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 ATVS) 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.
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