Snowmobiling

There are great places and trails to snowmobile on the forest. Read more about Snowmobile Regulations here.

There are several Sno-Parks across the forest where you can park, unload your snowmobile, and head out on snowmobile trails.

Parking at Sno-Parks at Gifford Pinchot National Forest requires a daily or annual Washington State Sno-Park Pass between December 1-March 31. After March 31 a Sno-Park permit is no longer required and plowing and grooming services stop for the season. The money from Sno-Park passes pays for plowing access roads and grooming trails.

You can check the status of road plowing along the Wind River Highway from Skamania County Public Works.

Snowmobiling 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. Rainier to the north, Mt. Adams to the east, and Mt. St. Helens 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 Mt. Rainier National Park and Mount St. Helens National Monument.
Sno-Park: Johnson Creek
Sno-Park: Orr Creek
Sno-Park: Skate Creek
Sno-Park: Wakepish
Mount St. Helens area
Visit Mount St. Helens area from any direction!

MAP: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (.pdf)
- 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 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
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.
Sno-Park: Atkisson
Sno-Park: Flattop
Sno-Park: Lone Butte
Sno-Park: Pineside
Sno-Park: Rush Creek
Sno-Park: Smith Butte
Sno-Park: SnowKing

Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling Areas

Mount St. Helens West

Mount St. Helens East

Mount St. Helens South

Mount Margaret Backcountry

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities