Lake and Pond Fishing

Lakes on the Gifford Pinchot offer some of the most scenic views and best fishing anywhere. From wild cutthroat and stocker rainbows to landlocked salmon and tiger musky, fishing opportunities are abundant.

Please check Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing regulations for rules, seasons and limits on your chosen water body.

Lake and Pond Fishing Areas

Cowlitz Valley area
The Cowlitz Valley area is administered by the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. This area is located in the Northern most portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington, and comprises about 575,000 acres of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Cowlitz Valley area is roughly located among three volcanic peaks: Mt. Adams to the east, Mt. Rainier (Tahoma) to the north, and Mt. St. Helens Volcanic Monument to the west. A line connecting Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens following the Boundary Trail #1 makes up the southern boundary. On clear days this trail affords spectacular views.

Nearby towns include Packwood, Glenoma, Morton and Ashford. The area has numerous campgrounds and over 500 miles of trails for a wide variety of users. Cowlitz Valley Ranger District manages four Wilderness areas including the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Glacier View Wilderness, Tatoosh Wilderness and William O Douglass Wilderness. Major River Drainages include the Cowlitz River, Clear Fork of the Cowlitz, and the Cispus River.

Nearby attractions include East entrance (Blast Zone) to Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mt. Rainier National Park. Mt. Rainier Information and Contact
Campground: Chambers Lake
Campground: Horseshoe Lake
Campground: Takhlakh Lake
A very popular campground close to the shore of Takhlakh Lake. The Campground includes ten walk-in sites. The views across the lake of Mt. Adams are outstanding. The northern trails of the Mt. Adams Wilderness are nearby. Takhlakh Loop Trail # 134 originates in the campground and encircles the lake. It’s a 1.1 mile flat hike around the lake. You can also connect to the Takh Takh Meadows trail #136 that leads you to an old lava flow. Great views abound from the top of the lava field. Mosquitos can be numerous in the early season.

View a Takhlakh Lake Campground map (.pdf).
Campground: Tower Rock
Campground: Walupt Lake
A popular high elevation campground on the shores of Walupt Lake and surrounded by the Goat Rocks Wilderness. The campground provides outstanding views of the the southern Goat Rocks Wilderness. The campground offers various sizes of camping units as well as 7 walk-in sites.

Walupt Lake spans 384 acres and is the second largest lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The clear mountain waters are popular with anglers who come here to cast for Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout. This campground is surrounded by the Goat Rocks Wilderness, named for the rugged peaks where numerous mountain goats are found. Scattered throughout the area are alpine meadows, lakes and ponds.

The Lake has a primitive boat ramp and day use area great for swimming and hanging out a hot summer day. Mosquitos can be a problem early in the season. There are numerous trails nearby. Walupt Lake Trail # 101 goes along the northern edge of the lake and is an easy hike to the end of the lake. The Nanny Ridge Trail # 98 climbs steeply but offers great views of the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Be sure to fill out a Wilderness Permit before entering the designated Wilderness.

Walupt Lake Day Use Picnic Site is within this campground.

View a Walupt Lake Campground map (.pdf)
Mount St. Helens West: State Highway 504
One of the main roads into Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, State Route 504 provides spectacular views of the landscape, including the crater, blast zone, and Toutle River Valley.

ALERT: Due to a significant landslide in May of 2023 State Route 504 is currently closed past the Mount St Helens Science & Learning Center at Coldwater at milepost 45.2. The Johnston Ridge Observatory, a popular visitor center at the end of State Route 504, is closed through 2027 while road and bridge repairs are underway. An alternative visitor center known as the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater is open Friday through Sunday in the winter, until closing sometime in December until next spring. The Science and Learning Center still has main views of the crater and a video of the Mount St. Helens eruption, in addition to Interpretive staff providing historical and recreational information about Mount St. Helens.

Sites to visit along State Route 504

Seven miles west of Johnston Ridge Observatory is the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater which is open to visitors 10 am to 4 pm, 7 days a week in the summer and on weekends in the winter.

As you drive up State Route 504, consider stopping at one of the highway viewpoints: Elk Rock Viewpoint, Castle Lake Viewpoint, and Loowit Viewpoint. These pull-outs offer benches, trails, gorgeous views, and are open most of the year.

Route 504 also provides visitors with access to a number of trails, such as the Hummocks Trail where you walk alongside pieces of the mountain, or begin your backpacking trip to spot elk and mountain goats in the majestic Mount Margaret Backcountry. A pleasant summer stop is at Coldwater Lake, with its accessible boardwalk stroll, picnic area, access to the Lakes Trail, and boat launch. South Coldwater Trailhead, just beyond the Hummocks Trailhead provides hiking access to the South Coldwater Trail.

Visitor Information: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters, (360) 449-7800

Visitor Centers Currently Open:
- Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center at Coldwater (360) 274-2131
- Forest Learning Center (Weyerhaeuser. Open May 18-Oct 1, 2023)\
- Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake (360) 274-0962
Site: Coldwater Lake Picnic and Boating Area
Coldwater Lake Recreation Area is located 45 miles east of Castle Rock in the heart of the blast zone near the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater and Johnston Ridge Observatory. Experience the effect the May 18, 1980 eruption had on the Coldwater Valley, including creating a brand new lake. Kayaking is popular here. Combustion engines are prohibited on the lake, but anglers reach trophy trout by electric motors, rowing, or kicking. See Restrictions section.

The 0.6 miles accessible Birth of a Lake Interpretive Trail allows visitors to enjoy close up views of Coldwater Lake.

