Inadequate safe snow depth
Trail volunteer assisting with trail clearing of down trees on the Edison winter trail system. Due to strong fall storms, expect to find new down trees on local trails. WINTER MAP DOWNLOADS ON iphone, ANDROID OR TABLET: Using the GPS in your phone the PDF Maps app works on your iphone or Android smart phone or tablet to show you your location on a map you have downloaded. You will need the PDF maps app on your iphone or Android to use this function. If you do not already have the PDF Maps app you will need to download this free app. SPECIAL TRAIL EVENTS EFFECTING TRAIL USE: For November there are no special events that will affect trail use. Winter trail events are being scheduled and will be listed in future reports. GENERAL SUMMER TRAIL CONDITIONS AS OF NOVEMBER 25: Currently patchy to 30+ of snow covers various Deschutes National Forest summer trails with most mid-upper elevation summer trails inaccessible due to snow. Summer trail conditions reporting will focus on those summer trails that continue to have reasonable access. DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST SUMMER TRAILHEADS/TRAILS:
Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District summer trails/access: Fall seasonal note: Seasonal closures of summer trails is occurring as snow accumulates and along with it, seasonal road closures! Seasonal closures are subject to little or no notice. Fall blowdown is on the increase. Watch weather closely! Phils TH area trails are under patchy-6 of snow with access to higher elevation trails limited due to snow. For more information on COTA, who they are, what they do and how you can help, go to: http://cotamtb.com/ Tumalo Falls Trailhead subject to snow closure with little to no notice. Road becomes a ski and snowshoe trail with adequate snow. Deschutes River Trailheads/Trails are under patchy-8 of snow from Entrada to Sunriver and on to Lava Lands. Road access in the near future will become more marginal as winter snow accumulates. Tumalo Creek 2 Trail patchy-6 snow Wanoga Mt. Bike Trails 4-8 and blowdown. Swampy Lake Trails 10-12 snow, winter trail season has begun. Tumalo Mt. 20-22 snow, winter trail season has begun! Todd Lake Trailhead Road access blocked by gates and snow. Winter trail season has begun! Todd Creek Horse Camp Closed for the season due to snow and Hwy 46 gates closed. Sparks Lake Trailhead Closed for the season due to snow and Hwy 46 gates closed. Ray Atkison Trailhead and Sparks Lake boat ramp Closed for the season due to snow and Hwy 46 gates closed. Green Lakes/Soda Creek Trailhead Closed for the season due to snow and Hwy 46 gates closed. Devils Lake/South Sister Trailhead Closed for the season due to snow and Hwy 46 gates closed. Quinn Meadow Horse Camp area trails Closed for the season due to snow and Hwy 46 gates closed.
Metolius-Windigo Trail patchy-20 snow. Winter trail season has begun!. New down trees are to be expected. No further updates until Spring 2015. Cultus Lake and Winopee Lk TH Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Lemish Lake TH Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Charlton Lake TH Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Osprey Point TH Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Fall River Trail Area trails and trailheads becoming inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Moderate recent blowdown reported on some trails. South/North Twin Lakes area trails Area trails and trailheads becoming inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Horse Butte to Swamp Wells area trails Area trails and trailheads becoming inaccessible due to snow and/or soft to muddy trail conditions. Newberry Caldera trails Road 21 into Newberry Caldera with access to most Monument trails is closed for the winter season. Gate beyond Ten Mile Snow Park is closed. 12-14 inches of snow above 6,000. Peter Skene Ogden Trail 3-12 of snow. Road 21 into Newberry Caldera with access to most Monument trails is closed for the winter season. Gate beyond Ten Mile Snow Park is closed. Several inches of snow likely above 6,000. Lava Cast Forest Trailhead 4-6 snow. Road access will become blocked by snow without notice. Hoffman Island Trailhead 4-6 snow. Road access will become blocked by snow without notice. Pacific Crest Trail Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. PCT is currently under 12-30+ of snow. http://www.pcta.org/
Wilderness Trails Most local Wilderness trails are now inaccessible due to snow and/or seasonal closures of access roads. Over the coming weeks all Deschutes National Forest Wilderness trails will become inaccessible due to snow. With current snow conditions changing daily, there will be no further reporting on Wilderness trails until Spring 2015. Get the skis and snowshoes ready! Sisters Ranger District summer trails/access: Black Butte Trail currently under 8+ of snow and will increasingly become inaccessible due to snow. Metolius River Trails 6-8 snow. Becoming muddy at lower elevations. Suttle Lake Trail Area trails and trailheads becoming inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Lake Creek Trail Area trails and trailheads becoming inaccessible due to snow. Peterson Ridge Trails Area trails and trailheads under 4-8 and will become inaccessible as winter progresses. Metolius-Windigo Trail - SEE DETAILS IN BEND/FORT ROCK RANGER DISTRICT ABOVE! Horse trails out of Sheep Springs Horse Camp 8-10 snow. Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Head of Jack Creek Trail 8-10 snow. Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Moderate recent blowdown reported on some trails. PCT SEE DETAILS UNDER BEND/FORT ROCK RANGER DISTRICT ABOVE! Wilderness Trails Most local Wilderness trails are now inaccessible due to snow and/or seasonal closures of access roads. Over the coming weeks all Deschutes National Forest Wilderness trails will become inaccessible due to snow. With current snow conditions changing daily, there will be no further reporting on Wilderness trails until Spring 2015. Get the skis and snowshoes ready! Crescent Ranger District summer trails/access: PCT SEE DETAILS IN BEND/FORT ROCK RANGER DISTRICT ABOVE!
