Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Located in southwest Washington, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is one of the oldest National Forests in the U.S. The over 1.3 million acres was initially part of Mount Rainier Forest Reserve, then became the Columbia National Forest and in 1949 it was renamed the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is situated within the boundaries of the forest. There are many recreational activities available such as hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, boating, fishing, hunting, camping, and more. A few special points of interest to help you plan your trip to the area include the Dark Divide Roadless Area (where you can view snow-capped mountains in all four directions), Silver Star Mountain, lava tubes and caves near Mount St. Helens, the five midway high lakes (within 7 miles of each other), Big Lava Bed, Packwood Lake, Sawtooth Berry Fields (and others), the Wind River Canopy Crane research facility, and the Lone Butte Wildlife Emphasis Area.