Shopper Recreation
Report September 7, 2022
HEADLINES:
á This is the last issue of the Highway Shopper. Our ad revenues no longer pay our costs so we must retire. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to serve you for 47 years!
á Goat Rocks Fire of 80 acres is burning in the wilderness Lava Creek area seven miles northeast of Packwood. Forest Road #4612 and Bluff Lake Trail #65 are closed.
á Hiker Magnet Northbound completed the 2,653-mile Pacific Crest Trail!
á Huckleberry picking is booming!
á Burn Bans: Almost all the agencies have banned nearly all burning. To have a fire, you must learn if there are exceptions allowing fire in your specific area.
á Whitewater rafting is happening on the Tieton River.
á Forest Road #23 Cispus at MP 9.5 is CLOSED from August 22 through September 20 to upgrade the Camp Creek culvert.
á Stevens Canyon Road between Stevens Creek and Box Canyon is closed weekly to traffic from Mon. 6 am to Thur. 8 pm.
á
Fishing is good! TAKE A KID FISHING!
á Read the Bible Readings on page 6 which
includes DavidÕs words: "The
fool says in his heart, ÔThere is no God.Õ
They are corrupt, their deeds are vileÉÓ Psalms 14:1 NIV
á
Index to the
following
Recreation Report
Westside-
Packwood,
Randle & Morton
View This
Recreation Report
on the web or at
highwayshopper.com/recrpt.html
Information
for all of
Shopper Country
Goat Rocks Fire
09/05/2022 - Located 7 miles NE of Packwood in the Goat Rocks Wilderness on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. The Goat Rocks Fire is estimated to be 80 acres.
The fire was first noticed around Aug. 9th. At that time a crew of six firefighters rappelled from helicopters into the fire and worked to contain the fire with the help of helicopter water drops. Firefighters were able to work 60% of the fire. The remaining 40% of the fire was located in steep, rocky areas that are unsafe to put firefighters into. Firefighters had been checking on the fire daily with little smoke visible but it has now become more active.
Most of the active fire spread occurred on Sat., Sept. 3 and throughout Saturday night. Three helicopters were assigned to the fire Saturday. The fire appears to have spread down slope, primarily on the eastern flank into the headwaters of Lava Creek.
Forest Road #4612 and Trail #65 are closed.
The fire is visible from Highway US 12. Do not obstruct traffic by slowing or stopping to look at the fire.
For more info call: 360 891 5014
Updates on the fire are posted regularly on GPNF Facebook page.
Almost all
the agencies have banned nearly all burning.
If
you wish to have a fire, you must learn if there are exceptions allowing fire
in the specific area where you wish to have the fire.
Such
exceptions are usually stated clearly in easy to find Fire Ban Posters.
The Shopper area includes lands governed by a dozen different agencies. The fire rules are different, some are very lengthy for each of the dozen land-managing agencies and too extensive for us to print here.
One agency has requested we
print its rules alone. To print the rules of one would be confusing; readers
could wrongly assume they applied to the other nearby agenciesÕ lands.
Again, if you wish
to have a fire, you must contact the agency governing that land and learn if
there are exceptions allowing fire in the specific area where you wish to have
the fire.
Huckleberries
are being picked!
8/31 Shopper reporter, Jackie,
says that Randle is full of huckleberry buyers.
Remember: A permit is required to remove any berries from National Forest, and the permit is only available online: https://gp.fs2c.usda.gov/gp/..
Blackberries
The lowland large Himalaya and Evergreen Blackberries, picked mainly for juice, are ripe in the low private land Packwood and Randle areas.
We have no report on the sought-after but smaller mountain blackberries.
Job Opportunities
The Forest Service is hosting a Partnership and Community Engagement national hiring event starting Tuesday, September 6 at www.USAJobs.gov and closing September 16 or when a maximum number of applicants is reached.
View this interactive map: https://arcg.is/1L449m0 to see available position locations.
Highway Conditions
as of Monday, Sept. 5
Stevens Canyon Road center part between Stevens Creek Bridge MP 4.8 and Box Canyon MP 8.7 is CLOSED weekdays Mon. 6am to Thur. 8pm until Labor Day weekend.
Washington 2021-22
Fishing & Hunting licenses expired on March 31.
Anglers and hunters need the new licenses for April through March 31, 2023.
Buy licenses today by calling 360-902-2464, visiting
https://www.mywdfw.com,
or going to a license dealer near you.
