Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Winter Activities

Mount St. Helens Winter Recreation Area
(Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument)

Areas on and around Mount St. Helens are closed to entry or special restrictions apply to provide for public safety and the protection of sensitive features and biological communities. 

Please see map (link) and legend below for additional details.

    Area 1 (Red) -- Entry into the crater is still strictly prohibited.

   Area 2 (Blue) -- Travel above 4800 foot elevation (treeline) on the volcano requires a Climbing Permit.  For details please see Climbing Permit System webpage.

   Area 3 (Yellow) -- Area is open only on developed trails.  No camping, pets, or stock are permitted.  Off-trail travel requires Administrative Closure Permit issued by Monument Headquarters.

• Road Access
• Safety & Emergency Aid
• Sno-Park Permits
• Restricted Areas
• Wilderness Areas
• Winter Climbing Mount St. Helens

• Mount St. Helens WRA
• Mount St. Helens Wapiti Ski Trails

• Cougar Sno-Park
• Marble Mountain Sno-Park

Road Access

The area can be reached by following State Route 503 from either Battle Ground or Woodland, then head east on Lewis River Road (State Route 503/Forest Road 90) to Forest Road 83 (7 miles east of Cougar). Forest Road 83 is plowed by the Forest Service using Sno-Park funds provided through the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Snow is normally plowed as needed. During winter plowing, Forest Road 83 is frequently covered with compacted snow and ice. Carry chains and use traction devices. Sno-Parks are located at Forest Road junctions 83/81, and 83/8312.

Safety & Emergency Aid

• Emergencies:
• Safety Alert:
• Road Reports:
• Road/Trail System:
• Avalanche Information: For current snow avalanche conditions, contact the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center (NWAC) at (206) 526-6677 or (503) 326-2400.
• Parking: For your safety, avoid parking in turn-around areas or in a way that would block traffic flow. Park facing downhill to facilitate leaving at the end of a snowy day.
• Weather: For current weather conditions, contact the National Weather Service-Portland or the National Weather Service-Seattle.

Sno-Park Permits

All Vehicles: A Washington or Oregon Sno-Park permit is required for each vehicle parked in the Packwood and Randle Winter Recreation areas. Vehicles without the appropriate Sno-Park permits are subject to notice of violation and fine.

Washington State Licensed Vehicles: Washington Sno-Park permits are required for all Washington vehicles using Washington Sno-Parks. Washington licensed autos must have a Washington Sno-Park permit to avoid citations.

Washington State Sno-Park Permits: Sno-Park permits are available at the Cougar Store, Yale Lake Store, White Pass Sports Hut in Packwood, and Eagles Cliff Store, or by mail from the office of Winter Recreation, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, 7050 Clearwater Lane KY-11, Olympia, Washington 98504.

Restricted Areas

Yakama Indian Reservation: Closed to public use. The boundary between the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the Reservation in the Midway-Meadows area is a north-south line over the summit of Potato Hill. Trespassers will be cited.

Mount St. Helens: The area north of Mount St. Helens (within the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument) is a Restricted Area.  It includes the crater, pumice plain to the north and the Spirit Lake basin.  The area is closed to the public in order to provide for the recovery of the land and to avoid disturbance of scientific studies.

Snow trails in the Mount St. Helens Winter Recreation Area are available for snowmobiling, skiing, or snowshoeing. The use of wheeled vehicles (including motorcycles and ATV’S) on these routes is strictly prohibited. Roads outside the winter recreation area are generally open for use by wheeled vehicles.

Wilderness Areas

36 CFR 261 prohibits mechanized and motorized equipment in wilderness areas.This means snowmobiles are not allowed in wilderness areas. Cross-country skiing is allowed. Please note that some of the groomed snowmobile trails run parallel with the Wilderness boundaries.  Keep snowmobiles outside Wilderness areas. Entering the Wilderness on motorized vehicles will result in a citation.

Violations of 36 CFR 261 may result in fines up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail.

Winter Climbing Mount St. Helens

Please visit our climbing homepage and Climbing Permits webpages for detailed information.