Gifford Pinchot National Forest

	USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
For Immediate Release: October 21, 2005
Contact: Kristine Cochrane (360) 274-2117

Mount St. Helens Visitor Centers Fall Back to Winter Hours

VANCOUVER, WA ––Sunday, October 30, will be the last day of summer operations for the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center. "What better time to switch hours then when we fall back to standard time," said Kristine Cochrane, Visitor Centers' Director. The Coldwater center will assume winter hours starting Monday, October 31, and will be open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the beginning of May 2006, except for Thanksgiving on November 24, Christmas on December 25 and 26 and New Year's on January 1 and 2, 2006.

The Johnston Ridge Observatory will close for the winter beginning Monday, October 31. Johnston Ridge will reopen in early May 2006, as weather and road conditions allow.

The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake, operated by Washington State Parks, will also move to winter hours on October 31 and remain open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Both Ape Cave and Windy Ridge are still accessible and open though field interpretive programs and information services have concluded for the summer season. Forest Road 99 usually closes at the Wakepish Sno-Park in mid to late November when snow makes the road impassable by car.

For more information about hours, programs and for school reservations, please call 360-274-2114.

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US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Friday, 21 October 2005 at 19:24:03 EDT