Every Kid Outdoors
Every Kid Outdoors is a federal program
which provides up to a year of free access to National
Forests, National Parks, and other public lands for fourth-grade students and
their families.
Fourth graders, parents, and educators can visit the
Every Kid Outdoors website at www.everykidoutdoors.gov and learn more about how to obtain free entry to all federal lands, for
fourth graders and their accompanying family members.
Students can obtain passes individually by
completing a brief online activity. Educators who work with fourth graders can
visit the site to download an educational activity guide, after which theyÕll
be able to obtain vouchers for their students. Once printed, students and their
families can also redeem the paper voucher for a durable, plastic pass at any
Forest Service office where passes are sold. Passes and vouchers are valid for
the entire school year, through Aug. 31, 2023.
Every Kid Outdoors is designed to get kids and their
families to explore the outdoors and explore the incredible experiences that
are available to them on public lands.
Lower Cowlitz
Fishing
Take a kid fishing!
Rules Pamphlet: www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing
Unless
specified otherwise in the rules pamphlet:
á Many Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are OPEN to fishing (except Dolly Varden/bull trout) year-round.
á
Some generally Òlow-landÓ or ÒtraditionalÓ
lakes are OPEN now.
á Most larger rivers season is OPEN year-round.
¥ Many smaller rivers, streams and
beaver ponds are OPEN now.
But
many individual waters are different from the above, soÉ
READ YOUR PAMPHLET to find
out which
waters are open!
Fish stocking details,
by county and lake, are available in the annual stocking plan on WDFW's website
at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/statewide/
Scanawa Lake, Shopper reporter Jackie 8/31 heard from her neighbor that
fishing has been great the past few days. They caught their limit very quickly,
and all nice fish.
Rick
at the Boat Doc in Mossyrock, reported 8/31 that the Columbia River was going to be shut down
as of midnight September 1, until September 15. Too many Tulies
are being caught.
The fishermen have been catching trout
on Mayfield Lake.
Jeffery
at Barrier Dam Camp-ground, Salkum, reported August
11, ÒThe guides are still limiting
out for their customers. They are catching steelhead.Ó
Corrine at Barrier Dam Campground, Salkum, reported 8/25, ÒThey are still working on the dam. They are going
to keep the water level between 3400 and 3500 until mid-November because of the
work they are doing at Mayfield Dam and Barrier Dam. Fishing is still doing
good. We still have campsites available for Labor Day weekend.Ó
Cowlitz Fish Report for Mon.
Aug. 29 from Tacoma Public Utilities:
Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 152 summer-run steelhead adults, 34 spring Chinook adults, four spring Chinook jacks, 209 spring Chinook mini-jacks, 38 fall Chinook adults, five fall Chinook jacks, two coho adults, and 19 cutthroat trout over five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the past week, Tacoma Power employees released 32 spring Chinook adults, four spring Chinook jacks, 10 cutthroat trout, and one coho adult at Franklin Bridge in Packwood and they released 26 fall Chinook adults, five fall Chinook jacks, six cutthroat trout, and one coho adult at Bremer Bridge on the Tilton River.
In addition, Tacoma Power recycled 96 summer-run steelhead adults to the I-5 boat launch.
River flow below Mayfield Dam is 3,560 cubic feet per second on Monday, August 29, 2022. Water visibility is 11 feet and water temperature is 55.4 degrees F. River flows could change at any time so boaters and anglers should remain alert for this possibility.
Tacoma PowerÕs River Flow and Lake Level Info is available at:
Carlisle Lake in Onalaska –Open now. The former millpond is a favorite fishing spot for kids. Stocked frequently with thousands of trout including some big ones.
Lewis County Park Pond, near Toledo, 14 acres, open year-round. Frequently stocked with many trout.
Mayfield Lake (2,200 acres, 13 miles long, shoreline length 33.5 miles, behind Mayfield Dam). Open year-round:
¥ Mayfield offers good fishing for Tiger Musky, yellow perch, rainbows, catfish, German browns, a few largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill and crappie.
¥ Mayfield - Remember, all cutthroat must be released, and only adipose
clipped rainbow trout may be retained in Mayfield Lake and the Tilton River.
¥
More info on tiger muskie and how to fish for them is at https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/esox-masquinongy-x-esox-lucius#howto.
