The juxtaposition of lush, green foliage against the boles of charred, black trees was stunning. Creeping wildflowers crawled over stony slopes and cascaded down steep hillsides, filling every sunlit spot with color. Blackened boughs poked above the riot of new growth, a reminder that this was the site of a massive wildfire just a couple years ago.
The Columbia River Gorge continues to recover from the tragic fire of September 2017, and the trails that have opened offer glimpses of what a recovering forest looks like.
The trails open in the Gorge right now offer a wonderful educational opportunity to see the rebirth of a forest. This short hike on the Horsetail Falls Trail was filled with evidence that fire is an integral element in forest health.
Many Columbia Gorge trails have reopened, but others may be closed for years.
The massive Eagle Creek Fire was started on September 2, 2017, when a 15-year old youth from Vancouver tossed a smoke bomb into tinder-dry brush along the lower Eagle Creek Trail. It eventually burned over 48,000 acres of forest, and caused millions of dollars in damage.
Now comes the hard, long-term work on those parts of the Gorge where the damage was the worst.
The Eagle Creek Trail, one of the Gorge’s most popular trails, remains closed.
“Basically, what we’ve been saying is that we are working on it and we are making progress,” said Rachel Pawlitz, the public affairs officer for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (CRGNSA). “But, because of the nature of what needs to happen before we can open it, we do not have a time frame.”
“We are fairly certain it will not open by the end of this summer. There is a chance that it will open by the end of the year.”
Pawlitz explained that several bridges along the route were destroyed, and that replacing them will take time. They also prefer to wait until the entire 14-mile reach can be re-opened, to allow the public an escape route if landslides close sections of the trail.
Rockslides are a big concern in the Eagle Creek Canyon, and with every heavy rain the conditions deteriorate more. What is loosening the soils and scree slopes are the lack of roots, a problem that will continue for years to come.
“In the coming seasons landslides are a bigger concern than wildfires,” said Pawlitz. “There are going to be (dead) trees that are decaying, and those roots might take five years before they start giving way. It’s probably going to get worse as opposed to better as far as trees falling.”
Pawlitz warns hikers that winds and rains will cause many trees to come down. Hikers should avoid the burned areas during high wind events.
She pointed to the Multnomah Falls Trail as an example of instability. The trail was deemed sound and re-opened, but then a rockslide closed it. The geologist warned there was still quite a bit of rock that could come down, so the trail will remain closed.
As the forest recovers, visitors are flocking back to favored trails to see for themselves what was done by the fire.
“Lots of people hike a certain trail every year, and this is a great way for them to see what the natural regrowth processes look like,” said Pawlitz.
Some members of the public may wait a long time to see their favorite trail again.
“There are a few trails that are very obliterated and we have not made any final plans, but we do not intend to work on them anytime soon,” added Pawlitz.
She pointed to the Wahclela Trail as an example. The canyon is too unstable to enter as yet.
The popular Horsetail Falls Trail is open, but only to the upper falls. Most of the connecting trails are closed off.
That did not stop many visitors this last Sunday. The Horsetail Falls trailhead parking lot was full by 10 a.m.
Delpha and Jarrod Thomas had brought their young son Arlo to the trail, which has been one of their favorites hikes for years.
“When you’re walking along you start to see evidence that there was a burn,” said Delpha Thomas. “We were noticing trees close to the trail that are black.”
“This is a really magical trail because you can walk behind the falls,” she said. “This is a great one.”
She was heartened by the green-up sights along the trail.
“I’m glad to see this area is recovering,”
As the crowds return to the Gorge trails, Pawlitz warns that hikers need to be prepared for any scenario, including getting lost. This happens every year to a number of hikers. She lists some things people should do to make sure their hike is safe and fun.
“We are encouraging people to plan before they come out,” she said. “Bring a backpack with essentials, and be prepared to spend the night if you can’t get back.”
“Understand that you should have that extra level of awareness, looking up and looking down, because a lot of the hazards come from falling rocks or trees, or uneven footing,” she said.
“Tell people where you are going, bring a map, and don’t use your cellphone as a flashlight. it doesn’t last long.”
For up to date information on trail closures, check the CRGNSA Alerts and Notices website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/crgnsa/alerts-notices/?aid=41589
