Gifford Pinchot National Forest Washington

Gifford Pinchot National Forest Overview

Gifford Pinchot National Forest is located in southern Washington and includes 1.32 million acres. It extends along the western slopes of the Cascade Range from Mt. Rainer National Park to the Columbia River. Mt. Adams, Cowlitz Valley and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument are also within the National Forest.

Outdoor Recreation & Activities

In the Mount St. Helens area visitors can backpacking, hike, explore caves and lava flows, camp, fish, picnic and enjoy an abundance of wildlife.

The Mt. Adams area also offers great backcountry recreation including backpacking and hiking. Other popular activities include camping, fishing, picnicking and wildlife viewing. The Lewis River Recreation Area is also within Mt. Adams Ranger District. It includes 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 also provides access to the popular Lewis River Trail #31, and associated waterfall viewing.

The Cowlitz Valley area is located in the Northern most portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington. The  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. The area also has numerous campgrounds and over 500 miles of trails for a wide variety of users.

Amenities

• BBQ Grills
• Boat Launch/Ramp
• Campground Host
• Campsite Tables
• Cell Service Fair
• Cell Service Poor
• Drinking Water
• Equestrian trail
• Fire Pit
• Fire Rings
• Firewood Available
• Golden Age & Access Passports accepted
• Grills
• Pets OK
• Picnic Tables
• Ranger Station
• Recycling Center
• Restrooms (Flush Toilets, Vault Toilets)
• Trash Collection

Activities

• ATV
• Backpacking
• Biking
• Bird Watching
• Boating
• Canoeing
• Fishing
• Fly Fishing
• Hiking
• Historic Sites
• Horseback riding
• Kayaking
• Mountain Biking
• Nature Trails
• OHVing
• OTV Trails/Riding
• Paddle boarding (SUP)
• Paddle Boating
• Photography
• Picnicking
• Stargazing
• Swimming
• Walking Trails
• Water Sports
• Wildlife Viewing