Gifford Pinchot National Forest

We invite you to take time in this Centennial year to connect with this special place called the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Exploring our Past - Discovering our Future

Forest News

2006 Storm Damage

Other Forest News

• Christmas Tree Permits Available  from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  – Beginning Friday, November 21, permits will be available at several locations for cutting a Christmas tree from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Permits may be purchased for $5 per tree at all Ranger District offices, Forest Headquarters in Vancouver, and at several commercial vendor locations. Please contact your nearest Forest Service office for more details. (November 12, 2008)

• Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens to Close for the Season on November 9.  The Johnston Ridge Observatory will close for the winter season at the end of the day on Sunday, November 9. The observatory will reopen in mid-May 2009 for the 2009 visitor season (opening date will be dependent on weather and snow levels). (October 23, 2008)

• Mount St. Helens Self-Registration Winter Climbing Permit System Take Effect on November 1. Beginning Saturday, November 1, Mount St. Helens climbers will need to obtain a climbing permit at the Climber’s Register at the Lone Fir Resort, in Cougar, Washington. Climbers need to be prepared for rapidly changing fall and winter weather conditions and increasing snow and ice on the climbing route. (October 23, 2008)

• New Supervisor Named for Gifford Pinchot National Forest. – Janine Clayton, assistant director for minerals and geology in the U.S. Forest Service Washington, D.C., office, has been named as the new supervisor of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington. Clayton, a 25-year Forest Service veteran, has worked at all levels of the organization in positions of increasing responsibility and authority. She was an area mining geologist based in Corvallis, OR, from 1989 to 1997.(October 10, 2008)

• Scheduled repair of Forest Roads 99 and 26 northeast of Mount St. Helens will begin October 10.  Forest officials have announced the closure of Forest Road 99 west of Bear Meadows and Forest Road 26 south of Ryan Lake, northeast of Mount St. Helens to all uses (including foot and bicycle traffic) beginning Friday, October 10, 2008. This will allow road crews to make repairs in a timely manner during a lower use period for this road, which normally carries hundreds of vehicles daily during peak summer travel. Making the repairs to Forest Road 99 this fall will allow for the road to Windy Ridge to reopen early next summer for visitors to Mount St. Helens. (October 03, 2008)

• Colds Springs Fire near Mt. Adams: Fire information available on Inciweb

Getting Involved in Your National Forest

• Recreation Facilities Analysis - Many of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest’s developed recreation sites were built 30-50 years ago and are in need of significant investment in basic maintenance or improvements. The Recreation Facility Analysis process involves several steps: gathering inventory and financial data; identifying the forest recreation niche; evaluating each developed recreation site against established national criteria (including conformance with the forest niche, financial efficiency, and environmental and community sustainability); and ranking the recreation sites according to those criteria. Using this analysis tool, the Forest is drafting a proposed program of work for the next five years.

• White Pass Expansion - The White Pass Expansion Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement are now available. (22 June 2007) News Release 27 June 2007 - Environmental Document and Record of Decision Released for Review

• Payments to Counties (RAC): The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-393) provides an alternative to the former 25% formula which gives counties funds based on Forest Service receipts from logging, grazing, recreation, and other activities on national public lands.

• Regional Invasive Plant Environmental Impact Statement: The purpose of our project is to enhance the ability of Forests in the Pacific Northwest Region to protect native ecosystems from invasive, non-native plants. This action will build on the Region’s existing program by developing Forest Plan standards that allow for more effective prevention and timely management of invasive plants. 

• National Forest Foundation - The National Forest Foundation brings people together to protect our National Forests and Grasslands. As the nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, engaging America in community-based and national programs that promote the health and public enjoyment of the National Forest System. Helping the U.S. Forest Service fulfill its mission to "care for the land and serve people," the foundation works in close collaboration with local people and communities.

Keep informed of exciting happenings and opportunities on your National Forests by signing up for the National Forest Foundation tree-mail™ monthly e-newsletter.