Bear activity closes Whatcom County campground

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Officials with the North Cascades National Park Service closed Goodell Creek Campground on June 16, 2026, due to reports of bear activity. As of June 18, 2026, it remains closed.

Black bear activity has escalated within the Goodell Creek Campground loop over the last 48 hours. Because the bears have bypassed standard deterrents and are actively seeking food in the immediate campsite areas, the National Park Service has issued an emergency closure for the main campground, the lower group sites, and the adjacent boat/raft launch to prevent dangerous human-wildlife habituation.

Newhalem Creek Campground located across the Skagit River to the south currently remains open but is under a high-alert advisory requiring absolute compliance with hard-sided vehicle or bear-box food storage.

Goodell Creek and Newhalem Creek campgrounds are close to the North Cascades Highway. The Washington State Department of Transportation reopened the North Cascades Highway after an extended winter closure on June 14, 2026. At the time, they noted, “People should also be alert for wildlife, which is not used to vehicles traveling at highway speed limits through the area. Workers have reported many deer and bear sightings, many with young, on or near the roadway. It will take them a while to transition to North Cascades Highway being fully open.”