Cold Spring Indian Campging Area
Closed — This area is closed to camping. It currently serves as the South Climb Trailhead with day-use facilities only.
Alcohol Prohibitions
This Order describes acts that are prohibited upon lands, roads and trails within the National Forest System administered by the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region in regards to alcoholic beverages.
Aquatic Invasive Species
This Order prohibits 1) possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic invasive animal species AND 2) prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic or riparian invasive plant species - on National Forest System lands in the Pacific Northwest Region as specified in the Order.
Restrictions on Use of Forage and Mulch Products
This Order prohibits unloading, storing, or using any straw, hay, grain, seed, or other forage or mulch products that are not state-certified weed free on the National Forest System lands, roads or trails in any Closure Area as specific in the Order.
Forest Roads Closed Due to Rain Event
The past few days has shown heavy rainfall as an atmospheric river moved into the Northern Cascade Region bringing 16+ inches of rain to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Forest Service Road 6808 Emergency Closure
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest issued an emergency closure of Forest Service Road 6808 from mile marker 3.9 to mile marker 4.2 due to a sinkhole that has developed in the travel way. Closure timeframe is currently unknown, and travel will resume when roads are repaired.
Rd 2810-041 Yellowjacket Bridge Road Closure
Rd 2810-041 will close Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, and will remain closed until mid-November for redriving piles at Yellowjacket.
Winter Road Closures
Due to large amounts of snowfall the gates along the fallowing roads will be closed for the winter season. This routine seasonal gate closure is important for public safety as these roads are not maintained and become hazardous in the winter.
Washout on Forest Road 93
Forest Road 93 is closed at milepost 6.95 due to a severe washout. Road signs are posted at the beginning of each side of FR 93 to alert drivers of the inability to drive the entire length of road.
Upper State Route 504 closed at milepost 45.2 due to large slide
Closure: Upper State Route 504/Spirit Lake Memorial Highway is closed between mileposts (MP) 45.2 and 51 until further notice with a possible re-opening date sometime in 2026. Johnston Ridge Observatory and Loowit Viewpoint is inaccessible by vehicle
Adams Fork Bridge Closed (FR 5601)
The Adams Fork Bridge on FR 5601 at MP 2.0 on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District is CLOSED.
Forest Road 2801 Closure
Forest Road 2801 is closed on both ends of the road due to a washout at milepost 0.25 and a large slide at milepost 7.
About
Cold Spring Indian Camping Area is located in the Mt. Adams area of Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington. This former Indian campground is no longer open to public camping, but the area has been repurposed as the South Climb Trailhead, which provides access to popular trails including South Climb Trail #183 and Cold Springs Trail #72 into Mt. Adams Wilderness. The trailhead area sits at the end of Forest Road 8040, accessed via a steep, narrow road with sharp switchbacks that is not suitable for RVs or trailers. Two main parking areas serve day users, which can fill quickly during summer months. Basic facilities including vault toilets and picnic tables are available, but there is no potable water on-site. While camping is not permitted at this location, the area serves as an important access point for wilderness recreation including day hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and mountaineering. A Northwest Forest Pass or other valid recreation pass is required for day use.
Directions
From Trout Lake, take Mt. Adams Road north to the intersection with Forest Road 23. Stay right and continue about one mile to the left turn onto Forest Road 80, signed South Climb. Follow Forest Road 80 to its end at the intersection with Forest Road 8040 and 8031. Turn right onto Forest Road 8040 and continue north past Morrison Creek Campground to the trailhead area. Road is steep and narrow with sharp switchbacks; not suitable for RVs or trailers.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | — |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (509) 395-3402 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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