9/10/2026 - With the cooler and more moderate fire weather conditions and in coordination with Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) fire prevention measures, Hood River County will be rescinding its elevated fire prevention protocols, effective 5pm Thursday, September 10, 2026, meaning:
- HRCF gates on Post Canyon, Riordan Hill, Upper Binns Hill, Gilhouley, Neal Creek, and roads are reopened.
- Combustion-engine motorized vehicles are once again permitted on improved County Forest roads (rocked and cleared of vegetation).
- Campfires are only permitted in designated campground fire rings at Kingsley, Tucker & Toll Bridge Campgrounds.
- Dispersed Camping and parking are permitted in the Hood River County Forest in non-day use areas.
The Oregon Dept of Forestry Regulated Use Closure (RUC) remains in effect in Hood River and Wasco County including:
All County Forest trails and unimproved roads are closed to combustion-engine motorized vehicle use.
Prohibits shooting incendiary rounds or explosive targets.
Prohibits Open campfires throughout the county forest (Except in fire rings at Designated campgrounds: Kingsley, Tucker & Tollbridge).
Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed throughout the forest.
Violation of State or Local Fire Prevention Regulations on County Forest carries a fine of $2,000/day.
The Forestry Department encourages all recreation participants to exercise Firewise caution during the remainder of the 2026 fire season.
8/24/2026 - Due to high wildfire danger, the following fire prevention restrictions take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Please help us prevent wildfires.
• Overnight camping is prohibited on the Hood River County Forest between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., except at designated campgrounds: Kingsley, Tucker, and Tollbridge.
• All gates providing access to the county forest are closed, including Post Canyon, Riordan Hill, Upper Binns Hill, and Gilhouley.
• Combustion engine motorized vehicles are prohibited off improved roads and behind all county forest gates.
• All campfires are prohibited.
Portable stoves and fire pits using
liquefied/bottled fuel, in clear areas free of flammable vegetation, are
allowed if users have 1 shovel and one gallon of water or one 2 ½ pound fire
extinguisher.
The County will announce when these restrictions are no longer in effect.
Fire season usually begins in mid to late June each year and typically ends sometime in October. Check the ODF Status at link below, before riding during the late Spring & Summer months.
-Fire Danger Closes Trails: Each year recreation trails on Hood River County (HRC) property are closed to off-highway vehicle (OHV) use due to extreme fire danger. ODF establishes Regulated Use Closure (RUC) once they determine a certain level of fire danger exists and this prohibits OHV trail use. RUC is established each year around the first of July.
-Waiver: 2024 is the fifteenth consecutive year ODF has granted a Partial Waiver of Regulated Use Closure Restrictions on Hood River County property in Use Zone MH-4. This waiver only affects the Northwest (NW) Area Trail System and allows OHV use for certain periods during the closure. Middle Mountain (Gilhouley Road) trails remain closed and East Area (Fir Mountain Road, Pinemont Road, Pinemont Loop) trails remain closed to motorized use. ODF uses Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL) as a guide to help determine when it is safe to allow OHV use on the trails. The waiver is only in effect during periods when the IFPL is at 1 or 2. The trails are closed to OHV use once IFPL 3 or higher is reached or as otherwise required by ODF. The NW Area Trail System lies within Use Zone MH-4 and is the only area on HRC property that is affected by the waiver. All other OHV Areas on HRC property are closed once Regulated Use Closure goes into effect. All areas remain closed until ODF removes Regulated Use Closure in the Fall.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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Hood River County Forestry Department: (541) 387-6888
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Oregon Department of Forestry: (541) 296-4626