Oldenberg Trail Area trails and trailheads becoming inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Summit Lk Trail Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Meek Lk Trail Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Windy Lakes Trail Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Windigo Pass Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Whitefish Horse Camp - Area trails and trailheads becoming inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Pretty Lk/Fawn Lake Trails Area trails and trailheads becoming inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Metolius-Windigo Trail - SEE DETAILS IN BEND/FORT ROCK RANGER DISTRICT ABOVE! Maiden Peak Area trails and trailheads inaccessible due to snow and/or road closures. Wilderness Trails Most local Wilderness trails are now inaccessible due to snow and/or seasonal closures of access roads. Over the coming weeks all Deschutes National Forest Wilderness trails will become inaccessible due to snow. With current snow conditions changing daily, there will be no further reporting on Wilderness trails until Spring 2015. Get the skis and snowshoes ready! Special Deschutes National Forest Wilderness Trails Report: Due increasing frequency of seasonal storms, downed trees and snow conditions, reporting on Wilderness tails and access to them has concluded for the 2014 season and will resume Spring 2015. LEAVE NO TRACE REMINDER: PLEASE, PRACTICE THE SEVEN LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPALS:
Plan Ahead and Prepare Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Dispose of Waste Properly See photo and information below on wrong disposal and effects! Leave What You Find Minimize Campfire Impacts Respect Wildlife Be Considerate of Other Visitors For details on the 7 LNT Principals: http://lnt.org/learn/7-principles SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURES/OPENINGS: Hwy 46 Road 370 Tumalo Falls Road Road 21 Hwy 242 Road 16 Road 60 CLOSED from Dutchman Flat to Road 4270 at Deschutes Bridge. CLOSED from Hwy 46 to Road 16 near Three Creek Lks. OPEN, subject to winter closure with little to no notice. CLOSED from Ten Mile Sno-Park to east end of Newberry Caldera; Road to Paulina Peak closed for the season. Mckenzie Pass, CLOSED for winter season. Road CLOSED from Upper Three Creek Sno-Park to Three Creek Lakes for the winter season. Will close with little to no notice for the winter season when snow conditions warrant. TEN ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS: What are The Ten Essentials? The Ten Essentials are items The Mountaineers recommends everyone carry on all trips. The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful place that can be wild and unpredictable. Being prepared for anything is essential. This is as important on short, local trips as it is on long, backcountry trips. It is easy to forget first aid kits and warm layers short trips, but a short trip can quickly turn to a long trip if you get lost or injured. The Ten Essentials started as a list of ten simple items and is now a systems approach that guides you in preparing for any trip in any season. The two basic questions are: (1) Can you respond positively to an accident or emergency? (2) Can you safely spend a night or more out? Here is a list of The Ten Essential Systems:
1. Navigation (map & compass) 2. Sun Protection (sun glasses, sun screen, lip balm) 3. Insulation (extra clothing) 4. Illumination (flashlight or headlamp, spare bulb & batteries) 5. First-Aid Supplies (gauze, tape, etc.) 6. Fire (fire starter, matches, lighter) 7. Repair Kit (knife, duct tape, tools, spare parts) 8. Nutrition (extra food) 9. Hydration (extra water, water purification) 10. Emergency Shelter (tarp, garbage bag) Further details on the Ten Essential Systems : http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/ten+essentials.html?s_kwcid=tc 13029 ten%20essentials S p 7499840765&cm_mmc=ps_goog le_ch-_-category%20-%20camp%2fhike-_-camping%2fhiking_generalterms_essentials-_- ten%20essentials&gclid=cnq_h8xbsq4cfqn8hwodyhh-pq SPECIAL SAFETY NOTES: Go prepared for changeable weather conditions. Fall to winter season conditions exist! Be sure to go prepared with plenty of warm clothing, water, and food as well as other emergency essentials. For further Deschutes National Forest winter or summer trails information, please call: Deschutes National Forest Headquarters: (541) 383-5300 Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District: (541) 383-4000 Sisters Ranger District: (541) 549-7700 Crescent Ranger District: (541) 433-3200 WE VE MOVED! The Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District Office and the Deschutes National Forest Supervisor s Office have moved into one office complex in the northeast part of Bend. New address: 63095 Deschutes Market Road, Bend. Find this weekly trail access and condition report in the Deschutes National Forest Website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/internet/fse_documents/stelprdb5299503.pdf
Have a safe Winter trails season!