News Release

Bear Gulch Fire closes FS-24 along Lake Cushman, Staircase Campground and Trailheads

Date: July 7, 2025

Port Angeles, Wash. – On July 6, a human-caused fire was reported in Olympic National Forest near the Mt. Rose Trailhead along the Lake Cushman Corridor (FS-24). The fire – named the Bear Gulch Fire – is burning on a steep, rocky slope north of Lake Cushman and southeast of the Staircase area of Olympic National Park. The fire is approximately 200 acres. There is no current threat to structures or nearby communities. 

Due to the steep and rocky terrain, aviation resources offer the safest and most effective method for suppressing the fire. Scoopers and helicopters have used water from Lake Cushman to mitigate the spread. Two, twenty-person handcrews and four interagency engines are responding to accessible areas near FS-24 and the lower ends of the fire. A Type 3 Incident Management Team and additional crews will join the effort tomorrow.  

The following recreation sites are inaccessible:

• Staircase Area and Campground
• Bear Gulch Day Use Area
• Mt. Rose Trailhead
• Dry Creek Trailhead
• Copper Creek Trailhead

Public and firefighter safety remains the top priority. To support this effort, visitors are being asked to avoid the Lake Cushman and Staircase areas.
 
For updates on the Bear Gulch Fire, visit the Olympic National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/olympic and follow @olympicforest on social media.