Two lightning-caused wildfires continue to burn through steep and remote terrain inside the North Cascades National Park Service Complex east of Bellingham, with neither blaze showing any containment as of August 9, 2026. The Luna Fire and the Border 2 Fire have triggered extensive trail and campsite closures that affect a wide swath of backcountry routes popular with hikers and paddlers from across Whatcom County and the greater Bellingham area.
The Luna Fire: 3,583 Acres and Growing
The Luna Fire started on July 2, 2026, ignited by a lightning strike approximately 10 miles north of Newhalem. As of August 9, the fire had burned 3,583 acres and remained at zero percent containment. A total of 32 personnel are assigned to the incident under Incident Commander Ben Goodwin, working under the Maine Incident Management Team.
Active suppression work is underway despite the challenging terrain. A Type 3 helicopter conducted bucket drops along Big Beaver Creek on August 8. The Yellowstone Wildfire Module 2 is operating in the Beaver Pass area to protect structures and is expected to shift to the Big Beaver Camp area upon completing that work. A Bell 212 helicopter has been supporting potential initial attack operations elsewhere within the park complex.
Trail closures associated with the Luna Fire include the Big Beaver Trail from Ross Lake to the junction with Little Beaver Trail, the Little Beaver Trail from Ross Lake to Whatcom Pass, and the Sourdough Trail. Camp closures cover Pumpkin Mountain, Big Beaver Boat-in, Big Beaver Stock, Luna, Beaver Pass, Beaver Pass Stock and Group, 39 Mile, 39 Mile Stock, Twin Rocks, Twin Rocks Stock, Stillwell, Pierce Mountain, and Sourdough Lookout. Area closures include the Sourdough, Luna, and Prophet cross-country zones.
The Border 2 Fire: Crossing Into Canada
The Border 2 Fire has a more complex origin. The Border 1 Fire and Border 2 Fire were both discovered on July 17, 2026, following lightning storms east of Ross Lake near the United States and Canada border. The two fires merged on July 21 into a single blaze now managed as the Border 2 Fire under a full-suppression strategy.
The fire has since crossed the international border into Canada, where it is tracked as the Hozomeen Mountain Wildfire by Canadian authorities. It has also spread east onto Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest lands, making it a multi-agency and bi-national incident. Foot traffic across the US-Canada border in the affected area remains prohibited.
Trail closures for the Border 2 Fire are extensive. Closed trails include the Willow Lake Trail, Hozomeen Lake Trail, Obelisk Trail, Boundary (Three Fools Creek)/Castle Pass Trail, Desolation Lookout Trail, and the Eastbank Trail north of Lightning Creek. Closed boat-in camps and campgrounds include Nightmare Camp, Willow Lake Camp, Hozomeen Lake Camp, Desolation Camp, Deerlick Camp, Boundary Bay, Silver Creek, Little Beaver, Little Beaver Group, Cat Island, Lightning Creek, and Winnebago Flats Campground's upper and lower loops.
The area closure for Border 2 covers Ross Lake north of the Lightning Creek boat-in camp all the way to the US-Canada border, the entire Hozomeen area, and the Starvation Ridge and Hozomeen cross-country zones.
What Hikers and Campers Need to Know Now
Anyone planning a late-summer backcountry trip into the North Cascades National Park Service Complex should check current closure maps before finalizing plans. The Ross Lake area, one of the most popular destinations for Bellingham-area paddlers and backpackers, is heavily affected by both fires. The east side of the park, including routes that approach from Highway 20 near Newhalem, is similarly restricted.
Operating drones within the North Cascades National Park Service Complex is prohibited without prior written approval from the park superintendent. This restriction applies throughout the complex regardless of proximity to the active fire areas and is enforced to prevent interference with aerial firefighting operations.
The National Park Service and the Maine Incident Management Team are the primary sources for current acreage and containment updates. The Watch Duty app is also tracking fire locations with near-real-time maps, and fire location maps as of August 9 show both fires burning in the remote northeast quadrant of the park complex.
This fire season follows a summer that has already brought significant smoke and air quality concerns to Bellingham and western Whatcom County. A Whatcom County-wide burn ban remains in effect, covering all outdoor burning including campfires within Bellingham city limits and unincorporated county areas. Residents heading into the mountains for hiking or camping should verify that any planned campfire use is legal at their specific destination before departing, as restrictions vary by jurisdiction and can change rapidly with fire conditions.
The fires are expected to remain active through the remainder of summer unless significant rainfall arrives. Weather forecasts for the North Cascades through mid-August do not show substantial precipitation in the range, which means acreage totals for both fires are likely to continue climbing in the days ahead. Updates from the incident management team are issued regularly and available through the National Park Service website and the park's social media channels. For earlier coverage on the North Cascades fire season and how smoke has affected Whatcom County communities, see prior reporting on Highway 20 access challenges that have added additional barriers to reaching the park this year.
