July 15, 2019 3:30 a.m.
Officials with the National Park Service have announced the emergency closure of 2 backcountry campsites in Crater Lake National Park.
Spokesperson Marsha McCabe said the Dutton Creek and Red Cone campsites are now closed to the public use due to the significant number of hazardous trees that threaten those areas.
McCabe said that beetle damage and the wildland fire events of the past few years have resulted in many burned trees that, while still standing, are unstable or dead in and around both the campsites. She said those “standing dead” trees pose a significant danger to the public and can fall without warning, possibly resulting in serious injury or death to anyone in their path.
McCabe said like much of the west, Crater Lake National Park has had several large fires which have resulted in areas of burned forest. Park staff recommend that visitors avoid these burned areas because of the risk posed by standing dead trees. Dead or damaged trees can fall any time without warning.