Olympic National Park closes 8-mile section of Elwha River Trail due to wildfires

PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- Olympic National Park announced Monday that park officials and fire managers are closing an 8-mile section of the Elwha River Trail for public safety reasons because of two nearby wildfires.

Park officials said in a news release that the trail is closed from the Hayes River Ranger Station south to Chicago Camp. The trail remains open from Hayes River north to the Whiskey Bend Trailhead and from Chicago Camp south.

"Fire crews reported three new spot fires on Monday afternoon from the Godkin Fire in the Elwha River valley.  Camp Wilder shelter is approximately 100 yards north of one of the spot fires. Water drops from helicopters are being used to cool the fire spots," the news release said.

Wilderness permit holders for that area will be apprised on the closure and provided information about alternative routes.

In addition to the closure of this segment of the Elwha River Trail, there are two other fire-related closures in Olympic National Park. About eight miles of the Hayden Pass Trail are also closed, from the Hayes River Ranger Station to Dose Meadows to the east.  The Obstruction Point Road remains closed.

There are approximately 600 miles of trail within Olympic National Park.