Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses some 1,368,300 acres in southwestern Washington. Included in the forest is the 110,300-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. In the beginning, Gifford Pinchot National Forest was set aside as part of the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve in 1897. Then it became the Columbia National Forest in 1908 and that was renamed the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in 1949, in honor of Gifford Pinchot, first superintendent of the National Forest Service.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest is stretched out along the western slopes of the Cascades from the Columbia River north to Mount Rainier National Park. Elevations range from about 400 feet to the summit of Mount Adams at 12,276 feet, second highest point in Washington.

There are more than 50 developed campgrounds on Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Most campsites are available only on a first-come, first-served basis but virtually all of the group campsites require advance reservations. Many campgrounds offer spots designed to accommodate truck campers, camp trailers and RVs but sometimes sizes are limited and never are there hookups available. Generally, a developed campsite includes a picnic table and cook grill (sometimes a fire ring) with a drinking water supply and restrooms (often vault or pit toilets) nearby.