Shopper
Reporter Jackie shared on 8/31 Campgrounds
were open and filling up fast everywhere I went by on route Thursday. Everyone
was trying to get a head start before the Labor Day weekend.
Riffe Lake- open year-round.
On Thursday, Sept.1, Riffe Lake was at 732 ft. elev.,
down one foot from the week before and now 17 feet below the new permanent maximum
level of the lake of 749 ft. Taidnapam North boat
launch is open. Mossyrock Park boat launch and day-use area are open but the day-use area is closed to additional visitors once the parking lot reaches full
capacity.
Lake Scanewa behind Cowlitz Falls Dam (610 acres) is open for fishing year-round. Read pamphlet for rules.
In the week ended Aug. 1, Tacoma Power released 134 spring Chinook adults, nine spring Chinook jacks, and one cutthroat trout into Lake Scanewa south of Glenoma.
Silver Lake near
Castle Rock- (3,000 acres) Open year-round with min. size 9 inches, limit 10. Silver Lake is the best largemouth bass
fishing in Washington.
South Lewis County Park Pond- Open year-round, is near Toledo. Reasonably good to excellent fishing for trout all year.
Swofford Pond (240
acres) Open year-round. Anglers have been catching crappies and trout. Great
for children.
Get information about river flows and lake levels at MyTPU.org/LakeLevels.
Cowlitz Fish Stats:
á Graphs of adult returns by species for each week and 10-year averages.
á Tables of collections by species for each week, season to date and weekly 5-year averages.
Windy Ridge
Viewpoint is OPEN
Road No. 99 to Windy Ridge Visitor Center and Viewpoint, the highest and closest viewpoint on Mt. St. Helens, is OPEN.
Spirit Lake Outlet Tunnel is being repaired in a
multi-million-dollar project with construction traffic
access from Randle via Windy Ridge!
Windy Ridge Road FR99 beyond Windy Ridge down to Spirit Lake is being rebuilt now for next yearÕs repair of Spirit Lake outlet tunnel so continues closed completely to public vehicle use and closed weekdays as a trail.
Johnston Ridge
Observatory is OPEN!
Johnston Ridge Observatory, the crowning jewel of Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, is OPEN!
The Observatory has many exhibits about Mt. St. Helens and its eruption.
Be sure to watch the excellent movie!
There are snack services and restrooms.
The Science and
Learning Center
above Coldwater Lake
The Science and Learning Center at Coldwater is open Sat-Sun 10am- 4pm with water and restrooms available.
Please bring extra food & water with you and PACK OUT all trash.
Climbing Mt. St. Helens
Permits are required to hike above the 4,800-foot elevation on the volcano year-round.
To climb Mount St Helens between April 1 & Oct. 31, climbing permits must be purchased in advance at Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675309. Permits are released in one month increments on the first day of the preceding month. For example, May permits will be released on April 1. All releases occur at 7:00 AM Pacific Time.
See other information
about Mt. St. Helens Institute at
facebook.com/mshinstitute/
Mount St. Helens Institute Contact: Luke Wakefield, 360-449-7883.
Mount St. Helens Visitor
Center near Hwy. I-5 at Castle Rock operated by Washington State Parks is
OPEN!!
The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake, located five miles from the I-5 exit at Castle Rock, shows a powerful and moving 16-minute film detailing the events around the May 18, 1980, eruption. Exhibits provide information about volcanoes, comparing the Mount St. Helens eruption to others of historic significance. Adjacent to the center is the half-mile Silver Lake Wetlands Trail, where you can learn about the formation of Silver Lake and the plants and animals that live there.
Many Mountain Webcams
View many webcams
of Mt. St.Helens and of the roads leading to it.
Mt. Adams
Permits to climb Mt.
Adams are available online at recreation.gov. Good dates often sell out the first day, so
go to the site to learn when permits become available.
Mt Adams Ranger District:
Thur.-Mon. 509-395-3400.
Centralia-Chehalis
Railroad
Summer Escape Room
á
Dinner Trains.
á
Stationary events
á
On the Train
á
At the Depot.
Dates:
á Sept.10
á Oct 8
Regular Escape Room Adventures are $40 pp at 2:00 pm.
Dinner Train Escape Room Trains are $65 pp at 5:00pm.
Details and reservations at SteamTrainRide.com.
Book now, seats are
limited.
