The Gifford Pinchot National Forest has announced plans for a temporary closure of the High Rock Trail No. 266 during the upcoming summer season.
The closure is necessary to ensure public safety during the restoration of the historic High Rock Lookout, located at the end of the trail on the crest of Sawtooth Ridge, 10 miles north of Randle, according to a news release from the Sand Mountain Society.
Built in 1930 and 1931 for the purpose of fire detection, the historic lookout is a reminder of the early years of the U.S. Forest Service.
Restoration efforts planned for the summer include the reconstruction of the lookout, which was carefully disassembled in 2021 to address structural deterioration.
The project is a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service, the White Pass Country Historical Society and the Sand Mountain Society, an Oregon-based nonprofit organization specializing in the preservation of historic lookouts.
The High Rock Trail will be open to the public through the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and then closed to public access from July 7 to Sept. 15 while the restoration is in progress. Forest Service Road 8440, which provides access to the High Rock trailhead at Towhead Gap, will be closed to the public on July 7 and July 8 during helicopter operations.
While these closures are in effect, hikers are encouraged to explore other nearby trails, including the Osborne Mountain Trail No. 250, Teeley Creek Trail No. 251 and Big Creek Trail No. 252, all in the vicinity of High Rock.
For more information about the lookout restoration, including how to become a project supporter or volunteer, visit www.WhitePassCountryMuseum.org.
