closed
Cape Hatteras National Seashore campgrounds, ORV ramps and facilities; Fort Raleigh; Wright BrothersDare & Hyde Cos., North CarolinaClosed from noon Oct 17; Hatteras Island visitors under mandatory evacuationchecked Oct 17
Trail reports
Campgrounds, off-road ramps and visitor facilities shut at noon Saturday ahead of a long coastal storm with 45 to 55 mph gusts, overwash and flooding.
By Outdoor Unc
Cape Hatteras National Seashore closed its campgrounds, off-road vehicle ramps and visitor facilities at noon Saturday, October 17, along with Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial, the Park Service said. They will reopen after conditions improve and post-storm assessments are done.
Dare County has declared a state of emergency and ordered a mandatory evacuation of visitors from Hatteras Island, and Hyde County, which includes Ocracoke, has issued an urgent warning to residents, property owners and visitors, according to the park.
The Weather Service expects a prolonged low-pressure system to affect eastern North Carolina from this weekend into next week, with north to northeast gusts of 45 to 55 mph, high surf, ocean overwash and coastal flooding. Wind, coastal flood, high surf and storm-force wind watches and advisories are in effect.
Several privately owned oceanfront houses in Rodanthe are structurally compromised and at risk of collapse, the park warns, with exposed septic systems. If one collapses, stay away from the site and downwind of it, including in the water, because debris can travel for miles along the seashore. For roads, use drivenc.gov; for forecasts, weather.gov/mhx.
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closed
Hoh and Quillayute watersheds, including Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah, Dickey and tributariesClallam & Jefferson Cos., WashingtonAll species from Oct 19, until further noticechecked Oct 17
Fishing
The Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah, Dickey and Hoh close October 19, until further notice, as coho runs come in low.
By Outdoor Unc
Washington Fish and Wildlife is closing the Hoh and Quillayute river systems to all fishing starting Monday, October 19, until further notice. The rule covers the Quillayute River itself, which reopened with reduced limits only on October 6, and every major river feeding it: the Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah including both forks, and Dickey, plus the Hoh and South Fork Hoh outside Olympic National Park, and tributaries including Bear, Beaver, Sitkum and Thunder creeks.
The reason is the same one that closed the neighboring Clearwater on October 16. Coho catches in both basins are running well below expectations, suggesting returns below the preseason forecast, and a dry summer left rivers low enough that Chinook and coho have been holding in the lower rivers instead of moving up to spawn. Recent rain has helped some fish move, but managers remain concerned about how many will reach the spawning grounds.
The department says it may reopen the rivers if conditions improve. Waters inside Olympic National Park follow the park's own fishing rules.
Sources
advisory
Grant Grove Day Ride Loop (Oct 17); General Grant Tree Trail, North Grove Loop, Grant Tree Road (Oct 18); part of Sunset Trail (Oct 19)Kings Canyon National Park, CaliforniaPrescribed burn from Oct 17; reopen when clearedchecked Oct 17
Trail reports
482 acres in Kings Canyon. The General Grant Tree Trail and Grant Tree Road close from Sunday.
By Outdoor Unc
The Grant Grove prescribed burn in Kings Canyon National Park, first planned for October 13, now begins October 17, weather permitting, the park said in an update. It covers 482 acres, a little less than the 521 acres first announced.
Closures roll out over three days. The Grant Grove Day Ride Loop Trail closes October 17. The General Grant Tree Trail, the North Grove Loop Trail and Grant Tree Road close October 18, so the General Grant Tree itself is off limits from Sunday. Portions of the Sunset Trail close October 19. Everything reopens once it is cleared of hazards.
Smoke may be visible during and after the burn and can affect visibility and air quality; AirNow.gov has current readings.
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Trail reports
By Outdoor Unc
Olympic National Park crews will remove the temporary bridge connecting the Quinault North Shore Road and South Shore Road on October 22. It spans a culvert vulnerable to winter storms and high water, and taking it out lets the park restore access once the highest risk of damage has passed. Through the winter, reach the Graves Creek area by the South Shore Road.
Sources
closed
Bear Management Zones 1, 2, 3, 9, 10 and 12New MexicoHarvest limits reached; all other zones openchecked Oct 17
Hunting
By Outdoor Unc
New Mexico closed Bear Management Zone 1 to hunting on October 16 after its harvest limit was reached. With Zones 2, 3, 9, 10 and 12 already closed, six zones are now shut. Confirm a zone is open before every hunt on the Department of Wildlife's website or the Bear and Cougar Closure and Harvest Hotline, 877-950-5466.
Sources