Viewing Plants

Ferns and berries and greenery in a forest.

Viewing Plants 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: Killen Creek
Campground: La Wis Wis
This large campground (109 sites) is located right off of US Highway 12 at the junction of the Clear Fork of the Cowlitz and the Ohanapecosh Rivers. It is situated in an old growth stand of Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Cedar. Most sites offer good privacy.

The Purcell Falls Trail #162A and the Blue Hole Trail #167 originate from the campground and offer views of the falls and the Blue Hole along the Ohanapecosh. This is a great destination for those traveling through looking for an overnight stay and also makes a great central location for an extended stay while exploring the local area.

View a La Wis Wis Campground map (.pdf).
Forest Road 25
Trailhead: Potato Hill - Pacific Crest Trail
Mount Margaret Backcountry
Mount St. Helens East: Forest Roads 25 & 99
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Roads 25 and 99 provide access to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument's vast blown down forest and views of the legendary Spirit Lake. These forest roads are typically open from late June until November.

On Forest Road 99, stop at one of nine interpretive sites, enjoy the views and learn about the volcano and eruption by reading interpretive signs. Links to the stops are below:
Other great opportunities include mountain biking, hiking and/or picnicking at Smith Creek and journeying into the Mount Margaret Backcountry via the Norway Pass Trail.

Lodging, gas and other services are offered in nearby communities. Cowlitz Valley Ranger Station, in Randle, WA, open to visitors daily during the summer season.

As an important note: Forest Road 99 is split between two different ranger districts within Gifford Pinchot National Forest. For current conditions NORTH of Bear Meadow Trailhead and Interpreative Site, contact Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. For current conditions SOUTH of Bear Meadows Trailhead and Interpreative site, contact Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Accessible Adventures Video
Mount St. Helens South: Forest Roads 83 & 81
Forest Road 83: This nine-mile, paved road passes through forests, over 2,000 year-old lava flows and across a mudflow created during the 1980 eruption.

From Forest Road 8303, a spur road, visit Trail of Two Forests Interpretive Site or Ape Cave. Continuing driving on 83 to access June Lake Trail, Lahar Viewpoint (the only clear view of the mountain’s south side from the road), Ape Canyon Trail and Lava Canyon Interpretive Site. See Mount St. Helens Map.

Forest Road 81: This mostly paved but several miles of gravel, rough road transports you through less traveled parts of the Monument. Spur Road 830 ends at Climber’s Bivouac Trailhead, the start of the summer climbing route. The road winds west to Red Rock Pass, Blue Lake Trailhead, and Kalama Horse Camp Campground, eventually connecting back with Highway 503.
- View a Mount St. Helens Map. (.pdf)
Accessible Adventures Video:
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
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.
Campground: Panther Creek
Campground: Paradise Creek
Campground: Peterson Prairie
Peterson Prairie Campground is an attractive campground with level, well shaded graveled sites. This site is located near large huckleberry fields making the campground very popular during huckleberry season. It has easy access on a paved road. The popular tourist spots, Natural Bridges and Ice Caves are nearby. There is drinking water and in season a host in the campground.

Peterson Prairie Group Campground is also available by reservation.

View a Peterson Prairie Campground map (.pdf)
Campground: Peterson Prairie Group Camp
Campground: Tillicum
Campground: Trout Lake Creek
Campground: Atkisson Group Camp
Campground: Cultus Creek
Campground: Beaver
Campground: Government Mineral Springs
Campground: Forlorn Lakes
Huckleberry Access
Recreation Rental: Gov. Mineral Springs Cabin
Recreation Rental: Peterson Prairie Cabin
Site: Ice Cave Picnic Area
Trail #102 Filloon
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

Filloon Trail provides access to Indian Heaven Wilderness from Little Goose Horse Camp. It connects to Lemei Trail #34. Much of the trail is in heavy second-growth forests.

One of the features of this connector trail is the huckleberries in late summer. You may pick berries for personal use within the Wilderness. Please note that removing huckleberries from designated Wilderness is prohibited.
Trailhead: Filloon
Trail #107 Sawtooth
Trail #11 Snipes Mountain
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

Snipes Mountain trail climbs through open pine forests and across rocky slopes through the remains of the 2008 Coldsprings Fire, 2012 Cascade Creek Fire, and 2015 Cougar Creek Fire. It meets Pineway Trail #71, then continues into Mt. Adams Wilderness and upwards for another 2.75 miles to the junction with Round the Mountain Trail #9 in high mountain meadows. The trail roughly follows the A.G. Aiken Lava Bed, a 4-miles long and approximately one-half mile wide lava flow from an eruption about 4,000 years ago.

