Visitors should be aware that there is still timber sale activity in the area including active log hauling on the roads surrounding Stagecoach.
The Oregon Department of Forestry blog for all things Tillamook State Forest.
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Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Support Oregon's State Forests! Your gift has never been more important!
With a huge influx of state forest visitors seeking “virus-safe” outdoor activities, as well as the devastating wildfires on state forests this year, the value of your support has never been greater.
Your tax-deductible gift to the Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust helps us maintain and improve recreation facilities, educate youth and adults about the role of forests in our lives, and plan new ways of delivering programs about Oregon’s state forests.
Thanks to a generous donation from Columbia Sportswear, donations made between December 1 and 15 will enter you into a drawing for one of 40 VIP passes to the Columbia Employee Store for significant discounts!
Join a special community of people who love the forest by making your gift online today. https://www.tillamooktrust.org/year-end
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Tillamook State Forest Re-opens to Public Use Friday, Sept. 18
Some state forests to
re-open Friday, Sept. 18
The Tillamook and Clatsop state forests will re-open to the public on Friday, Sept. 18, along with smaller ODF parcels in northwest Oregon. This also includes ODF-managed lands in Columbia, Lincoln, Polk, and Benton counties. The public is urged to know before you go about potential restrictions on campfires, off-road vehicle use and other fire prevention measures in the midst of an unprecedented fire season in Oregon. Public Use Restrictions Map
The Gilchrist and Sun Pass state forests along with ODF-managed lands in Klamath, Jackson, Josephine, Coos, Douglas and Lane counties remain closed due to extreme fire danger.
The Santiam State Forest
remains closed until further notice.
Monday, September 14, 2020
State Forest Closure Extended Through Wednesday, Sept. 16 - Fire Danger Level EXTREME
PUBLIC
USE CLOSURE FOR ODF-MANAGED STATE FORESTS EXTENDED THROUGH WED., SEPT. 16
All Oregon Department of Forestry-managed forests are closed to public use through at least Wed, Sept. 16. Fire danger remains extreme, air quality is bad to hazardous, & last week’s wind storms caused downed trees on roads & other safety problems that need to be cleared. This covers the Tillamook, Clatsop, Gilchrist, Sun Pass & Santiam state forests as well as other smaller parcels managed by ODF in Lane, Douglas, Coos, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Polk, Lincoln, & Benton counties.
ODF appreciates the
public's understanding.
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Friday, September 11, 2020
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Fire Danger Levels on the Rise - Temporary Closures Going Into Effect
Effective Thursday, September 3, 2020 the Tillamook State Forest and surrounding Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands will enter a Fire Danger Level of HIGH and an Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) of 3.
OHV trails in the Browns Camp, Lyda Camp, Diamond Mill and Trask designated areas remain open.
Forest visitors can expect to see some new gates being installed in the Tillamook State Forest along the Highway 6 and Highway 26 corridors. These are fire protection gates to facilitate temporary closure of specific geographic areas during periods of high and extreme fire danger in an effort to reduce the likelihood of human caused fires occurring in these areas. The areas behind these gates will remain open to foot traffic and hunting activity. The gates will re-open when the fire danger drops back down to moderate.
As we are currently experiencing a weather pattern that will raise the fire danger and IFPL levels on Thursday, September 3, 2020, these gates will be closing over the next several days as described below.
Here
is more specific information about the gate locations:
The Tillamook State Forest management team is installing gates at several forest access points along the Highway 26 and Highway 6 corridors. These gates will only be closed during active forest operations or during periods high and extreme fire danger conditions to reduce the potential for human caused wildfires on State Forests lands.
The gates on Highway 26 will be installed at the entrances to:
- · North Fork of Wolf Creek Road
- · McGregor Road
- · Music Road
The Highway 26 gates at these locations will be closed starting Friday, September 4, 2020 and will remain closed until the fire danger level drops back down to moderate.
The gates on Highway 6 will be installed at the entrances to:
- · Storeyburn Road
- · Drift Creek Road
- · Idiot Creek Road
The Highway 6 gates at these locations will likely remain open through the Labor Day weekend but may be closed sooner if there is a significant change in the fire danger or if the area experiences fire activity.
Both
of these areas remain open to entry by foot traffic only and to hunting.