Chehalis, WA – In response to popular demand, the Chehalis
Centralia Railroad has adapted to the current situation by offering stationary summer events ÒOn the
Train....At the Depot.Ó
Chehalis Centralia Railroad is offering five days of Escape Room activity with a track that is in repair. On January 6, 2022, 1.3 miles of track was washed out during the flood. Currently funding and repair work are in progress.
Book NOW the fun-filled
October weekend event: WIZARD EXPRESS.
Experience magic, mystery, and managed mischief on the School of
Wizardry Express, featuring award winning magician, Headmaster Jeff Evans.
Dates & Times:
Sat. Oct.
1 and Sun Oct. 2
11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm
Tickets on sale now at:.
WeÕll be back running soon! Watch for announcements!
Northwest Trek
Come explore
the park with your admission ticket.
á Explore our animal walking paths on foot to
meet grizzlies, cougar and more. MEET
ANIMALS
á KidsÕ Trek playground:
open.
á Forest CafŽ: open for indoor dining at
limited capacity on weekends.
á Cafe Window: To-go food & drinks on
weekdays
á Picnic Pavilion: Open for outside dining.
Outside food is also allowed.
á Trams- WeÕll open a new tram station to
support our new electric tour vehicles.
á Trails & Zip Wild: Closed
Visit nwtrek.org for prices.
Hours Sept, 6- Sept. 30
Daily 9:30am-4pm
Sat-Sun 9:30am-5pm
State Discover Pass
Required to park in Washington State-owned
Parking Lots at such as fishing or hunting sites.
The Washington State Discover Pass is entirely a Washington State program. The Discover Pass does not apply to anything on National Forests. U.S. Forest Service employees canÕt answer questions about it. A single, state recreation Discover land pass now can be used on either of two motor vehicles.
Questions about the Discover Pass may be answered by calling the Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife in Olympia (866) 320-9933, Yakima 509-575-2740, or Ellensburg 509-925-8510.
á The annual pass - $30. Good for one year from the date of purchase.
á Day-use pass - $10. Good for the date marked on the pass.
Available from the WILD system:
¥ at a license dealer,
¥ online: shpr.fyi/2l1Ugdp
¥ phone 1-866-320-9933
Westside-
Packwood, Randle &
Morton
Leaving
waste in the forest is NOT OK!
Take your garbage
home!
ItÕs YOUR forest
so be proud of it!
Take a kid fishing!
The
online rules pamphlet has been revised so that now it is quite
easy to find the water you wish to fish.
Rules Pamphlet: www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing
Unless
specified otherwise in the rules pamphlet:
á Many Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are open to fishing for game fish (except Dolly Varden/bull trout and grass carp) year-round.
á
Some generally Òlow-landÓ or ÒtraditionalÓ
lakes are open now.
á Most larger rivers season is open year-round.
¥ Many smaller rivers, streams and
beaver ponds are open now. Beaver
ponds located within or connected to streams listed as open to trout and other
game fish follow the same rules as the stream.
But
many individual waters are different from the above, soÉ
READ YOUR PAMPHLET to find out which
waters are open!
Fish
stocking details, by county and lake, are available in the annual stocking
plan on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/statewide/
Fishing Reports on
Specific Waters
On Thur., Sept. 1, Alder Lake was at 1,197 ft., same as the week before, now ten feet below its maximum 1207 ft. Alder Lake Park boat launch and day-use area are open. Rocky Point boat launch, day-use area and campground are open.
Cispus River
In the week ended July 18, Tacoma Power employees released 65 spring Chinook adults and eight spring Chinook jacks into the Cispus River near Yellowjacket Creek south of Randle.
Cispus River fishing seasons are too complex to report here for the lower stretch of the Cispus River from its mouth at posted markers at the Lewis County PUD kayak launch on Lake Scanewa upstream to the North Fork. Read your pamphlet.
The North Fork of the Cispus has no open season for salmon; it is CLOSED year-round, reserved for salmon breeding only.
Upper Cowlitz River- In the week ended Aug. 29, Tacoma Power employees released 32 spring Chinook adults, four spring Chinook jacks, 10 cutthroat trout, and one coho adult at the Packwood Bridge release site.
Cowlitz
River in Packwood 8/31 the fish truck was dumping fish this morning as I was headed to work.
Have seen a couple fishermen out fishing here and there.
