Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Winter Activities

Wind River Winter Recreation Area
(Mt. Adams Ranger District)

• Road Access
• Safety & Emergency Aid
• Sno-Park Permits
• Restricted Areas
• Wilderness Areas

• Wind River winter recreation area
• Old Man Pass ski trails map
• Tubing hill at Oldman Pass

• Government Mineral Springs Sno-Park
• Koshko Sno-Park
• Lone Butte Sno-Park
• McClellan Meadows Sno-Park
• Oldman Pass Sno-Park
• Rush Creek Sno-Park

Road Access

Mt. Adams WRA: Access to the Mt. Adams WRA is via Highway 141 north, off of Highway 14 in Bingen, Washington. To reach Pineside and Smith Butte Sno-Parks, follow the "Mt. Adams Recreation Area" sign (right turn as you enter Trout Lake). To reach Atkisson Sno-Park, follow Highway 141 past the Ranger Station approximately five miles. The Sno-Park entrance is on the south side of the road, just within the Forest boundary.

Wind River WRA: Access to the Upper Wind River WRA is via the Wind River Highway (roads 30 and 51), a two-lane, paved highway. The roads are plowed by Skamania County on a limited basis. The roads are generally open down to the 90 road and out to Cougar. Snow tires are recommended, and all vehicles should be equipped with chains and a shovel. Drivers need to exercise caution while driving these roads during the winter months, because ice, rolling rocks, potential blowdown trees and narrowing of the road corridor due to snow buildup and plowing may hinder travel and pose hazardous situations.

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 winter recreation areas. Vehicles without the appropriate Sno-Park permits are subject to notice of violation and fine. The access roads have Sno-park vehicle signs.  It is necessary to have a Sno-Park permit when parking anywhere past these signs.  Parking on shoulders may be unsafe.

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.