The trail is named after Ben Snipes, a local cattleman. Mt. Adams is historically know for sheep herding; cattle weren't grazed in the Mt. Adams area until 1912, a year that marks the beginning of a number of disputes between sheepherders and cattlemen known locally as the Range Wars.
Trailhead: Snipes Mountain
Trail #113 Killen Creek
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

Historically used for berry-picking and later for sheepherding on Mt. Adams, the 3.1 miles Killen Creek Trail climbs through forested areas and open meadows within Mt. Adams Wilderness. It offers spectacular views of Mt. Adams as well as meadows full of wildflowers in season. The trail ends on the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 at about 6000 feet near the intersection with High Camp Trail #10.

It is often used as an access trail for mountain climbers attempting routes up the north faces of Mt. Adams. Review the Mt. Adams Summit page for information about climbing Mt. Adams. A Cascade Volcano Pass is required from May 1^st to September 30^th for anyone age 16 and older traveling above 7000ft elevation on Mt. Adams, even if not attempting the summit.
Trailhead: Killen Creek
Trail #146 Grassy Knoll
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

This steep trail follow a ridge through rolling hills with oak trees providing shade and grassy meadows with excellent views of the River, the Big Lava Big and surrounding mountains. Cold springs, located about 5 miles from the trailhead, provides a good cooling-off spot on this otherwise dry hike. The trail ends on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 below Big Huckleberry Mountain. Grassy Knoll was the site of a fire lookout in the 1930's. In season a large number of species of plants provide a spectacular wildflower display.
Trailhead: Grassy Knoll
Trailhead: McClellan Meadows-Lower
Trailhead: McClellan Meadows-Upper
Trail #16 Shorthorn
Trail #171 Indian Race Track
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

This heavily used trail is located in the southwestern part of Indian Heaven Wilderness. The trail travels through second growth forest, rocky terrain , a meadow and ends near Red Mountain fire lookout. The meadow was the site of annual gatherings of Native Americans during huckleberry season. There is still evidence of the track they used for pony racing in the meadow.

Beginning at Falls Creek Horse Camp, the trail travels southeastward through second-growth forests and crosses Falls Creek with a natural crossing. The trail enters Indian Heaven Wilderness, then climbs through rocky terrain for one mile to a meadow where the grade flattens. This area is called Indian Race Track. At this point, Trail #171A leaves Trail #171 and heads east for 0.5 mile before connecting with the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000. Indian Race Track Trail #171 then climbs from Indian Race Track to Road 6048 near the summit of Red Mountain. A fire lookout is located on the summit of Red Mountain. The original lookout was built in 1910. It was replaced over the years by two other lookouts. The Red Mountain Lookout is one of three active lookouts remaining on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest today!

Indian Race Track was, historically, an annual gathering place for Native Americans during the berry season until the early 1900s. From eyewitness reports, we know that thousands of people from the Yakama, Klickitat, and Columbia River tribes would gather here each year. Not only was this a good huckleberry site but it was located along a historic cross-Cascades route that was used for trade. The track was used for pony races and is about 10-feet-wide and more than 2,000 feet long. It can still be seen today in a large meadow near the base of Red Mountain, about one-half mile from the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000.
Trailhead: Indian Race Track - North
Trail #171A Shortcut
Trail #179 Lemei Lake
Trail #192.1 Trapper Creek
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

This trail climbs from Trapper Creek Trailhead on Forest Road 5401 through an old-growth forest, intersecting with Dry Creek Trail #194 almost immediately. The trail climbs for about 1 mile, before the junction with Observation Trail #132 near the Trapper Creek Wilderness boundary. The trail offers access to stands of old growth and rushing creeks. At 1.2 miles it becomes Trapper Creek Trail #192.2, which is Hiker Only.

Alert: This trail is within the Big Hollow Fire (2020) burned area. Hikers travel at their own risk. Please review safety tips for burned areas.
Trailhead: Trapper Creek
Trail #192.2 Trapper Creek
Trail #198 Sunshine Primitive Trail
Trail #202 Rim Primitive Trail
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 #35 Service
This Trail Open to Hikers, Bikers, Equestrian and OHV Use.

This trail begins on Road 8821 and follows a decommissioned road for 1 mile through open stands of spruce to Deadhorse Meadow. The trail crosses Road 8831, then continues across Smoky and Little Goose Creeks before ending on Middle Trail #26.