Upper Cowlitz River
from the posted PUD sign at Lake Scanewa on Peters
Road, upstream to the confluence of the Ohanapecosh River and the Muddy Fork
five miles above Packwood, salmon and steelhead fishing seasons are too
complicated to print here- read your
regulations!
Knuppenberg Lake near White Pass is open year-round for fishing. No min. size, limit 5.
Leech Lake at White
Pass is open for fishing year-round.
Mineral Lake - fishing
season is open!
Dawn from
Mineral Lake Resort reported 8/29, ÒAnglers are still catching
Rainbows and German Browns early in the morning. With temperatures being
cooler, they also are productive in the later part of day at the east end of
lake. Boaters are using wedding rings, cyclopses,
and worms as bait. The rainbows being caught are ranging from 14 to 18 inches,
and Browns are ranging 14 to 16 inches.
Mineral Lake closes Sept 30, 2022 and reopens the fourth Saturday in
April 2023.Ó
Tilton River- One of the most beautiful fishing rivers in our area but complicated by frequent large plants of big salmon at Morton. Open for fishing for various species in certain areas at various seasons but seasons are too complicated to report here. Read your rules pamphlet. All cutthroat must be released and only adipose-clipped rainbow trout may be retained in the Tilton River.
In the week ended Aug. 29, Tacoma Power released 26 fall Chinook adults, five fall Chinook jacks, six cutthroat trout, and one coho adult at Bremer Bridge on the Tilton River!
Leaving waste in the forest is NOT OK!
The National
Forest
belongs to you!
Leave every place
cleaner than when you found it!
Ten Essentials
When going into the mountains at any time, fill up your fuel tank before leaving, bring the Ten Essentials and tell your friends where youÕre going.
Drone Rules in National
Forests
Drones are illegal:
á over Wildernesses,
á near wildfires,
á near wildlife,
á over 400 feet high,
á for commercial use or
á out of sight of operator.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!
ATVs, Side-by-Sides, UTVs are not permitted anywhere on
the Gifford Pinchot National Forest other
than on roads designated specifically for those uses:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/giffordpinchot/recreation/ohv/
Do not depend on GPS directions
on Forest Roads. GPS has no knowledge of forest roads closed by snow, windfalls
or damage.
Timber Sales Log Haul as
of June 6, 2022. Expect log truck traffic on these roads:
Skinner– 2505 to 25 to Hwy 12
2502 to 25 to Hwy 12
Trapper– 7708 to 77 to 76 to 28 to 23 to Hwy
12
Catt– 85.101 to 85 to 52 to Hwy 706
8511 to 85 to 52 to Hwy 706
THANK YOU,
Forest Service for your reports!
Reports on individual roads:
Essentially all roads are open as of 8/29!
The
national forests
belong to you!
Be proud
of them!
Clean them as you would your own yard!
#1270 JodyÕs Bridge- You
folks using this area, please pick up and take your waste home! Take pride in
leaving this beautiful forest place spotless and pretty when you leave!
#23
Cispus/ Babyshoe
Pass/Randle- Trout Lake Rd. to Trout Lake-
8/10- will be CLOSED from August 22 through
September 20 to upgrade the Camp Creek culvert. See details here:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices/?aid=73871
The project is funded by President TrumpÕs Great American Outdoors Act.
#2329- High Lakes- 7/1 Road open.
#2502 and #2505 are closed for logging operations for the next months.
#26 Quartz Ck- 8/26-Passable, but rough
road.
#2801 Closed until major repair can be planned and contracted.
Washout removed entire road about a
quarter mile from its junction with Forest Road 28 near the Cispus
River.
Forest Road #4612 and Trail #65 are closed temporarily due to the Goat Rocks Fire.
#4724 & 4715
will have 2–4-week closures for culvert repair.
#52 Skate Creek Forest Highway is OPEN!
#5230 is NOT an
access to Mt. Rainier regardless of what your GPS says. It is
always gated.
Road #59 is closed at MP2 for at least a couple of years.
#8511– 7/8 temporarily CLOSED to the public due to logging.
FH#90 Lewis
River- Lewis River Recreation
Area- Reserved Parking Tickets Required
#99 Wakepish/Windy
Ridge- 7/8- OPEN as far as the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Amphitheater.
Westside Campgrounds
Cowlitz Valley
Ranger District Campgrounds
All campgrounds are
currently open.
Reservations
may no longer be needed as is customary after Labor Day. Recreation.gov shows no campground reservations being
taken after Sunday, Sept. 11.
