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The Gifford Pinchot National Forest provides a dense forest blanket over the Cascade Mountains in southern Washington, between the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Rainier National Park. Mount St. Helens, the volcano that erupted in May 1980, and Mount Adams, a dormant volcano reaching more than 12,000 feet, are in the forest.
Like other western Washington forests, the Gifford Pinchot is heavily forested with Douglas fir, hemlock, western red cedar and true firs. Scenic drives and year-round recreation activities are plentiful. For backcountry hikers, there are seven wilderness areas, dotted with lakes and streams.
Points of interest include the rocky spire and alpine meadow area of Goat Rocks Wilderness, the secluded Indian Heaven Wilderness, Packwood Lake near Mount Rainier, a wildflower display at Silver Star Mountain, Bear Meadow on the edge of the Mount St. Helens blast zone, a one-mile walk in Ape Cave, which is the longest lava tube in the continental United States, and Quartz Creek Big Trees.
A Northwest forest pass is required to hike on certain trails.
Outdoor Activities |
It is not unusual to see large herds of bull elk running on avalanche debris or in the blast zone north of the volcano.
The increased bloom of fireweed, in response to protection from browsing by elk and deer, can be seen inside an experimental fenced area where large herbivores have been excluded.
Each year more than 600,000 visitors come to Johnston Ridge Observatory to learn about the eruption and gaze into the volcanic crater.
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