The Pacific Northwest is a biodiverse outdoor nirvana, home to some of the largest coastal temperate rainforests on Earth. However, a recent string of wildfires is putting those natural landscapes in jeopardy. At the same time, a wildfire in Oregon reaches a near-record size, and all three of Washington’s national parks are ablaze, with multiple fires that have lasted for weeks.
What Is Happening
North Cascades National Park
Located in a remote part of northern Washington, North Cascades National Park attracts visitors for its expansive lakes, stunning mountains, and untouched landscapes. Since June, firefighting crews there have been struggling to contain multiple fires.
On June 24, multiple lightning strikes ignited five blazes in the park, according to a press release from the National Park Service (NPS). The Luna Fire began as a single acre in an area of “rock scree southwest of Luna Camp along Big Beaver Trail in steep, rough, and remote terrain,” the NPS said. Despite multiple helicopters dropping water, the fire steadily grew, reaching 7 acres by July 8.
Then on July 17, the park announced that it had discovered two more fires near the U.S.–Canada border. Hot, dry conditions enabled the Border 2 Fire to expand from 0.25 acres to 300 acres in less than a week. Since then, the NPS has released multiple updates; despite nearly a month of suppression efforts and cooler, wetter weather, the Luna and Border 2 Fires have not abated.
As of August 10, the Luna Fire stands at 3,583 acres with 0% containment. The Border 2 Fire has reached 10,582 with 0% containment. Heavy smoke has interfered with aerial operations.
The list of campgrounds, trails, and areas that are closed as a result is quite long, with 26 campgrounds (including boat-in campgrounds) shut down to visitors. The U.S.–Canada border and the entire Hozomeen area of the park are also closed.
These fires come on the heels of a massive flood in 2026 that continues to hamper operations and infrastructure in the park. The park had been steadily growing in visitor numbers, with a 55% jump from 2022 to 2025, but damage from the flood and these fires could leave lasting effects.
Olympic National Park
The NPS announced on August 6 that a fire had begun in Olympic National Park, located in the eastern part of the state. The Sourdough Fire had an initial size of 0.75 acres. Multiple areas, including the Aurora Ridge Trail, North Fork Sol Duc Trail, Eagles Lakes Campsite, and Aurora Springs Campsite, are closed as a result. Summer is peak season for this park; it typically sees over 500,000 visitors in July and August, according to NPS data.
Mt. Rainier National Park
The third, and arguably most famous of the state’s national parks, is also in trouble. The Grand Park 2 Fire began on Friday, August 7, and steadily grew over the weekend.
As of August 10, it stands at 312 acres and is 0% contained. It has closed the Sunrise entry gate and visitors center, as well as the campground near White River, the Fremont fire tower, and trails from Sunrise and Grand Park. Staff evacuated all visitors from the Sunrise and White River areas.
The Context
While the Pacific Northwest always experiences some wildfires in the summer, this winter saw an exceptionally low snowpack. Experts widely anticipated the 2026 fire season would be especially active and potentially destructive, and it seems those predictions are ringing true. Oregon’s Big Grass Fire, at a size of 513,000 acres, is rapidly approaching the record for the largest fire ever recorded in the state.
These national parks could take years to recover after these fires. North Cascades National Park is still dealing with the aftermath of a 2025 fire, with several parts of the park still closed.
All three Washington national parks are home to endangered species like the Northern Spotted Owl, whose habitat could be adversely affected by the fires. And of course, fires and closures could lead to significant drops in visitor numbers, whose entry fees help support the park.
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