In September 2020, the Riverside Fire started near the Riverside Campground, burning 138,054 acres in the Clackamas River Corridor. Eleven campgrounds along the Clackamas River were heavily damaged, as were employee housing, office and warehouse buildings, trailheads, toilets and water systems, and hundreds of miles of impacted roads.
This summer marked another milestone in the long process of fire recovery. In cooperation with the National Forest Foundation, a local contractor, and local non-profit AntFarm, Mt. Hood National Forest employees have been working to repair the damage from the Riverside Fire. While there is still work to be done, progress has been made reopening campgrounds and day use sites. Two campgrounds that have had most of the work completed in them are Ripplebrook and Rainbow Campgrounds. Work included removing dead and dying hazard trees, clearing brush, installing new toilets, replacing picnic tables and fire rings, realigning and repairing the campsite pull-ins, and improving access to the adjacent Riverside Trail. Opening dates for these two campgrounds was set for August.
Campground opening plans changed when the Sandstone Fire started on August 5, 2024. The fire is 9 miles southwest of Ripplebrook, and the Forest’s leadership knew help would be needed to ensure the fire was stopped before it might endanger local communities.
Firefighters from across the nation have arrived to contain the Sandstone Fire, and they needed a place to camp is both close to the fireline and safe from danger. The Ripplebrook and Rainbow Campgrounds fit the bill perfectly. As a result, the opening dates of the Rainbow and Ripplebrook Campgrounds have been postponed to allow firefighters to use them.
Camping at the Ripplebrook and Rainbow Campgrounds allows firefighters to be close enough to respond quickly to any changes in the fire, but also be far enough away from it so they can relax and sleep after working shifts that last 14 to 16 hours. These campgrounds have become firefighters home away from home while they are working on the Sandstone Fire, so if you are visiting the Ripplebrook area, please avoid the campgrounds to allow the firefighters privacy. Once the Sandstone Fire is contained, the Forest looks forward to welcoming campers back to these scenic sites.
For more information about the fire recovery on Mt. Hood, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mthood/firerecovery
Firefighters First Campers in Reopened Clackamas River Campgrounds
