WONDERLAND COMPLEX

Extensive trail and backcountry camp closures remain in Mount Rainier

The Wonderland Complex is burning in Mount Rainier National Park within the West Fork of the White River drainage near Snoquera. The Garda Falls Fire pushed uphill toward a ridgeline in recent days, while the West Fork and Pigeon fires continue to smolder and show interior activity without spreading outward. The fires remain in remote backcountry terrain and do not directly threaten any communities, though extensive trail and camp closures remain in effect.

Evacuations and Closures

• As of October 19, no evacuation orders or evacuation warnings are in effect for residential communities.
• As of October 19, the Wonderland Trail is closed between the Carbon River Suspension Bridge and Frozen Lake near Sunrise.
• As of October 19, the Northern Loop Trail is closed from Berkeley Park to its junction with the Wonderland Trail near the Carbon River.
• As of October 19, all trails in the Grand Park area, including Huckleberry Creek Trail, and Sunrise trails north of Sourdough Ridge, including Mount Fremont Trail, remain closed.
• As of October 19, closed backcountry camps include Dick Creek, Mystic Lake, Granite Creek, Yellowstone Cliffs, Lake James, Fire Creek, and Berkeley Park.
• As of October 19, White River Road and Sunrise Road are closed to private vehicles and pedestrians for the season, though open to bicycles through construction zones.
• As of October 19, Carbon River Camp, Ipsut Creek Camp, and both Carbon River trail crossings remain open for backcountry visitors.

Impact

No structures or homes have been damaged or destroyed, and no injuries have been reported. Smoke continues to drift from the active component fires, prompting park officials to advise visitors and nearby residents to monitor air quality and adjust outdoor activity. Crews have assessed structure protection for remote backcountry patrol cabins near Lake James and Mystic Lake.

Conditions and Outlook

Overcast skies will persist across the park, with light southerly winds turning to the northwest as temperatures cool and humidity recovers. Rain chances increase toward the weekend, though officials caution that fair weather following the system could allow fire activity to pick up again. Fire behavior on the Garda Falls Fire is expected to moderate as it reaches sparse fuels along the ridge, while crews continue monitoring the perimeters.

Cause and Context

Natural lightning strikes ignited the complex in late August within the West Fork of the White River drainage. The incident includes the Garda Falls, West Fork, and Pigeon fires burning in rugged terrain alongside the adjacent Grand Park 2 fire.

Official updates current through October 19, 2026.