This and a number of other trails in the area were developed by sheepherders in the late 1800s. Sheepherders traveled from as far as eastern Oregon to graze their sheep on these summer ranges. The sheepherders often followed Native American trails. Portions of the Service Trail follow the original wagon route into the forest built in the early 1900s.
Trailhead: Service
Trail #49 Little Huckleberry
This Trail Open to Hikers, Bikers and Equestrian Use.

This trail climbs a long, forested ridge on the north side of Little Huckleberry Mountain. The steep grade continues for 1 mile and at approximately 4,000 feet elevation the trail enters an area with steep side slopes. The trail eventually breaks from the trees into berry fields and rock gardens, then climbs to the summit of Little Huckleberry Mountain, the former site of a fire lookout. Perched at 4,781 feet elevation, the site offers views of Mounts Hood and Adams.

You can pick out 9-mile-long Big Lava Bed to the west by the gray-green color of the forest that grows on top of it, forming a contrast with the deeper green of the adjacent forests. Goose Lake and South Prairie can be seen in the foreground. The original fire lookout was built in 1924. It was replaced by a new building in the 1930s. The lookout was destroyed in 1970.
Trail #71 Pine-Way
This Trail Open to Hikers, Bikers and Equestrian Use.

Located in the eastern part of the Mt. Adams Ranger District, this trail is adjacent to the Yakama Indian Reservation. Cattle are ranged in the area and the first 0.5 mile of the trail is often used as a stock driveway. The second half of the trail, heading due west, is a cow trail through rocky terrain. It connects with Snipes Mountain Trail #11 near the A.G. Aiken lava flow. The entire length of the trail goes through the Cold Springs Fire of 2008.
Trailhead: Pine-Way
Trail #75 Salt Creek
This Trail Open to Hiker and Equestrian Use.

Salt Creek Trail enters Mt Adams Wilderness to offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Beginning from Salt Creek Trailhead on Forest Road 8031, this lightly used trail follows Road 060 (closed to vehicle travel) for 1 mile, then enters the Mt. Adams Wilderness.

The trail travels through large open timber following the Salt Creek drainage, passing several beaver ponds and meadows. As you hike a long the trail near the beaver pond expect to see elk, deer, beaver, and eagles. The trail is maintained for 3 miles, ending near the confluence of Cascade and Salt Creeks.
Trailhead: Salt Creek
Trail #9 Round-the-Mountain
Trailhead: Indian Race Track - South
Trailhead: Natural Bridges
Trailhead: Sawtooth
Wilderness: Indian Heaven
Wilderness: Goat Rocks
Wilderness: Mt. Adams
Mt. Adams Wilderness envelops an ecologically complex landscape along the west slope of Mt. Adams and its summit. The 47,122 acres that comprise the wilderness area are a blend of dry east-side and moist west-side ecosystems, allowing diverse types of vegetation and wildlife to flourish. Several areas along the flanks of Mt. Adams have burned in wildfires over the last several decades, providing sharp contrast with the lush unburned forests nearby and a glimpse at how landscapes regenerate after fire. Volcanic activity on Mt. Adams spans many geologic eras, with the most recent activity occurring just 3,500 years ago. Multiple trails provide access to spectacular views of Mt. Adams, including its glaciers, mountain streams, meadows, open alpine forests and lava flows.

At an elevation of 12,276 feet, Mt. Adams is the second highest peak in Washington; however, with an 18-mile wide diameter it is the largest volcano by bulk in the state. Its glaciers, along with adjoining ridges and permanent snow fields, sport many climbing routes of varying difficulty to the summit. All involve a significant degree of inherent danger and risk. Review the Mt. Adams Summit page for information about climbing Mt. Adams. A Mt. Adams Climbing Permit ( https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74420) is required from May 1^st to September 30^th for anyone age 16 and older traveling above 7000ft elevation on Mt. Adams, even if not attempting the summit.

The remoteness and wilderness character of Mt. Adams led to its designation as a wild area under the Forest Service U2 regulations in 1942 and ultimately to its inclusion in the Wilderness Act of 1964. This designation includes the summit of Mt. Adams, and thus Wilderness Regulations apply for those seeking adventure on its higher ridges and summit as well as those enjoying the meadows, forest, and lakes below.

Only the western half of Mt. Adams lies within the Mt. Adams Wilderness, managed by the US Forest Service. The eastern half of Mt. Adams lies within the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation and is managed by the tribe. The portion of the mountain on Yakama Nation lands is largely closed to recreation. Contact the Yakama Nation for information regarding areas open to recreation.

Mobile Friendly Map via Avenza: Mount Adams Wilderness Map (Learn more about how Avenza works.)
Wilderness: Trapper Creek