USDA Forest Service
 

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

 

Gifford Pinchot
National Forest

Forest Headquarters
10600 N.E. 51st Circle
Vancouver, WA 98682
(360) 891-5000
TTY: (360) 891-5003

Cowlitz Valley
Ranger District

10024 US Hwy 12
PO Box 670
Randle, WA 98377
(360) 497-1100
TTY: (360) 497-1101

Mt. Adams
Ranger District

2455 Hwy 141
Trout Lake, WA 98650
(509) 395-3400
TTY: (360) 891-5003


Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic
Monument

Monument Headquarters
42218 N.E. Yale Bridge Rd.
Amboy, WA 98601
(360) 449-7800
TTY: (360) 891-5003

Johnston Ridge Observatory
24000 Spirit Lake Highway
P.O. Box 326
Toutle, WA 98649
(360) 274-2140

Mount St. Helens
Visitor Center
at Silver Lake

3029 Spirit Lake Highway
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(Operated by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission)


TTY: Phone for the Deaf



Current Conditions

Roads

 
Content Last Updated: December 21, 2009
 

 

 

[Last Updated: 20 January 2010]

REMEMBER: Be prepared for extreme winter weather conditions.  At 3,000 ft elevation you can expect 12 inches of snow, and above 3,500 ft elevation expect 3 ft or more.  Be prepared for winter conditions on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Some roads on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest remain closed due to road damage

Please check our current conditions reports or call the local Forest Service office for updates. 

Mount St. Helens
  • Johnston Ridge Observatory is Closed for the Season. Expected to re-open May 16, 2010. State Route 504 is currently open to Coldwater Lake.
  • Attention Climbers: Forest Road 830 is closed to Climbers Bivouac.
  •  Forest Road 81 is closed at the Cougar Sno-Park.  Forest Road 83 is closed at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park. A Sno-Park Pass is required to park at Cougar and Marble Mountain Sno-Parks. Snow tires or traction devices recommended.
  • Forest Road 8303 to Ape Cave is closed at the Trail Of Two Forests. A Sno-Park Permit is now required to park at the Trail of Two Forest Trail Head.
  • Forest Roads 25 and 99 are closed for the season.

General Roads Information

Update: December 21, 2009: Travelers should drive cautiously on all Forest roads and be prepared to encounter sections of roads damaged this past winter. Currently there are large amounts of snow reported on higher elevation forest roads.  Check the report below for updates on Forest road conditions.

  • Always contact your local Forest District Office for the very latest Road conditions. Road conditions are subject to change without notice and the information presented here may not immediately reflect these changing conditions.

  • When on single lane Roads use extreme caution. Use turnouts, and make sure you can stop in half your sight distance. High clearance vehicles are required on many Roads. Most Roads are not patrolled, so be careful so you do not become stuck.
  • Helpful tips about Traveling on Forest Roads Adobe .pdf file (256 KB)
  • Weather Information
  • There are remote snow guage stations in the Forest. To see the amounts go to the Washington Snotell sites at;
  • http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Washington/washington.html
  • Click here for information about winter conditions on State Route 504
  • Link to General Forest map
 

Road Road Name Date & Status since conditions last changed
1270 To Jody's Bridge

Bridge Closed to all uses. NO EXCEPTIONS.

No motorized access or use to the Backbone Ridge area.

1284 White Road 11/17/2009:   Closed by snow.
18 Oklahoma
Paved - Two lanes
12/12/2009: Snow above 2000 feet.
20 Smith Creek 11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet. Road is rough high clearance vehicles only.
21 Johnson Creek
Gravel - One Lane

11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet

2130 Deception Creek 11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet.
2150 Snow grass Flats 11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet.
2160 To Walupt Lake 11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet
22 North Fork
Paved / Gravel - One Lane
11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet.

23

 

23

Cispus section
Paved / Gravel

North of Trout Lake

12/12/2009: Snow above 2000 feet.

12/12/2009: Snow above 2000 feet.  

2304

Pompey Peak Trailhead

11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet

2324 Sunrise trail head 11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet
2325 Table Mountain

11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet Bridge has been removed, no motorized use on road system.  Accessible by foot or horse.

2329 High Lakes
Paved / Gravel - One Lane

11/7/2009: Closed by snow.

2329.022

Chain of Lakes

10/16/2009: Closed 
24 Peterson Prairie
Gravel - One Lane
12/12/2009:  Closed for winter recreation.
25 Randle

11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet. From the Randle side, A landslide at Benham Creek bridge area has closed Forest Road 25. Wakepish Sno-Park will not be opened this season. From the St. Helens side road gated at FR 93.

26 Quartz Creek/Ryan Lake
Paved/Gravel - One Lane

11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet. Construction at milepost 4.0.

28 Pinto
Gravel - One Lane

11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet

29 McCoy Creek
Gravel - One Lane
11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet
2904 Lambert Saddle 11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet
30 Wind River Hwy
Paved / Gravel - Two Lanes
12/12/2009: Open.
41 Lookout Mountain
Gravel - One Lane
11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet
42 East Fork (Cougar Rock)
Gravel - One Lane

11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet.  Condition of road may limit use of low clearance vehicles.  Motorists may damage their vehicles and/or get high centered and unable to drive themselves out.  Repair work may begin in next summer at Crater Creek and at the Green Fork Bridge, a detour route will be posted.

