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Gifford Pinchot National Forest

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.

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. Some examples of these include hay bales, hay…

Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited

Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…

Overview

Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses 1.3 million acres in southwest Washington State, including Mt. Adams and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The forest is currently open but experiencing significant winter conditions and recent weather impacts. As of December 2025, the forest was hit by an atmospheric river that brought 16+ inches of rain, causing widespread road closures and localized flooding. Multiple forest roads remain closed due to washouts, slides, and damage, including FR 93 (washout at MP 6.95), FR 6808 (sinkhole closure MP 3.9-4.2), and upper State Route 504 at Spirit Lake (closed until possibly 2026 due to large slide). Winter road closures are in effect for seasonal gates - these roads are not maintained and can be hazardous. Most forest roads are not plowed in winter and may require high clearance 4WD or chains. The forest contains multiple ranger districts and offers extensive recreation opportunities including the Lewis River Recreation Area corridor. Current conditions are rapidly changing, so verify road and trail status before your trip, especially for backcountry access or Mt. Adams climbing.

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