Gifford Pinchot National Forest
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Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Forest Headquarters Cowlitz Valley Mt. Adams Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Monument Headquarters Johnston Ridge Observatory Mount St. Helens
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Newsroom - 2005 News Release |
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USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument |
| For Immediate Release: June 24, 2005 | |
| Contact: Ed Audelo (360) 891-5001 | |
Forest Campgrounds Open for July 4th Holiday
VANCOUVER, WA – Many campgrounds, roads, and lower-elevation trails on the Forest will be open for the July 4th weekend this year. For the latest conditions, contact any Gifford Pinchot office or check the Recreation Report online.
Fireworks and forests don't mix: Fireworks can start wildfires. When hiking and camping this summer, remember that possessing, discharging or using fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices is prohibited on National Forest lands. Smokey Bear reminds everyone that you can prevent wildfires.
Major campgrounds open for July 4th weekend include:
| Adams Fork, southeast of Randle | Beaver, north of Carson | |
| Iron Creek, south of Randle | Goose Lake, 14 miles west of Trout Lake | |
| La Wis Wis, east of Packwood | Lower Falls, east of Swift Reservoir | |
| Moss Creek, north of Willard | Oklahoma, north of Willard | |
| Olallie Lake, north of Mt. Adams | Panther Creek, north of Carson | |
| Paradise Creek, 10 miles north of Stabler | Peterson Prairie, west of Trout Lake | |
| Sunset Falls, southeast of Amboy | Takhlakh Lake, north of Mt. Adams | |
| Tower Rock, south of Randle | Walupt Lake, south of Packwood |
The visitor centers at Mount St. Helens are open under summer hours. A Monument Pass is required for entrance. Forest visitors near the volcano need to be prepared for a potential ash fall.
Ranger-led interpretive programs will be offered daily at the Windy Ridge viewpoint, located on Forest Road 99, on the east side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, from June 25 through Labor Day. The Pine Creek Information Station and Ape Cave Headquarters, providing lantern rentals and ranger programs, will also be open daily beginning June 25. Pine Creek Information Station will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ape Cave will be open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Forest Roads 23, 25, 81 83 and 90 are open. Visitors are advised to always check on current road conditions before traveling.
For your safety, please use your headlights when driving on Forest roads. Be especially cautious when traveling on repaired roads and bridges. Access remains limited in some areas. When traveling into the Forest, check with the district office nearest your destination for the latest conditions. Motorcycle riders need to be especially alert for cracks, depressions, wildlife and loose gravel.
A Northwest Forest Pass is needed at some facilities, trailheads or interpretive site that the Forest Service provides to enhance your experience. These can be purchased at Forest Service offices or local vendors . The Northwest Forest Pass is also sold at the following campgrounds when a campground host is present: Big Creek, Goose Lake, Iron Creek, La Wis Wis, North Fork, Peterson Prairie, and Takhlakh Lake.
Some Forest offices will be open on July 4th. For more information, call the Gifford Pinchot Forest Headquarters (360) 891-5000, or one of the Forest Ranger District offices.
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US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Monday, 27 June 2005 at 12:05:52 EDT