NO CAMPFIRES ALLOWED anywhere in the forest unless in established
campground on the Gifford Pinchot list. No campfires in Wilderness areas!
The 14-day stay limit regulation applies to all campgrounds.
Dispersed camping is allowed. Campers must pack-it-out, take your waste home. Leave no trace of your stay.
Make your reservations for campsites at recreation.gov.
The Cowlitz Valley Ranger District was given NO=ZERO funds for
trail maintenance this year! No
Forest Service Trail Crew this year!
BUT we are SO THANKFUL TO THE VOLUNTEERS, such groups
as Back Country Horsemen, who do VERY MUCH trail maintenance!!
Be prepared in your backpack with the 10
essentials and leave word of
your trek with family or friends.
To volunteer to clean trails, call 360-497-1100
Pacific Crest Trail
See PCT below under Eastside Trails.
Current info on very many
trails at Washington Trails Association:
https://www.wta.org/go-outside/trip-reports
Forest Products
Permit Activity
Timber Harvest Sales
Timber Sales on
the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District total typically 52 million board feet cut per year. ThatÕs enough lumber to build
3,000 homes and produces 90,000 hours of worker wages. Most, 80%, of timber industry wages are produced in lumber, plywood,
chip and paper mills.
Timber Sales:
Soldier Thin Reoffer Timber
Sale and Watch Thin
Timber Sale
bids were due on August 30. As of Sept. 5, there were no reports of the results
of these sales.
Future Timber Resource Stewardship and Timber Sales Information may be found at:
Past Resource Stewardship and Timber Sales can be checked by timber job seekers to apply for work with the successful bidders:
Permits:
Huckleberries
8/31
Shopper Reporter Jackie reported, that huckleberry buyers are full in the lot below DnB Espresso stand in other areas of Randle. ÒThis is the
most tents and stands I have seen in a long time.Ó
Avid hiker, Mary Prophit of Glenoma, shared 8/16, "I counted 64 cars on a 3-mile span of a forest
road on a Wednesday!" Mary surmised that most of the cars were berry
pickers with mostly Oregon and Washington plates. LOTS of commercial picker
camping. I mean more than IÕve ever seen on that road."
A permit is required to
remove any berries from the National Forest.
A free-use permit for personal consumption is available to remove up to one gallon of berries per day and a total of three gallons per year. Berries obtained under a free-use permit may not be sold. There is no cost for free-use permits. To apply for a free-use berry permit, visit: https://gp.fs2c.usda.gov/gp/. This is the only way to obtain this free-use permit. Remember to print your permit or to your phone.
Mushroom/Fern/Berry
Personal permits are FREE. Go online to apply using a home computer, library, or phone. A printed copy will need to be on your person when out in Forest foraging. We have limited staffing so we cannot issue these at this time.
Commercial permits still need to be purchased at the Annex building at the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. The Annex Building is now open for Forest Product Permits. Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30am - 4pm & Friday 7:30am – 2pm.
Personal Firewood
Firewood cutting is open
on both westside and eastside National Forests.
Firewood Permits for 2022 are orange!
National Forest Firewood Permits are required but are now FREE!
A personal use firewood permit allows removal of up to six cords per household, per year across the forest. Each Ranger District has specific areas identified where firewood may be collected. Check with the Ranger District office nearest your destination for a list of areas currently open for firewood cutting and to determine how wood is marked or designated as allowable firewood.
Those who receive free use firewood permits may use firewood for burning, cutting, manufacturing, handling, or other processing, but not for resale. Firewood pieces must be less than 24 inches long.
Find and print the application for Firewood Permit online, mail it with a copy of your ID to Cowlitz Valley Ranger Station, P.O. Box 670, 10024 Hwy. 12, Randle WA 98377. They will mail the permit back to you.
Additional firewood is marked monthly for cutting. Firewood marked by the Forest Service with yellow is also legal for cutting.
If you see down wood youÕd like for firewood, ask the ranger station below, describing it in detail with a carefully accurate mile point from a junction or prominent landmark along the road. A ranger will come and check it as soon as possible which may take a week or more, and if appropriate, mark it.
The Forest Service Northwest
Forest Pass or NWFP is required to park at many US Forest Service sites
such as trailheads and is sold at the ranger station
and at Morton Quicky Mart/Shell Station, Randle FischerÕs Market, Randle One
Stop 76 Station, and Packwood BlantonÕs Market. The NWFP is good for a
full year and costs $30.
