Expanded Area Closure in Three Sisters Wilderness Due To Milli Fire

Area Closure in Three Sisters Wilderness Expands Due to Fire Activity

REDMOND- (REDMOND): Oregon Department of Transportation has closed the McKenzie Pass Highway, OR 242, due to rapidly growing fire and smoke impacts. OR 242 is closed from its junctions with Highway 126 on the west side of the Cascade crest to its junction with the Crossroads Community on the east side, approximately two miles west of Sisters, Oregon.

As a result of this closure, numerous recreation destinations are now closed for the safety of the public and fire traffic working in the area. Effective immediately, the Deschutes National Forest will expand the area closure of Three Sisters Wilderness area due to fire activity around the Milli Fire. The east boundary of the closure has been extended and will now be the junction of Forest Roads 16 and 4606 to the Park Meadow Trailhead, then west to the Green Lakes Trail. The southern boundary of the area closure extends along the Park Meadow Trail to the Green Lakes Trail Junction. The northern boundary of the closure now extended approximately 1 mile north along the Mt. Washington Wilderness boundary to Dugout Lake and Forest Road 1030 as it becomes Forest Road 1008 and ties into State Highway 242.
The Cold Springs Campground remains open and is accessible from Highway 20 but is under a Level 1 evacuation notice at this time.

Deschutes National Forest, Sisters Ranger District closures include: Green Lakes Trail #17 is closed from Pole Creek Trail #4072 to Scott Pass Trail #4068, Black Crater Trail #4058, Millican Crater Trail #4066, Scott Pass Trail #4068, North Matthieu Lake Trail #4062, Trout Creek Tie Trail #4067, Millican Crater Trailhead, Scott Pass Trailhead, Whispering Pines Campground, Trout Creek Swamp, Sisters Cow Camp, Chush Falls Trail #4080, Pole Creek Trail #4072, Metolius Windigo Trail #99 from the Highway 242 crossing to the trail junction with the Park Meadow Trail #4075, Whychus Overlook Trail, Whychus Creek Trail.

The Pacific Crest Trail closure now begins at Elk Lake and extends to Highway 242. Hikers are encouraged to divert their path to Sisters, Oregon and then get back on the trail at Big Lake.

The public is encouraged to KNOW BEFORE YOU GO by contacting the Sisters Ranger District office at 541-549-7700 if you plan to visit the area.
The Milli Fire is currently being managed by Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2. For more information on this fire, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5517/ or call 541-316-7711.

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