Accessible Adventures Video
Trail #191 Zig Zag Lake
Mt. Adams area
Mt. Adams area is administered by the Mt Adams Ranger District. This area is located in the eastern portions of Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington, and comprises 367,000 acres. This area includes Mt. Adams Wilderness, Indian Heaven Wilderness and Trapper Creek Wilderness.

The Lewis River Recreation Area is within Mt. Adams Ranger District. The Lewis River Recreation Area is a 14-mile corridor, situated alongside the Lewis River and Forest Road 90 within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This popular recreation area is located 26 miles east of Cougar, and 29 miles west of Trout Lake, WA. This area provides access to the popular Lewis River Trail #31, and associated waterfall viewing. Advanced reservations via Recreation.gov are required daily during the busy visitor season from June 15 through September 30.

Mt. Adams is a prominent landmark in the area. Elevations here range between 1200 feet at the Wind River Work Center, 12 miles north of Carson, WA., and 12,276 feet at the summit of Mt. Adams. Precipitation varies from 70.7 inches of rain and 65.1 inches of snow at the Wind River Work Center and 44.1 inches of rain and 95.7 inches of snow at the Mt. Adams Ranger District office in Trout Lake, WA. The area features a great diversity of habitats and features, from old growth to second growth forest, wetland areas, low and high elevation meadows, glaciers, and low and high elevation lakes.
Boating Site: Mosquito Lakes
Campground: Goose Lake
Goose Lake is a popular fishing, boating and swimming lake. It is especially good for children. The lake is stocked with fish several times a season. The day use area has parking, picnic tables, a vault toilet and a boat ramp. Campsites are located in level spots on the hillside with attractive views of the lake. Parking for the sites is on the road side. The sites are walk in and allow tent camping only.

View a map of Goose Lake Campground (.pdf)
Campground: Forlorn Lakes
Recreation Rental: Gov. Mineral Springs Cabin
Trail #111 Thomas Lake
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

This 3.3 mile heavily used trail passes numerous lakes prior to its connection with the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 within Indian Heaven Wilderness.

From the Thomas Lake Trailhead, beginning along Road 65, this trail climbs gently as it passes through a dense forest, coming to Dee, Thomas, and Heather Lakes at approximately 0.6 mile. The trail climbs to a meadow, then continues past Brader Lake and Naha Lake to Rock Lake and Little Rock Lake. It then turns south and passes Lake Umtux.

As the trail continues through the broad plateau meadow, it passes numerous unnamed ponds and tiny lakes. The trail descends into the timber, passing Lake Sahalee Tyee, and ends at Blue Lake with the junction of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000.

Lake Sahalee Tyee lies in the shallow crater of an old volcano. This is an area where Native Americans built slow-burning fires in trenches, preserving berries for later use by drying them over the radiant heat.
Trailhead: Thomas Lake
Trail #12 Stagman Ridge
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

This 4.1 mile trail follows a long ridge through timber, meadows and the burned area from the Cascade Creek Fire. It offering views of Avalanche and White Salmon Glaciers, and ends at the junction with the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. It touches Cascade Creek at a nice waterside spot for a picnic.

The trail leaves the trailhead from a clear-cut at 4,193 feet elevation, then climbs northeast, enters Mt. Adams Wilderness, and continues through heavy timber and rocky slopes. The trail ends at the junction with the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 on top of the ridge at 5,800' elevation. The scar from a massive debris avalanche can be seen from this trail. The avalanche occurred in 1920 and again in August 1997. It originated in the Avalanche Glacier cirque, at approximately 12,000' elevation.
Trail #133 Soda Peaks Lake
This Trail Open to Hikers Only.

This 5.5 mile trail accesses the southwest corner of Trapper Creek Wilderness. Soda Peaks Lake, a glacial -carved cirque, is surrounded by conifers in a mountainous setting. The trail passes through forest and across loose rock to reach a saddle from which it switchbacks down to the lake. The trail then decesends steeply to join the Trapper Creek Trail near the southeast Wilderness boundary.

The trail begins at Soda Peaks Trailhead and climbs east into Trapper Creek Wilderness to a saddle. From the saddle, the trail switchbacks down to Soda Peaks Lake, which is in a glacial-carved cirque. The trail skirts the lake to the north and traverses the southern portion of the wilderness before fording Trapper Creek and intersecting with Trapper Creek Trail #192.

A separate spur trail parallels Trapper Creek's west bank and terminates at Government Mineral Springs.
Trailhead: Soda Peaks
Trail #179 Lemei Lake
Trail #185 Wood Lake
Trail #33 Indian Heaven
Trail #34 Lemei
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

This 5.3 mile trail offers views of Mounts Adams, Rainier, St. Helens, and Hood, along with views of Lemei Rock, a 5,925' promontory that juts 500' above Lake Wapiki.

From the Lemei Trailhead on Road 24 the trail heads east to pass through a second-growth forest. The trail then climbs to the ridge line, enters Indian Heaven Wilderness, and intersects with Filloon Trail #102. After 3 miles you will pass a junction with Lake Wapiki Trail #34A, a 0.5 mile that leads to Wapiki Lake. From here the trail climbs steeply to open meadow slopes, providing excellent views of the lake and Lemei Rock before descending to end at Indian Heaven Trail #33 near Cultus Lake.

Lemei Rock is the core of an old volcano and is the highest point in Indian Heaven Wilderness. Its crater forms the basin for Lake Wapiki.
Trailhead: Lemei
Trail #34A Wapiki Lake
Trail #55 Tombstone Lake
Trail #9A Looking Glass Lake
Wilderness: Indian Heaven
Wilderness: William O. Douglas