Whether you seek solitude, social activity, creative inspiration, wildlife, forest products or scenic beauty, you can find it in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. We invite you to enjoy the many different aspects of your National Forest.
Located in southwest Washington State, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest now encompasses 1,312,000 acres and includes the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument established by Congress in 1982.
The Monument Manager has closed Mount St. Helens to climbing. The crater rim and flanks of the volcano above the 4800-foot level have been closed due to an increased potential for steam explosions from the lava dome that could propel rocks and/or ash clouds above the crater rim. Existing climbing permits have been cancelled and Jacks Restaurant and Store has stopped issuing new permits.
Forest visitors near the volcano need to be prepared for a potential ash fall.
A number of trails in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument have also been closed, please check the Special Conditions Report for trail closure information.
Forest officials are in close contact with USGS and the University of Washington and will post updates as needed.
For the latest information, check our Special Conditions Report for updates.
This is a former Fire Guard Station, (an 18 x 24 foot structure built in 1926) with one bedroom, a small kitchen, a living room with a wood fireplace and propane furnace.
The cabin is located along Forest Road 24 and is easily accessed by snowmobile, snow shoes or skiing. The cabin is a 2 mile trip from the Sno*Park during the winter. You can drive to the cabin as soon as the snow is gone.
The cabin is heated with propane or wood and provides a comfortable setting for six people.
Use Fee: $50.00 per night.
There is a two-night minimum over the weekends (Fri-Sat). There is also a $9 fee per reservation. The cabin is rentable year round. Reservations can be made up to one year in advance.
There is no indoor plumbing. The rest room is a vault toilet unit about 150 feet from the cabin.
A Sno*Park permit required December 1 - April 1. This is a great place to pick huckleberries right outside the door. There is great fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, mushrooming within a short drive of the cabin. No pets are allowed.
Closed on Tuesdays for servicing.
Mt. Adams Ranger District2455 Hwy 141Trout Lake, WA 98650509-395-3400
Government Mineral Springs Guard Station:
This is a newly restored Forest Guard station built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was nestled in a grove of towering old-growth firs.
The cabin has two bedrooms, a kitchen, and living room with fireplace. The cabin is ideally situated near Trapper Creek Wilderness trailhead and is close to Sno*Parks for winter recreation access.
When roads are snow-free, you can reach the cabin by car. During the winter, a trip to the cabin on skis or snowshoes will take you about ten minutes from parking. Propane heat, lights, and cooking range (pots, pans and dishes) are provided along with wood for the fireplace.
Cabin Capacity : Nine people.
Use Fee: $65.00 per night. There is a two-night minimum over the weekends (Fri-Sat). There is also a $9 fee per reservation.
Availability : Available year-round, with a stay limit of seven consecutive days. Reservations can be made up to one year in advance.
Special Considerations: There is no indoor plumbing. The rest room is a vault toilet unit about 150 feet from the cabin.
Sno*Park permit required December 1 - April 1. No pets are allowed. There is good fishing, hunting, biking, mushroomong, berry picking, hiking and winter sports within a short drive. Trapper Creek Wilderness is within easy walking distance. The cabin is located between Mount St. Helens and the Columbia River
Mt. Adams Ranger District2455 Hwy 141Trout Lake, WA 98650509-395-3400
More than 90 percent of the streams on the Forest have a self-sustaining resident fishery. Fish populations are supplemented with hatchery fish in some forest lakes and streams. High mountain lakes may not be accessible until the late-spring snow melts. Our forest waters provide a diverse recreational fisheries.
Excellent opportunities for both bait and fly fishing abound. As you use our site, we hope you find much useful information to guide you in your fishing adventures. Good Luck!
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license!
Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing regulations are subject to change. Call the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules.
The purpose of the Heritage Program is to protect significant heritage resources, to share the values of these resources with the American people, and to contribute relevant information and perspectives to forest management.
Heritage resources are locations of past human activity, occupation or use identifiable through field survey, historical documentation, or oral tradition.
To date, 1,596 heritage resource sites have been documented on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Examples include prehistoric archaeological sites such as Layser Cave on the Cowlitz Valley District, historic Native American sites such as the Big Tire Peeled Cedars, Mt. Adams District, and historic structures such as House Rock Shelter, an emergency fire lookout, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
Heritage resource surveys for projects such as timber sales, stream bank stabilization, or roadside viewpoint construction are a routine part of program activities. Surveys are oriented toward the discovery and documentation of significant heritage resources. Other aspects of the program include historical research, collections curation, interpretation, public involvement, and coordination with tribal groups with traditional ties to the land.