4205 East Fork spur 11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet
43 Trout Creek
Gravel - One Lane

12/12/2009: Snow above 2000 ft.

45 Cortright Creek 11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet
4510 Soda Springs 11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet
46 Lava Creek

11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet

4612 Bluff 11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet Open to Bluff Lake trail head.
47 Willame Creek
Paved / Gravel - One Lane

09/28/2009: Access from the Randle side is closed at impassable slide.

4710 Skyo Road 05/20/2009: No information on road conditions. Road cannot be accessed via 47 road due to bridge closure.
4730 Willame Lake 11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet.. Accessible via the 84 road.
48

Hager Lake Road

Gravel One Lane

11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet

51 Curly Creek Road
Paved - Two Lanes
12/12/2009: Open. 
52 Skate Creek
Paved - Two Lanes

08/14/2009: Open.

5270 Butter Creek 11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet.. Road is rough. High clearance vehicle recommended.
54 Bare Mountain
Paved /Gravel - 1&2 Lanes

12/12/2009:    Snow above 2000 ft.

55 Lone Tree 11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet..
56 Midway
Gravel - One Lane

07/17/2009: Open.

5603

Spring Creek Gravel -

One lane

06/15/2009: Open. Caution, logging trucks on the road.

57

Siouxon Paved - Partially 10/16/2009: Open.
5701 Trailhead Access 10/16/2009: Open.
59 Copper Creek

06/15/2009: Closed at mile point 3 by a landslide.

60 Carson-Guler Road
Gravel - One Lane

12/12/2009:   Closed by snow.

63 Davis Creek/Purcell Mtn

09/28/2009:  Open.

64 Dry Creek
Paved / Gravel - One Lane
08/10/2009:  Open but extremely brushy.
65 Panther Creek
Paved / Gravel - One Lane

12/12/2009:  Snow above 2000 ft.

6507 Outlaw 11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet 
66 Willard Road
Paved /Gravel - 1&2 Lanes
12/12/2009:  Snow above 2000 ft. 
68 Cedar Creek
Gravel - One Lane
12/12/2009:  Snow above 2000 ft.
6808 Bear Creek
Gravel - One Lane
12/12/2009: Snow above 2000 feet. 
74 Nisqually
Paved / Gravel - One Lane

11/09/2009: Not open for the season and not maintained. 4x4 high clearance only. Gated closed at Pleasant Valley from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

7409 Nisqually spur 09/28/2009: Closed during repairs. Scheduled to open fall 2009.
76 Green Horn
Paved / Gravel - One Lane
09/28/2009: Open during repairs, which are scheduled to be completed this fall.
77 Polepatch 11/17/2009: Closed by snow.
78 Timonium
Gravel - One Lane
11/17/2009: Snow above 3000 feet.
80 Mt. Adams Recreation
Paved - One Lane
12/12/2009: Snow above 2000 ft.     
8040 South Climb
Gravel - One Lane
12/12/2009:   Closed by snow.  
81 Merrill Lake
Paved / Gravel - Two Lanes

01/27/2010: Open. Closed at Cougar Sno-Park

8123 Blue Lake Trail Head
Gravel - One Lane
11/24/2009:  Closed due to snow
8100,830 Climbers Bivouac
Gravel - One Lane

11/17/2009: Closed by snow.  For more information about climbing Mount St. Helens, see the climbing page.

82 Bird Creek Meadows
Gravel - One Lane
12/12/2009:  Open to Sno-King Snow Park.   Closed at that point for winter recreation.  

83

Lahar/Lava Canyon
Paved - Two Lanes
01/27/2010: Open to the Marble Mountain Sno-Park. Currently, road is snow-free to Sno-Park. Drive with caution. It is recommended to carry tire chains.
8303 Ape Cave Rd. Paved-One Lane 12/21/2009:  Snow above 2000 ft.  Road closed at Trail of Two Forest. Sno-Park permit required.
8322 Smith Creek Trail 11/7/2009:  No report.
84 Berry Creek 11/7/2009:  Snow above 3000 ft.
8440 Toehead Gap 11/7/2009:  Snow above 3000 ft.
85 Catt Creek
Paved / Gravel - One Lane
11/7/2009:  Snow above 3000 ft.
86 Guler Mountain Road
Gravel - One Lane
12/12/2009:  Snow above 2000 ft.  
88 Big Tire
Paved - One/Two Lanes
12/12/2009: Open to Flattop Snow Park. Closed past the Snow Park for winter recreation. 
8851 Mosquito Lake
Paved / Gravel - One Lane
12/12/2009:  Closed for winter recreation.  
90 Lewis River Hwy
Paved - Two Lanes
12/12/2009: Snow above 2000 feet.
93 Spencer Butte
Paved / Gravel - One Lane
11/09/2009: Snow above 3000 feet
99 Windy Ridge
Paved - Two Lanes
11/10/2009: Closed.
SR 504 Spirit Lake Memorial
Paved - Two Lanes

11/09/2009: On the west side of Mount St. Helens, State Route 504 is open from I-5 east to the Johnston Ridge Observatory.  

Road Road Name Date & Status since conditions last changed
     

US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Wednesday, 27 January 2010 at 19:57:58 EST


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