Have your hiking boots been sitting beside the front door, collecting dust? How about your fishing pole, clamming bucket, binoculars, kite and canoe paddle?
The coronavirus put spring outdoor adventure on hold for months, and most of us have been sheltering in place. Now, thanks to our collective diligence and determination to put the brakes on a steep upward curve of the germ’s transmission, some public lands have re-opened as of May 5 in Washington and May 6 in Oregon for hiking, fishing, boating and more. It will be a joy to get out in nature, fresh air and sunshine again, though there are restrictions and guidelines we must follow to keep ourselves and others safe.
Below you’ll find an easy Q&A format to tell you which public lands in Washington and Oregon have reopened and which have not yet. I’ll explain the guidelines for responsibly using these lands in the time of the novel coronavirus. In another post, I’m sharing ideas for choosing less-crowded destinations that are close to home but might not be on your radar.
Have fun and stay safe!
Q: Wait, aren’t we still under a “stay at home” order? So why have parks opened?
Yes. Washington state is under a stay-at-home order until May 31. Oregon’s stay-at-home order remains in effect until further notice. This means that we should only leave our homes for essential activities, like groceries, medical emergencies, etc. Both states had shuttered parks and other recreation areas when the number of new cases per day was rising. Both states are cautiously relaxing those closures now, along with strict safety guidelines, because outdoor exercise is essential for physical and mental health. While these parks may be open, facilities like restrooms will be closed, so plan accordingly.
Q: Which outdoor recreation areas in Washington and Oregon are now open?
Over 100 Washington State Parks opened on Tuesday, May 5 for daytime use. The locations still closed include Wallace Falls, most of the ocean beach parks (Cape Disappointment, Grayland Beach, Twin Harbors, Westport Light, Pacific Beach) and those along the Columbia River Gorge (Beacon Rock, Columbia Hills, Maryhill). The re-open date for those is TBD. Parking will be intentionally limited at popular urban state parks to discourage overcrowding, including Dash Point, Lake Sammamish, and Saint Edward.
A handful of Oregon State Parks or boat ramps opened on Wednesday, May 6. These include Tryon Creek in Portland, Willamette Mission north of Keizer, Mongold boat ramp at Detroit Lake, State Capitol State Park in Salem, The Cove Palisades boat ramp at Lake Billy Chinook near Culver, Prineville Reservoir boat ramp, Joseph Stewart boat ramp, Pilot Butte in Bend (pedestrians only). More state parks will be phased in next week, check this interactive map for the latest status.
Developed recreation sites on national forest lands throughout Washington and Oregon remain closed, though the agency says we may see the opening of many trailheads by the end of May. Developed sites are ones with parking, trailhead signage, a restroom, and a Northwest Forest pass is required.
All of the national parks in the Pacific Northwest are still closed (Mt. Rainier, Olympic, North Cascades and Crater Lake). Except to see some areas open soon, starting with the Barnes Creek area on the north side of Olympic National Park in mid to late May. You’ll find the latest on re-openings at the links above.
ALL public lands campgrounds remain closed at this time. However, you can go ahead and make campground reservations and will be automatically refunded if campgrounds are still closed on your reservation dates. Washington State Parks is taking new reservations for dates after June 30, 2020 for campsites, cabins, or yurts (no group camps, though). Oregon State Parks has cancelled reservations through Memorial Day, so shoot for sometime after that. Just stay flexible – camping for this summer is very much in flux.
City and county parks vary by location, so check with your local parks departments on their status. The Northwest’s most populous county, King County, re-opened its parks Friday, May 8, which includes many frontcounty hiking and mountain biking trails used by folks in Seattle and the Eastside.
Q: What are the guidelines for safely recreating in the outdoors?
Washington and Oregon and recommending the same basic guidelines and tips for visiting public lands, so I’ll summarize them here.
Stay close to home, preferably traveling within your own county or to an adjacent county. Oregon is specifically telling people who live in an urban area to stay within 50 miles of their home for recreation.
Make sure your destination is open the day of your trip or hike. Land management agencies caution that re-opened parks could close again if health hazards arise.
If you arrive at a trailhead and it’s crowded, move on to an alternate destination that is less crowded.
Go only with people from your household.
Visitors are asked to continue to keep six feet of physical distance from other people and groups. This includes on boat docks, fishing piers, and on trails.
Avoid touching things like banisters and railings while on the trail unless you need them for stability. If you have to touch them, sanitize your hands before and afterwards.
Bring a mask. Wear the mask or keep it accessible (like in your pocket) and put it on if you are unable to maintain a safe distance, such as passing on a hiking trail.
Bring everything you need from home for your trip, including all your food, water, hand sanitizer, the ten essentials, and toilet paper, with a large ziplock to pack out your trash. Plan ahead so you won’t need to stop anywhere.
Anyone who is feeling sick, unusually fatigued, coughing or sneezing should stay home.