New aerial photos, taken Sunday from a helicopter over the Columbia River Gorge, show some of the extent of burn damage from the Eagle Creek fire.
Many trails in the gorge won't open soon -- in some cases not until spring and elsewhere not for a year or two.
Oneonta Gorge, off the Historic Columbia River Highway near Ainsworth State Park, and Eagle Creek and Tanner Creek, both near Cascade Locks, suffered the most severe burns and are at the highest risk of rock falls and debris flows, said Ryan Cole, an engineering geologist for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Map of Columbia gorge fire shows how areas fared
The areas around McCord Creek near Cascade Locks and Moffett Creek by the John B. Yeon State Scenic Corridor were also severely burned.
The fire erupted Sept. 2, 2017, and has burned more than 48,000 acres. It continues to burn in some areas but is not expected to grow.
About 15 percent of the fire area, or 7,300 acres, suffered severe burns, meaning ground cover like moss or fallen leaves and pine needles was completely burned away. Another 30 percent, about 14,600 acres, was moderately burned. The rest suffered little to no burn damage.
Multnomah Falls Lodge, Oneonta Gorge at high risk of rock falls after fire
-- The Oregonian/OregonLive