GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST
GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST10600 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.
Adams Fork Campground
Nestled among tall conifers on the Adams Creek Fork of the Cispus River, Adams Fork Campground offers single sites for tent and RV camping, as well as one group site, with several of the sites sitting along the banks of the river.
Adams Fork Campground makes an excellent base from which to explore Mount St. Helens and the surrounding area. Nearby
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Beaver Campground
Beaver Campground is nestled among large, old maple and sycamore trees, offering a quiet and private family camping experience. Its location along the Wind River provides opportunities for anglers, but other recreational activities can be found in abundance here as well.
On-site playground equipment and horseshoe games offer fun for all ages and the
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Big Creek Campground
Situated in the vicinity of majestic Mount Rainier, Big Creek is a family campground nestled among Douglas firs, hemlock, alders and maples. The lush vegetation offers plenty of privacy between sites.
The sites at Big Creek form a loop, with only a handful of sites sitting along the banks of Big Creek. Open from mid-May through late September, Big
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Blue Lake Creek Campground
In a well-shaded location among maple trees and ferns, Blue Lake Creek Campground offers open, grassy spaces with sites that can accommodate both tents and RVs with a small brook that babbles through the campground.
Both Blue Lake and the Cispus River can be reached from multi-use trails leaving the campground, making this location popular among
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Kalama Horse Camp Campground
Kalama Horse Camp is located just outside the west boundary of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 27 sites accomodate primarily equestrian users, with nearby access to trails for horseback riding, hiking and biking.
La Wis Wis Campground
Situated at the confluence of three waterways near Mount Rainier, La Wis Wis is nestled under a canopy of towering Douglas firs and red cedars. The handful of sites that dot the riverbank enjoy the most sunshine.
With an abundance of activities nearby, La Wis Wis is a popular destination for long-stay camping. Its proximity to Mount Rainier National
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Lower Falls Campground
Lower Falls Campground is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Visitors enjoy several waterfalls in the area and access to the Lewis River Trail. The campground is open from May through October.Lower Falls Campground offers 43 standard sites that accommodate both tents and RVs 36 feet, but no hookups are available. Picnic tables and campfire
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Moss Creek Campground
Located in the southeast corner of the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest and close to Columbia River Gorge, Moss Creek Campground sits alongside the Little White Salmon River. At an elevation of 1,400 feet, the campground is shaded by a thick canopy of hemlock, cedars, firs and maples. Moss Creek is ideal for those wishing to escape the summer heat.This small
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North Fork Campground
North Fork Campground sits along the North fork of the Cispus River, shaded by a canopy of trees that include hemlock, maple and Douglas fir.
This popular campground is typically open from mid-May through late September and offers standard sites in addition to the Bear, Beaver and Elk group sites.
North Fork is situated between three of Washington's
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Oklahoma Campground
Oklahoma Campground is nestled in a lush grove of large hemlock, cedar, maple and fir trees alongside the Little White Salmon River, near the Columbia River Gorge. The campground is flat and is ideal for smaller groups to camp in clusters.
This campground offers some tent-only sites as well as sites for RVs up to 40 feet. Site 12/13 is a double site and
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Panther Creek Campground
The Campground sits along Panther Creek at the intersection of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Campers can enjoy the privacy provided by a variety of shade-loving plants and a thick forest of cedars, ash, firs and alder.
Hikers have close access to the Pacific Crest Trail, which spans 2,663 miles from Mexico to Canada. Outstanding scenic views are
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Paradise Creek
Paradise Creek sits at the confluence of Paradise Creek and the Wind River, nestled under an old-growth forest of cedars, firs, alder and maples. The sites by the river enjoy privacy from an abundance of lush undergrowth, while the other sites have a more open and spacious feel. The campground's remote location is ideal for campers seeking a quiet and
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Peterson Prairie Campground
Peterson Prairie Campground offers shaded and secluded campsites nestled in a forest of large pine, spruce and fir trees. The campground tends is popular among huckleberry pickers. At an elevation of 2,800 ft., Peterson Prairie offers a cool summertime climate during the hottest part of the season. Several kid-friendly attractions are a short distance
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Sunset Falls Campground
Sunset Campground is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Visitors enjoy scenic views of the river and a waterfall within the campground. The campground is open all year.
The campground is just off the East Fork Lewis River at an elevation of 1,000 feet. The campground road and trail path to the falls are paved and shaded by large evergreen
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Takhlakh Lake Campground
Takhlakh Lake Campground sits at an elevation of 4,400 feet in a well-shaded location next to its namesake lake. The campground sits at the base of Mt. Adams, providing visitors with incredible views in every direction. The campground has a short season, but it's a particularly popular destination for hikers exploring the trails around Mt. Adams.
The
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Tower Rock Campground
Tower Rock Campground is named for the impressive pillar that looms nearby and offers semi-private sites shaded by a mix of cedar, Douglas fir and maple.Tower Rock Campground is located about a quarter mile from the south bank of the Cispus River on the east side of Mount St. Helens. The terrain is mostly meadow and mountainside, as the campground is
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Walupt Lake Campground
Walupt Lake Campground offers scenic views of Mt. Adams and the surrounding forest on the west end of Walupt Lake. The sites here provide plenty of privacy and ample shade form the surrounding hemlock, cedar and fir trees. Walupt Lake Campground is a great choice for visitors looking to fish, swim, boat or explore the numerous hiking, biking and
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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
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.
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.