Central Oregon road trips hit a hard stop this weekend. The Bench Fire and nearby Beachcomb Fire forced Level 3 go-now evacuations on Warm Springs Reservation districts.
Those fires also closed a long stretch of US Highway 26 overnight between Mount Hood and Madras.
The traveler question is simple. Can you still use the Mount Hood to Madras corridor, and is Warm Springs a place you should drive through right now?
The answer depends on the latest evacuation map and ODOT status. It does not depend on a map you opened Friday.
- Fires: Bench Fire and Beachcomb Fire south of Warm Springs, west of Madras.
- Evacuations: Level 3 go-now zones on the Warm Springs Reservation; Agency District at Level 2.
- Highway 26: Closed overnight MP 57 to 115; ODOT reopened the segment Sunday morning.
- Acres (Sat. afternoon): Bench about 6,201; Beachcomb about 2,352, per state fire figures.
- Action: Recheck TripCheck and local sheriff or tribal updates before any Mount Hood to Central Oregon drive.
What changed for Warm Springs and Highway 26
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs expanded evacuation orders as the fires moved toward the community. OregonLive reported Saturday that Level 3 go-now orders covered Upper Seekseequa, Dry Hollow, Lower Seekseequa, Jackson Trail, and Tenino Road.
The Agency District was listed at Level 2. That means be ready to leave if the fire line or air quality forces a higher order.
Evacuees were directed to the old school cafeteria at 1150 Warm Springs Street. A second site was St Patrick’s Church on SW J Street in Madras.
Livestock could use a shelter at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Officials also warned of a high likelihood that power would be cut across the reservation during the Saturday push.
State fire figures shared in that reporting put the Bench Fire near 6,201 acres Saturday afternoon. The Beachcomb Fire was near 2,352 acres at the same snapshot.
Those acreage numbers move quickly in hot, dry weather. Treat them as a status check, not a final perimeter for your whole week.
Separately, the Oregon Department of Transportation closed US 26 between the Oregon 35 junction near Mount Hood and Cherry Lane north of Madras. The closed segment covered mileposts 57 to 115 for wildfire activity.
Local outlets relayed the ODOT notice for eastbound travelers over Mount Hood. The documented detour while the highway was closed was Oregon 35 to Interstate 84.
KPTV reported that ODOT reopened that Highway 26 segment at about 6:40 am Sunday. Reopening does not guarantee the road stays open all day.
Smoke, new fire runs, or emergency work can close it again with little notice. Build your plan around live checks, not the last open status you saw.
Why this matters if you are only passing through
Highway 26 is the common summer drive from Portland over Mount Hood into Madras, Warm Springs, and the broader Central Oregon loop. A multi-hour closure between mileposts 57 and 115 is not a minor delay.
It is a full reroute for anyone trying to reach Bend, Sisters, Redmond, or Madras from the west side of the Cascades on that corridor. Even after reopening, heavy smoke and emergency traffic can still slow the road.
Plan fuel, daylight, and lodging as if the drive may take longer than a normal summer map suggests. Do not stack tight evening hotel or dinner times on the far side of the Cascades without a buffer.
Warm Springs is not a scenery stop during Level 3 orders. Do not treat tribal lands under go-now evacuations as a photo stop, rest break, or alternate camping area.
Follow posted access limits and keep through-traffic moving if the highway is open and you have a lawful reason to be there. Respect community emergency work rather than sightseeing through it.
Deep Arrival’s Mount Hood things to do guide still helps with mountain-side planning. It does not override live road and evacuation status east of the mountain.
| If you planned… | Do this now |
|---|---|
| Portland to Madras or Bend via Highway 26 | Check TripCheck and ODOT before leaving. If 26 is closed again, use the Oregon 35 to I-84 detour and rebuild arrival time. |
| A stop or overnight near Warm Springs | Cancel or relocate while Level 3 zones remain active. Use official tribal and sheriff channels, not social rumor maps alone. |
| Mount Hood day trip only | Stay west of the closure zone if smoke and traffic are heavy. Confirm Government Camp access and return fuel before you commit. |
| Sisters, Redmond, or eastside camping | Confirm campground status and approach roads. Multiple Central Oregon fires mean final miles can change even if Highway 26 is open. |
| Flights into Redmond (RDM) | Assume ground transfers can run long. Build buffer before evening connections and hotel check-in. |
How to verify the corridor before you drive
Start with Oregon’s live road system rather than a static news map. ODOT and local broadcasters pointed drivers to TripCheck for the current Highway 26 status while the closure was in force.
Recheck it at departure and once more near the mountain. Fire roads flip faster than morning plans.
For evacuation boundaries, use current Jefferson County and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs notices. Do not rely on screenshots from earlier in the weekend.
Level 3 means leave now. Level 2 means be ready.
Level 1 means be aware and monitor updates. It is not permission to ignore later escalations.
Do not invent a fourth category based on how the smoke looks from a pullout. Visual judgment is not an official map.
If you need a Central Oregon base that is not on the Warm Springs front, re-plan lodging and RV options with current access in mind. Deep Arrival’s Sisters RV parks guide helps with the Sisters to Bend corridor when those approach roads remain open.
It is not a substitute for a same-day fire check. Keep a paper or offline detour note as well.
Oregon 35 to I-84 is the documented Mount Hood side workaround when Highway 26 is blocked between the OR 35 junction and Madras. That path is longer, and summer traffic on I-84 can erase any time you hoped to save.
What is known, and what is still moving
Confirmed for traveler planning: Warm Springs districts received Level 3 orders on Saturday. Highway 26 closed overnight across mileposts 57 to 115.
ODOT reopened that segment Sunday morning. The Bench and Beachcomb fires were already multi-thousand-acre incidents by Saturday afternoon.
Still fluid: exact containment, whether Highway 26 closes again, whether more districts move to Level 3, and how smoke will affect visibility for drivers and for Redmond Airport arrivals.
Regional outlets also reported structure losses as the Bench Fire ran. That is a community impact travelers should respect by staying out of restricted zones.
Do not treat a reopened highway as proof the emergency is over. Treat it as permission to pass only if current official channels still show the road open and your destination sits outside active evacuation orders.
- Today’s drive: Verify Highway 26 on TripCheck before and during the Mount Hood to Madras leg.
- Warm Springs: Avoid Level 3 zones entirely. Do not stop for photos or short cuts.
- Lodging: Prefer confirmed open towns such as Madras, Redmond, Bend, or Sisters only after road checks.
- Time buffer: Add one to two hours on any plan that still uses the Cascades eastbound corridor.
- Air arrivals: RDM travelers should confirm ground transfer times before booking tight evening plans.
Is Highway 26 open between Mount Hood and Madras?
ODOT reopened the milepost 57 to 115 segment Sunday morning after an overnight wildfire closure. Recheck TripCheck before you drive because the road can close again without much notice.
Should travelers go through Warm Springs right now?
Not if you can avoid it while Level 3 go-now orders remain in place. The reservation has active evacuation zones, and through-traffic should follow only open, lawful routes.
Where were Warm Springs residents told to go?
Saturday guidance listed the old school cafeteria at 1150 Warm Springs Street and St Patrick’s Church at 341 SW J Street in Madras. Livestock could shelter at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
What detour works if Highway 26 closes again?
While the overnight closure was active, ODOT said eastbound travelers over Mount Hood could use Oregon 35 to Interstate 84 to reach Central Oregon. Confirm the live detour when a new closure posts.
