Hikers and anglers planning the Upper South Fork Skokomish this midweek need a different trail day. The U.S. Forest Service has closed a short but important cluster of road, trail, and river access on Olympic National Forest for restoration work on August 12 and 13, 2026.
The traveler decision is simple. Do not drive FS-2361-400, do not continue on Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail between mileposts 5.2 and 8.4, and stay out of the South Fork Skokomish River between river miles 22 and 23 while Order 06-09-26-13 is in force. Choose another Olympic Peninsula trail or wait until after August 13.
According to the Olympic National Forest alert for the Upper South Fork Skokomish River Closure on August 12 to 13, the two-day restriction supports restoration work and is backed by Forest Order No. 06-09-26-13. The order text posted with the alert prohibits entering the closed area, being on the listed road, and being on the listed trail segment for public health and safety during the work. The forest also points fire and industrial precaution context through Washington DNR channels such as the Washington DNR industrial fire precaution level tool, which is a separate control from this two-day restoration closure.
- When: August 12 and 13, 2026, under Order 06-09-26-13.
- Road closed: FS-2361-400 from milepost 0.0 to 0.5, plus associated spur 410.
- Trail closed: Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail (No. 873) from milepost 5.2 to 8.4.
- River closed: South Fork Skokomish River, river miles 22 to 23.
- Why: Restoration work on the Upper South Fork Skokomish.
What the Forest Service closed on paper
This is not a forest-wide shutdown. It is a mapped pocket on the Hood Canal Ranger District that blocks one access road cluster, one trail middle segment, and one short river reach.
FS-2361-400 is closed only for the first half-mile and the associated 410 spur. Drivers who use other Olympic National Forest roads for different trailheads are not automatically blocked by this order.
Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail is closed between mileposts 5.2 and 8.4. That means a through-hike that depends on that middle stretch fails even if the lower trailhead remains listed as a recreation site elsewhere on the forest website.
The river closure from river mile 22 to 23 keeps people out of the active work zone in the channel. Anglers and swimmers should treat that reach as closed ground, not a soft advisory.
How this differs from Stage 2 fire restrictions
Olympic National Forest also carries broader Stage 2 fire restrictions that limit campfires and other ignition risks through early October. That is a different stream with different traveler actions.
Order 06-09-26-13 is a two-day geographic closure for restoration, not a fire-behavior rule about stoves or smoking. Do not collapse the two notices into one mental model.
If your only plan was a South Fork Skokomish day on August 12 or 13, switch to another listed open trail rather than trying to skirt the barricade. Violation of the order can carry federal fine and imprisonment language under the posted prohibition text.
What to do if Skokomish was on this week’s list
Pick an alternate Olympic Peninsula hike that does not need FS-2361-400 or trail 873 through the closed miles. Confirm open status on the forest alerts page the morning you leave, because short work windows can still shift.
If you already parked near the Skokomish Lower South Fork Trailhead pattern, re-read the order map before walking past the first closed-area sign. A familiar trailhead does not authorize entry into a closed segment farther up the valley.
Groups meeting from multiple cars should agree on a non-Skokomish fallback before the first driver arrives. Midweek restoration closures are easy to miss when group chats only share a trail name from last summer.
Travelers stacking forest hikes with coastal or park days can use nearby open options and still keep a Washington outdoor itinerary intact. A short two-day hole is recoverable if you replan early.
Call Olympic National Forest at 360-956-2402 if your trip depends on a permit, outfitter arrangement, or special access that might interact with the closed pocket.
Travelers who still want a Washington outdoor day can rebuild around other Olympic Peninsula options or a city break using a Seattle things to do plan when the forest pocket does not fit the calendar.
How to rebuild a Hood Canal day without the closed pocket
The two-day window is short enough that many travelers can simply shift Skokomish to the weekend after August 13. If your only free days are August 12 and 13, move the hike to another Hood Canal Ranger District trail that does not depend on FS-2361-400 or trail 873 through the closed miles.
Carry the order number 06-09-26-13 on your phone. Field staff and volunteers often know the work by order number, and it speeds up questions at a visitor contact point.
Do not invent a detour that re-enters the closed river miles. Restoration work zones can include temporary equipment, unstable banks, and active crews that are not set up for public traffic.
Families with kids should treat the closed trail miles as a hard stop rather than a soft suggestion. A partial out-and-back that ends at the first closed-area sign is safer than pushing for a through-connection that no longer exists.
If you already printed an older forest map, mark the closed road, trail, and river segments in ink before you leave the car. Old maps are useful for orientation and dangerous if they still show an open through-route.
| If you… | Do this |
|---|---|
| Planned Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail on Aug 12 or 13 | Skip mileposts 5.2 to 8.4. Choose another trail until after August 13. |
| Need FS-2361-400 for access | Do not drive MP 0.0 to 0.5 or spur 410 during the order window. |
| Want to fish or wade near river miles 22 to 23 | Stay out of that reach until the order ends after August 13. |
| Only care about Stage 2 fire rules | Keep following fire restrictions separately. This order is a geographic restoration closure. |
| Visit on or after August 14 | Recheck forest alerts before assuming the pocket has reopened exactly on schedule. |
Weekend visitors arriving on Friday should not assume the pocket reopens the moment the calendar flips if crews need a final cleanup pass. Recheck the alert board Saturday morning before committing a long drive to the Skokomish lower trail pattern.
- Drop the Skokomish mid-trail plan: Trail 873 is closed from milepost 5.2 to 8.4 on August 12 and 13.
- Reroute vehicles: FS-2361-400 MP 0.0 to 0.5 and spur 410 are closed for the same two days.
- Respect the river reach: River miles 22 to 23 are closed during restoration work.
- Separate fire rules: Stage 2 restrictions are a different ongoing stream.
- Recheck after August 13: Confirm the order has ended before the next attempt.
As of the Forest Service alert last updated August 5, 2026, the two-day window is the current official plan. Treat August 12 and 13 as closed on the listed road, trail, and river segments, then recheck the forest alerts board before your next South Fork attempt.
When is the Upper South Fork Skokomish closure?
Forest Order 06-09-26-13 is effective August 12 and 13, 2026, for the listed road, trail, and river segments.
Is all of Olympic National Forest closed?
No. This order closes a specific road, trail segment, and river reach for restoration work, not the entire forest.
Which trail miles are closed?
Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail (No. 873) is closed from milepost 5.2 to 8.4.
Can I still drive other Olympic National Forest roads?
Yes, unless another alert applies. This order targets FS-2361-400 from MP 0.0 to 0.5 and spur 410.
Where can I verify the order?
Use the Olympic National Forest alert page for the Upper South Fork Skokomish River Closure and the linked PDF for Order 06-09-26-13.