Friday, August 28, 2020
Temporary Road & Rock Pit Closures
The following closures are in effect due to forest operations and road improvements.
- Camp 5 Road between Salmonberry Road and the Wheeler Road / Section 10 Road junction will be closed starting Saturday, August 29, 2020 due to a rock crushing operation. The road will remain closed to the public for the duration of the project work.
- The Camp 5 rock pit will be closed to the public starting Saturday, August 29, 2020 for a rock crushing operation. The rock pit will remain closed to all public access for the duration of the project work.
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Mushrooms & Wildlife Don't Care About Fashion
If your recreation activities take you off of established roads, please consider the following safety tips:
Does someone know where you are? If you head out to the woods, let someone know where you are going and when you plan on returning and don't deviate from your plans. That way, if there is an emergency that prevents you from returning home, you can be sure folks know where to start looking for you.
Safety orange is not just for game hunters. High visibility clothing is your friend whether you are traveling on a designated trail, hunting for deer, fishing a remote stream or foraging for mushrooms. It makes you visible not just to your fellow visitors but to search teams as well.
Can you survive the night? Carry food and water with you whenever you are in the woods even if you only plan on being in the woods for a few hours or away from your vehicle for a short time. Temperatures can vary wildly during the early days of autumn so taking an extra layer with you when you head into the woods can be a lifesaver.
How's your whistle? Most foresters carry a whistle with them at all times when they are crashing through the brush. The sound of a whistle will carry farther than the human voice and can be used alert people to your presence.
Shelter in place. If you do get turned around when you are out in the woods the best thing you can do is to stay in one place. It's easier to find someone when they remain stationary.
And finally, keep a good thought. Your best friend in planning and enjoying a forest visit or in working through an emergency situation is a positive attitude.
See you in the woods!
Friday, August 21, 2020
August 25 & 26, 2020: McGregor Road Closed for Culvert Replacement
McGregor Road off of Highway 26 will be closed on Tuesday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 26, 2020 for a culvert installation connected to timber sale activity.
Alternate routes to reach the upper portions of the McGregor area include access by Music Road and North Fork Wolf Creek Road.
Friday, August 14, 2020
Cook Creek Designated Campsites Open
The following designated campsites have re-opened to public use:
Designated Campsites
- Cook Creek Site #1
- Cook Creek Site #2
- Cook Creek Site #3
- Cook Creek Site #4
- Cook Creek Site #5
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Designated Campsite & Recreation Areas Re-Open
Designated Campsites
- South Fork Trask Site #5
- South Fork Trask Site #6 (also known as Lake Tahoe)
- South Fork Trask Site #7 (also known as Lake Tahoe)
- North Fork Trask Site #2
- North Fork Trask Site #3
- Lake Tahoe is open to the public.
- This includes the road into Tahoe, the trail and all areas surrounding the lake.
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Cedar Butte Road Closure 8/1/20
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Campfire Closure
This changes what is allowed for campfires and outdoor cooking gear. For more information about fire season restrictions, please visit the "Fire Season" tab on this blog.
Thanks for helping to keep the Tillamook State Forest safe from fores fires.
Fires are not allowed on rock or dirt roads to access recent timber harvest units. These are not dispersed campsites and can be areas with increased risk of wildfires
If the fire danger level is MODERATE or higher, you can only have a campfire in the metal fire pits installed by the Oregon Department of Forestry in:
- Fee Campgrounds & Developed Day Use Areas
- Designated Recreation Areas
- Designated Campsites
- Metal fire pits installed by the Oregon Department of Forestry
- Propane or gas camp stoves
- Propane or gas BBQs
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Raven Ridge Trail Temporarily Closed: Effective 06.01.2020
To keep an eye on the latest trail information, visit our Trail Reports on the Oregon Department of Forestry non-motorized trails page.
Friday, May 29, 2020
Friday, May 22, 2020
Here's What's Open in Oregon's State Forests
- Your actions could add an unnecessary stress on first responders.
- If you get lost or injured, it may take longer than usual for someone to assist. Calling up Search and Rescue teams puts a large stress on county resources, volunteers and their families and strain health care systems with limited capacity.
- Please check with the land manager where you are headed to confirm the area is open. Closures related to COVID-19 are changing frequently, this page will be updated as needed.
