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Washington
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Washington State Parks

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USA Parks
Washington
Volcano Country Region
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Campsite Availability
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Gifford Pinchot National Forest LOWER FALLS © Krystle
Jumping off Lower Falls. Can only do this if its late summer, its still very dangerous But also one of my best memories in my entire life So amazing One of the most spectacular places in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Mt Adams © Michael Young
Mt Adams shot from Windy Ridge
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Iron Creek Falls © Tom Purse
Iron Creek Falls is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Mt. St. Helens
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Mt. St. Helens © Tom Purse
Mt. St. Helens. The National Volcanic Site is located in the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest.
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GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST
GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST
10600 NE 51st Circle
Vancouver, Washington   98682
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The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is one of the oldest National Forests in the United States. Included as part of the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve in 1897, this area was set aside as the Columbia National Forest in 1908. It was renamed the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in 1949.

Whether you seek solitude, social activity, creative inspiration, wildlife, forest products or scenic beauty, you can find it in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. We invite you to enjoy the many different aspects of your National Forest.

Located in southwest Washington State, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest now encompasses 1,312,000 acres and includes the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument established by Congress in 1982.
Featured Areas within the Park
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseFishingyes
 Huntingyes
 Hiking Trailyes
 Picnickingyes
Cabins
Peterson Prairie Guard Station

This is a former Fire Guard Station, (an 18 x 24 foot structure built in 1926) with one bedroom, a small kitchen, a living room with a wood fireplace and propane furnace.

The cabin is located along Forest Road 24 and is easily accessed by snowmobile, snow shoes or skiing. The cabin is a 2 mile trip from the Sno*Park during the winter. You can drive to the cabin as soon as the snow is gone.

The cabin is heated with propane or wood and provides a comfortable setting for six people.

Use Fee: $50.00 per night.

There is a two-night minimum over the weekends (Fri-Sat). There is also a $9 fee per reservation. The cabin is rentable year round. Reservations can be made up to one year in advance.

There is no indoor plumbing. The rest room is a vault toilet unit about 150 feet from the cabin.

A Sno*Park permit required December 1 - April 1. This is a great place to pick huckleberries right outside the door. There is great fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, mushrooming within a short drive of the cabin. No pets are allowed.

Closed on Tuesdays for servicing.

Mt. Adams Ranger District2455 Hwy 141Trout Lake, WA 98650509-395-3400

Government Mineral Springs Guard Station:

This is a newly restored Forest Guard station built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was nestled in a grove of towering old-growth firs.

The cabin has two bedrooms, a kitchen, and living room with fireplace. The cabin is ideally situated near Trapper Creek Wilderness trailhead and is close to Sno*Parks for winter recreation access.

When roads are snow-free, you can reach the cabin by car. During the winter, a trip to the cabin on skis or snowshoes will take you about ten minutes from parking. Propane heat, lights, and cooking range (pots, pans and dishes) are provided along with wood for the fireplace.

Cabin Capacity : Nine people.

Use Fee: $65.00 per night. There is a two-night minimum over the weekends (Fri-Sat). There is also a $9 fee per reservation.

Availability : Available year-round, with a stay limit of seven consecutive days. Reservations can be made up to one year in advance.

Special Considerations: There is no indoor plumbing. The rest room is a vault toilet unit about 150 feet from the cabin.

Sno*Park permit required December 1 - April 1. No pets are allowed. There is good fishing, hunting, biking, mushroomong, berry picking, hiking and winter sports within a short drive. Trapper Creek Wilderness is within easy walking distance. The cabin is located between Mount St. Helens and the Columbia River

Mt. Adams Ranger District2455 Hwy 141Trout Lake, WA 98650509-395-3400
Camping
December 19 , 2005 - Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano.

The Monument Manager has closed Mount St. Helens to climbing. The crater rim and flanks of the volcano above the 4800-foot level have been closed due to an increased potential for steam explosions from the lava dome that could propel rocks and/or ash clouds above the crater rim. Existing climbing permits have been cancelled and Jacks Restaurant and Store has stopped issuing new permits.

Forest visitors near the volcano need to be prepared for a potential ash fall.

A number of trails in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument have also been closed, please check the Special Conditions Report for trail closure information.

Forest officials are in close contact with USGS and the University of Washington and will post updates as needed.

For the latest information, check our Special Conditions Report for updates.
Fishing
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest has more than 20 species of fish in 1,360 miles of streams and over 100 lakes. Three species of anadromous fish (chinook and coho salmon, and steelhead trout) and several species of resident salmonids (rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, brown trout, and cutthroat trout), including two species of char (bull trout and eastern brook trout), can be found within Forest waters.

More than 90 percent of the streams on the Forest have a self-sustaining resident fishery. Fish populations are supplemented with hatchery fish in some forest lakes and streams. High mountain lakes may not be accessible until the late-spring snow melts. Our forest waters provide a diverse recreational fisheries.

Excellent opportunities for both bait and fly fishing abound. As you use our site, we hope you find much useful information to guide you in your fishing adventures. Good Luck!

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license!

Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing regulations are subject to change. Call the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules.


Location
Gifford Pinchot National Forest is

Trails
You can travel more than 1,200 miles of trail of varying difficulty. Some low-elevation trails, which open in the spring, have displays of early wildflowers. However, most trails are located in upper-elevation forest and alpine areas, which may be snow covered until July. Nearly 300 miles of trail are located within the Wildernesses. Approximately 150 miles of trails are constructed to barrier-free standards with several levels of difficulty. Approximately 150 miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traverses the Forest through spectacular, scenic high country, including the Indian Heaven, Mt. Adams, and Goat Rock Wildernesses.
Nature Programs
Heritage Program:

The purpose of the Heritage Program is to protect significant heritage resources, to share the values of these resources with the American people, and to contribute relevant information and perspectives to forest management.

Heritage resources are locations of past human activity, occupation or use identifiable through field survey, historical documentation, or oral tradition.

To date, 1,596 heritage resource sites have been documented on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Examples include prehistoric archaeological sites such as Layser Cave on the Cowlitz Valley District, historic Native American sites such as the Big Tire Peeled Cedars, Mt. Adams District, and historic structures such as House Rock Shelter, an emergency fire lookout, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Heritage resource surveys for projects such as timber sales, stream bank stabilization, or roadside viewpoint construction are a routine part of program activities. Surveys are oriented toward the discovery and documentation of significant heritage resources. Other aspects of the program include historical research, collections curation, interpretation, public involvement, and coordination with tribal groups with traditional ties to the land.

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
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Area Campgrounds
Silver Beach Resort
40350 Highway 12
Naches, WA
509-672-2500
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
Gifford Pinchot State Park, a 2,338-acre full service park, is in northern York County along PA 177 between the towns of Rossville and Lewisberry. The park consists of reverting farm fields and wooded hillsides with the 340-acre Pinchot Lake serving as a prime attraction.

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Washington State Parks

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