The Three Queens Fire has closed 13.5 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness and cut off every practical route to Spectacle Lake — one of the most popular backcountry lake destinations in the Cascade Range — with no reopening date announced and no official detour in place. The U.S. Forest Service advisory, posted by the Pacific Crest Trail Association on July 25, 2026, cites “difficult access and limited evacuation options” as the safety basis for the closure.

The closure covers the Pacific Crest Trail from mile 2403.5, north of Ridge Lake, to mile 2417, south of Lemah Meadow. Anyone who planned a summer backpacking trip to this zone — including PCT thru-hikers moving through Washington’s Alpine Lakes segment — should treat the area as inaccessible and contact the Cle Elum Ranger Station before making any plans: (509) 852-1100.

The Three Queens Fire ignited July 15 about 1.5 to 2 miles northwest of Little Lake Kachess near Snoqualmie Pass. According to reporting from FOX 13 Seattle and Watch Duty as of July 24, the fire had grown to approximately 78 acres in steep, rocky terrain in Kittitas County on the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. No containment percentage has been reported.

What is closed because of the Three Queens Fire

The Forest Service advisory, published on the PCTA’s closures platform, prohibits day use and camping at the following named destinations within the closure zone:

Pacific Crest Trail #2000 from mile 2403.5 (north of Ridge Lake) to mile 2417 (south of Lemah Meadow)Spectacle Lake Trail #1306Park Lakes and Mineral Creek Trail #1331Glacier Lake Trail #1360

The Mineral Creek PCT feeder trail and trailhead are also listed as inaccessible. The Washington Trails Association, in a July 23 advisory, additionally flags Little Kachess, Rachel Lake, Rampart, Lila Lake, and routes to Lake Lillian as trails to avoid. Box Canyon area roads and Cooper Pass are also affected, according to WTA.

The closure order took effect July 23, 2026, and remains in force “until further notice” — meaning no projected reopening date has been announced by the Forest Service.

How to reach Spectacle Lake right now: you can’t

Spectacle Lake is an 80-acre alpine lake at 4,239 feet elevation in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and the approaches to it from every practical direction run directly through the closure zone. The two primary access routes are the Mineral Creek Trailhead approach (now inaccessible) and the Pete Lake Trailhead approach via the PCT (also within the closed segment). Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife identifies the Pete Lake Trailhead (#1323) as the best practical approach to the lake — but that approach connects to the PCT in the heart of the closed zone.

With all approach trails under avoidance advisory and the primary trailhead blocked, there is no accessible route to Spectacle Lake while this closure remains in effect. Hikers who have reserved permits or planned multi-day trips into this zone should postpone.

The Forest Service language on evacuation options is worth reading literally. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness has no roads within the closure zone, which means that if fire conditions change rapidly while backcountry campers are inside the area, the only exit options are foot travel — which can be cut off by fire — or helicopter extraction. The terrain is steep and rocky, which slows foot travel. This is the reason “limited evacuation options” appears as an explicit safety rationale in the closure notice rather than just a general precaution.

Fire context: a broader Washington wildfire season

The Three Queens Fire is one of several active wildfires burning across Washington state in what the National Interagency Fire Center forecast as an above-average fire risk across much of Washington in July. Washington’s state government declared a statewide drought emergency in early April 2026 and appropriated $120 million for firefighting — twice the prior year’s budget, according to the 2026 Washington wildfire season.

A Red Flag Warning was in effect for portions of Central and Eastern Washington on July 24 and July 25, with forecast wind gusts reaching 40 mph on July 25 across Eastern Washington. Aerial firefighting resources are actively drawing water from Lake Cle Elum and Lake Kachess, and boaters on both lakes are advised to stay alert for air tankers making water draws.

The closure arrives at the heart of peak hiking season in the Cascades. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness between Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass — the segment of PCT that this closure affects — is among the most heavily traveled wilderness corridors in the Pacific Northwest, with dozens of peak-season backpacking destinations concentrated into a relatively short trail corridor.

What hikers should check before going anywhere near Snoqualmie Pass

For anyone planning a hike in the broader Snoqualmie Pass area, several layers of restriction are currently active in addition to the Three Queens Fire closure:

A Stage 1 campfire ban is in effect as of July 23 across Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, which bans all campfires including in campgrounds and wilderness areas. Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, adding additional restrictions on smoking. Gas or propane stoves meeting applicable standards remain permitted where these bans are in force — verify current terms with the managing ranger district before your trip.

The PCTA offers a mobile app for offline PCT closure access. Real-time fire tracking for the Three Queens Fire is available through WatchDuty at https://app.watchduty.org/i/108766. For questions specific to the Three Queens Fire closure, call the Cle Elum Ranger Station directly at (509) 852-1100.

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