- Prepare for your visit with the clothing, supplies, and knowledge you need to have a safe visit.
- If you're ill, stay home.
- Cover sneezes and coughs with a tissue (then throw it away) or inside of your elbow.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Bring hand sanitizer or soap and water – while some restrooms are open, most are vault toilets and do not have running water.
- If a place is so crowded you can't maintain a healthy social distance — at least six feet — find a different place to go.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Friday, April 10, 2020
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Press Release - Campground Openings Delayed, Bathrooms Closed
TEMPORARY CAMPING CLOSURES ANNOUNCED FOR
OREGON STATE PARKS, STATE
FORESTS, AND WILDLIFE AREAS
SALEM, Oregon –Three Oregon state agencies will suspend camping to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will accommodate current overnight guests through April 2. Reservations for all state park stays from April 3 to and including May 8 will be canceled and site fees refunded. Before May 8, the department will review the state park campground closure to decide whether it should be extended. The decision affects all individual and group overnight facilities: campsites, yurts, cabins, tepees, and services operated by concessionaires. The suspended service also affects reservations for group day-use areas.
The Oregon Department of Forestry maintains campgrounds in the Clatsop, Santiam, and Tillamook State Forests. Most campgrounds are currently closed for the season, and will not reopen for individual or group use. Year-round campgrounds will close starting on Monday, March 23. All day-use and campground restrooms are temporarily closed due to limited janitorial services. A reopening date for all restrooms and state forest campgrounds has not yet been determined. During this time, trails, forest roads and trailheads on state forestlands will remain open to the public.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is closing its Wildlife Areas to overnight camping effective Sunday, March 22. The closure affects both dispersed camping and established campgrounds. Several wildlife areas are also currently fully or partially closed to all visitors as part of annual seasonal closures to protect wintering wildlife. While camping will be prohibited, wildlife areas that are currently open remain open to visitors for day-use activities including wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation. See the ODFW Wildlife Area Visitor Guide for more information (link at bottom).
State park, forest, and wildlife area camping areas are built into relatively small areas by design. Maintaining social distance is difficult. Working with fewer staff and volunteers is becoming a reality, making it difficult to maintain proper cleaning procedures. To support the state goal of reducing transmission of COVID-19, temporary campground closures are necessary. The details of these actions—such as dates and affected programs—are under constant review and will change as new information develops.
This will reduce long-distance travel for many people, but all state natural resource agencies remind Oregonians that a local outdoor experience can improve our mental and physical health, especially now. Daytime activities are still widely available and encouraged. The usual reminders, plus the new COVID-19 guidelines, apply:
- Prepare for your visit with
the clothing, supplies, and knowledge you need to have a safe visit.
- If you're ill, stay home.
- Cover sneezes and coughs with
a tissue (then throw it away) or inside of your elbow.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Wash regularly with soap and
water for at least 20 seconds. It's up to you to practice good personal
hygiene, and not every place at every park can be kept clean all the time.
- If place is so crowded you
can't maintain a healthy social distance—at least six feet—find a
different place to go.
- Travel Oregon travel alerts: https://traveloregon.com/travel-alerts/.
- State park service reductions
and closures: https://bit.ly/OPRD-covid.
- Oregon Department of
Forestry: https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/
- Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife: https://myodfw.com/visit-odfw-wildlife-areas
By Appointment Only
Archers Road Weekday Closure
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
CANCELED - April 18th Tillamook State Forest SOLVE Clean-Up
Saturday, March 14, 2020
CLOSED - Tillamook Forest Center
We hope you make plans to visit us again once we re-open.
Sincerely,
The Tillamook Forest Center Team
POSTPONED: March 28 Trail Mix Work Party
The Trail Mix Volunteer Work Party scheduled for March 28, 2020 is being postponed in the interest of volunteer health and safety.
The Oregon Department of Forestry recreation team will be working with the work party organizers to reschedule this great day of trail maintenance and teamwork for later in the spring or summer.
Thanks to all who helped organize and to all who signed up ready to spruce up the Tillamook State Forest non-motorized trail network.
Stay tuned for updates about the status of April volunteer opportunities. We plan on making a "Go / No Go" decision no later than Monday, March 30, 2020.