A one-day NWFP can be purchased online for $5.
State Discover Pass
Required
to park in Washington State-owned Parking Lots.
The Washington State Discover Pass is entirely a Washington State program. The Discover Pass does not apply to anything on National Forests. U.S. Forest Service employees canÕt answer most questions about it. A single, state recreation Discover land pass now can be used on either of two motor vehicles.
Discover Pass Info: (866) 320-9933, Yakima 509-575-2740, or Ellensburg 509-925-8510.
á The annual pass - $30. Good for one year from the date of purchase.
á Day-use pass - $10. Good for the date marked on the pass.
Available from the WILD system:
¥ at a license dealer,
¥ online: shpr.fyi/2l1Ugdp
¥ phone 1-866-320-9933
Randle Cowlitz Valley Ranger Station Info
Full Window Service OPEN Mon.– Fri. 8 a.m, to 4 p.m except holidays.
No Passes or Permits issued/sold
after 3:45pm.
Limited Staffing may
cause early closing on some days. Please call in advance.
Annex: Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and Fridays 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Phone Hours
Mon.– Fri. 7:45 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 360-497-1100
Address: P.O. Box 670, 10024 Hwy. 12, Randle WA 98377.
Report fires 9-1-1.
Web: www.fs.fed.us/gpnf.
The Park is crowded on summer weekends!
Expect long lines and crowded parking. To avoid congestion, plan to arrive early or late in the day at trailheads and busy areas such as Paradise and Sunrise. Visit on weekdays if possible.
Need ideas? Check out the "Mount Rainier: Off the Beaten Path" story map: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm
Plan Ahead: Save time at the entrance and pay your entry fee before you come. https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74289
Visitors should not
enter ice caves or
melt water channels
Their ÒceilingsÓ are prone to spontaneous collapse due to melting, which is accelerated this time of year. Collapse, or ice and rock fall could be fatal or cause serious injuries to those who venture inside or near the entrance.
Those entering these channels/caves are in danger of hypothermia due to the combination of cold air temperatures inside and colder melt water flowing from the snowfield. Melt water volumes inside will increase throughout the day (just as stream crossing hazards are greater in the afternoon).
Mount Rainier National Park was known for a few well-developed ice caves, but with the warming climate, those have disappeared, replaced only by transitory and unstable channels/caves. The Park closed the historic ice caves around 1980 due to unsafe conditions including ice chunks and flakes, some the size of a small car, breaking loose and falling from the cave ceiling.
Paradise at 5,500 ft. elevation on Monday, Sept. 5, reported high of 51¡, sunny skies, with no snow on the ground outside of the parking lots and parking lot looks full on webcam.
Up on the mountain at Camp Muir at 10,100 ft. elevation, high temp. was 49¡.
Up at the summit, daily temperatures are around 31¡ with SW winds 25-50 mph, with freezing level 15,000 ft.
Paradise Inn dining is OPEN!!
Dining reservations are optional, not needed normally except sometimes during highest visitor times on big weekends.
Paradise Inn Lodging
is also OPEN.
Reservations are needed for lodging: shpr.fyi/rainierbooking or https://mtrainierguestservices.com/book-now-mt-rainier/ or 360-569-2415.
The National Park Inn at Longmire is open for overnight guests.
National Park Inn Dining Room offers breakfast grab & go, lunch & dinner.
Longmire General Store: Daily 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Grove of the Patriarchs Trail remains CLOSED because of flood damage to the bridge.
Stevens Canyon Road center ÒcliffÓ part between Stevens Creek Bridge MP 4.8 and Box Canyon MP 8.7 is CLOSED for repair weekdays Mon. 6am to Thur. 8pm.
These projects are being funded by President TrumpÕs Great American Outdoors Act passed in 2020 to improve facilities in National Parks and National Forests and expand recreation opportunities in all national public lands.
Sunrise Road, the Day Lodge and Visitor Center are OPEN 11:00 am - 5:00 pm daily with grab and go food. Rangers are staffing an information desk outside the visitor center.
Both the Sunrise Visitor Center and
Ohanapecosh Visitor Center will close on September 18.
Hiking on Snow Safety: https://go.nps.gov/awj4x7
For current
conditions see their Twitter site or visit MountRainierNPS. Or
visit www.nps.gov/mora for updated information about
the park.
