Washington Department of Natural Resources crews are removing dozens of dead and damaged trees at Camp Sekani in Sandpoint following the Upriver fire that swept through the area in June, with officials aiming to reopen trails before a major parking lot renovation begins next month.
The fire damaged roughly 9 to 10 miles of the 49-mile trail system shared between Camp Sekani and Beacon Hill. Crews have identified more than two dozen hazard trees along the affected corridors that pose a safety risk to hikers and mountain bikers, making tree removal the immediate priority for trail restoration.
Fire Impact on Infrastructure
Beyond standing dead timber, the June fire destroyed some trail signage and wooden ramps installed along the paths. A bulldozer cut a fire line across the upper portion of the mountain during firefighting operations, and hand-dug fire lines remain on the property—those hand lines must stay intact, which currently prevents restoration work in those specific zones.
The City of Spokane, which manages the Camp Sekani facility, has scheduled a substantial parking lot upgrade set to begin in August. DNR officials anticipate reopening the trails before that construction project launches, though the timing hinges partly on weather conditions. Since the fire, the area has received minimal rainfall, and adequate moisture is needed before crews can safely resume full trail work.
Trail Status and Community Outlook
Trails west of Camp Sekani have remained open throughout the recovery period, offering some access for outdoor enthusiasts. Garrett Jones, a volunteer with the Evergreen East mountain bike club—which coordinates the trail system at Sekani—noted that “the trails don’t seem to be in really bad shape,” signaling optimism about the recovery timeline.
Melinda Dupree expressed similar confidence in the community’s ability to restore the trails. “I’m 100 percent confident that the community will rally and bring the trails back to where they were or make them even better,” she said.
Camp Sekani and Beacon Hill have long served as anchor recreation destinations in the North Idaho Panhandle, drawing mountain bikers, hikers, and families from across the region. The closures have left a gap in local trail access during peak summer recreation season, though the Evergreen East club and DNR are working to minimize the disruption.
Residents and regular visitors to the trails can monitor progress through updates from the City of Spokane and the Washington DNR as hazard tree removal continues through the coming weeks.
What Comes Next
Trail reopening is expected before the August parking lot project begins. Once the hazard trees are cleared and conditions permit, crews will address remaining fire damage and restoration work. The community’s involvement in trail maintenance and advocacy will play a key role in bringing the system back to full capacity.
For more on outdoor recreation in the Sandpoint area, see Sandpoint Sharks Schedule Annual Open Water Race on Lake Pend Oreille for July 31 and Sandpoint Tigers Launch New 60-Plus Baseball League With Season Opener This Weekend.