Big Creek Falls

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest has closed this trail following extensive damage caused by fallen trees during the winter of 2012/2013. They have determined that more trees are likely to fall making it difficult to justify rebuilding the trail. Many of the trees are extremely large, but are infected or very likely to be infected with laminate root rot. The disease is native and fairly common throughout the forest. Infected trees have weakened root systems that can cause them to fall unpredictably.

When such infections are detected in a developed area where people gather (trail heads, viewing platforms, benches, campgrounds etc.) they are required to either close the "gathering" area or fell the trees to avoid liability.

Rather than fell old-growth trees to comply with their policy, the Forest Service made the decision to close the trail. Sadly, as far as we know there is no plan to revive this trail nor any sign that policies about risk and hazard tree management will change in the foreseeable future.