There are several Sno-Parks across the forest where you can park, unload your snomobile, and head out on snowmobile trails. For information about individual Sno-Parks, visit: https://parks.state.wa.us/614/South-Cascades
Parking at Sno-Parks on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest require an annual WA State Sno-Park P...
There are several Sno-Parks across the forest where you can park, unload your snomobile, and head out on snowmobile trails. For information about individual Sno-Parks, visit: https://parks.state.wa.us/614/South-Cascades
Parking at Sno-Parks on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest require an annual WA State Sno-Park Pass between December and March. The money from Sno-Park passes pays for plowing access roads and grooming trails. Find out where you can purchase a Sno-Park pass.
You can check the status of road plowing along the Wind River Highway from Skamania Co. Public Works.
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.
Forest Road 56 connects Forest Road 21, at Adams Fork Campground, to Forest Road 2160, near Walupt Lake Campground. This road provides access to the Orr Creek Sno-Park and Cody Horsecamp. It is a gravel road.
Forest Road 83 passes through lava flows and mudflows from earlier eruptions and provides access to Climber's Bivouac, Ape Cave, and Lava Canyon. State Highway 503 is open year round, while Forest Roads 83, 81, and 90 are usually open from Memorial Day until snow blocks the roads. Food, lodging, gas, and other services are available in nearby communities.
Roving Rangers will be roving Lahar View Point and Lava Canyon this summer to provide interpretive talks on the geology of the area. Pine Creek Information Station is operated in the summer near the junction of Forest Roads 90 and 25. There are bathrooms with running water, souvenirs, and friendly staff from Discover Your Northwest.
The Mt. Adams area is administrered 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.
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.
