XC Skiing/Snowshoeing

XC Skiing/Snowshoeing 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

• Sno-Park: Johnson Creek
• Sno-Park: Orr Creek
• Sno-Park: Skate Creek
• Sno-Park: Wakepish
• Mount St. Helens Area

  Visit Mount St. Helens from any direction! View areas below for current information.

  • Mount St. Helens West

    

    From I-5, drive into the heart of the blast zone. Spectacular crater views, visitor centers, picnic areas and hikes await. Learn what's open along State Route 504!

    Learn more

  • Mount St. Helens East

    

    This summer and fall route offers views of the crater and Spirit Lake, interpretive sites, and easy or rugged hiking. 

    Learn more

  • Mount St. Helens South

    

    Lava flows, waterfalls, caves, and lush forest abound. Plenty of year-round recreation options.

    Learn more

  • Mount Margaret Backcountry

    

    Rugged, steep trails and amazing landscapes typify the Mt. Margaret Backcountry. Permits required for overnight camping.

    Learn more
• 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:

• Sno-Park: Cougar
• Sno-Park: Marble Mountain
• Sno-Park: Trail of Two Forests
• 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.

  • Locations on and off the forest to explore
  • Forest Vicinity Map
  • Mount Adams Climbing Conditions Report 
  • Recreation Conditions Report 
• Forest Road 30/Wind River Highway

  Forest Road 30 enters the Southern end of the Gifford Pinchot as Wind River Highway just north of the towns of Carson and Stabler. It is paved to the 82/80 junction and Lone Butte Sno-park. Forest Road 51, Curley Creek Road, connects Forest Road 30 with Forest Road 90 and Highway 503.

  This road accesses interesting destinations such as the historic Wind River Work CCC Center and Hemlock Dam removal site, Beaver Campground and the upper Wind River, Old Man Pass, Surprise Lakes and the Berry Fields. It ties into Forest Road 24 at the north end of Indian Heaven Wilderness.

• Sno-Park: Government Mineral Springs
• Sno-Park: Koshko
• Sno-Park: McClellan Meadows
• Sno-Park: Oldman Pass
• Sno-Park: Atkisson
• Sno-Park: Flattop
• Sno-Park: Lone Butte
• Sno-Park: Pineside
• Sno-Park: Rush Creek
• Sno-Park: Smith Butte
• Sno-Park: SnowKing
• Trail #148 Snofoot
• Trail #150 Snofoot
• Trail #151 Valley Ski Trail
• Trail #159 Terminator
• Trail: Hard Time Loop (X-Country Ski )