CHELATCHIE — Hikers may encounter delays this week and next on Siouxon Creek trail No. 130 in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest while crews rebuild the bridge over West Creek.
No closures are anticipated, but flaggers will hold back traffic on the trail while big timbers are being moved.
Robin Rose, recreation program manager for the GPNF, said officials hope to finish the bridge by next week.
Work is complete on the bridge repair where Chinook Creek trail No. 130A crosses Siouxon Creek.
The forest was able to get a $40,000 capital improvement grant from the Washington-Oregon regional office to fix the two bridges. The money had been budgeted for other recreation projects that were not able accomplished, thus available for reallocation, Rose said.
Siouxon Creek trail No. 130 is a low-elevation trail in the southwest corner of the 1.3-million-acre forest. It is very popular due to its long snow-free season.
The bridge over West Creek is less than a mile from the trailhead at the end of road No. 5701. The bridge on Chinook trail No. 130A is 4.7 miles from the trailhead.
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