For all activities, see regulations or shpr.fyi/2JfXPnm.
Get Your Climbing or Wildness
Camping Permit!
Paradise Climbing and Wilderness
Information Center (PWIC) is open every day through the end of the
climbing season in September. Paying the Climbing Fee and obtaining a Climbing
Permit is required for all climbers and skiers who journey above 10,000 feet or
onto a glacier - even folks doing a single-push style ascent.
A permit is required year-round for all overnight stays in the backcountry. Permits must be obtained in person at a wilderness information center or visitor center.
For current information visit the park website at https://go.usa.gov/xsaRe
For any further questions, please call 360-569-6650.
Look at their Twitter: twitter.com/MountRainierNPS
Trails
All highest trails may have
deep snow.
Campgrounds
Recreation.gov is booking reservations through Sept.
8. After Sept 8, camping is
first-come, first-served only. Campgrounds will close after Oct. 10.
á Ohanapecosh
á White River
á Cougar Rock- The Dump Station and Water Fill Station at Cougar Rock will be closed
for the 2022 camping season
Permits are not required for day hiking.
To plan a backcountry trip or to get a backcountry permit online, please visit:
Park Area Webcams
View current conditions around the park via many webcams:
http://www.skimountaineer.com/MtnWebCams/Rainier-MtWebCams.html?size=med
Park Information
Road and facilities opening and closing dates and hours are available: shpr.fyi/RainierDates or
https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
Everything you could ever want to know about Mt. Rainier National Park is available at . https://www.nps.gov/mora or their Twitter site or by calling 360-569-2211.
Online Park Info:
facebook.com/MountRainierNPS
twitter.com/MountRainierNPS
Park Headquarters:
39000 State Route 706 E
Ashford, WA 98304
Phone: (360) 569-2211
360-569-2177 TDD
Park Information: 360-569-6575
FAX 360-569-6519
Email: General Park Information
Do not depend on GPS directions
on Forest Roads. GPS has no knowledge of forest roads closed by snow, windfalls
or damage, and visitors have been stranded in dangerous situations.
All roads are snowfree.
When going into the mountains at any time, take the Ten Essentials and tell someone where youÕre going.
FR #1000 Conrad Meadows-
6/29- Residents reported that the
last seven miles of roadway before Conrad Meadows is extremely rough. The meadows are melted but the trails
still have snow.
Forest Road #1901 has logging near the road. Watch for log trucks in this area.
Hunting
See regulations at https://wdfw.wa.gov .
Most fishing is OPEN!
Take a kid fishing!
Rules Pamphlet: www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing
Unless
specified otherwise in the rules pamphlet:
á Many Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are open to fishing for game fish (except Dolly Varden/bull trout and grass carp) year-round.
á
Some generally Òlow-landÓ or ÒtraditionalÓ
lakes are open from 4th Saturday in
April, Apr. 23 this year, through October 31, so OPEN now.
á Most larger rivers season is open year-round.
¥ Many smaller rivers, streams and
beaver ponds are open from the
Saturday before Memorial Day through October 31, so OPEN now.
Beaver ponds located within or connected to streams listed as open to trout and
other game fish follow the same rules as the stream.
But
many individual waters are different from the above, soÉ
READ YOUR
PAMPHLET!
Open this link for many thousands of Catchable Trout Plants made in Yakima County Lakes in recent months:
Little Naches- Recreation closures begin in Little
Naches area to help fish.
Several temporary recreational access closures have started due to fish restoration work on the Little Naches River: traffic delays along Forest Service roads 1900 and 1904: the sno-park along 1904 will be closed. Access to the fishing pond off the road will be temporarily closed, and wood harvest units will be closed for logging and felling.
The fish-enhancement work to replace wood in the river and regrade the stream bed is expected to extend through Sept. 1.
Excerpted
from the Yakima Herald-Republic June 16
Clear Lake, west of Rimrock Lake, is and open for fishing year-round, and has several boat launches. Clear Lake is planted with trout including the large triploids many times every year.
Tims Pond is open for fishing. Many people including children fish there. Parking there now requires the state Discover Pass.
Rimrock
Lake- Shopper Reporter Hazelanna reported on 8/24,
ÒThere were about 30 boats moored on different docks along Rimrock Lake with no
boats visible on the water.Ó
On Sunday, Aug. 28, Rimrock was at 80% full at 2,909 ft. elev., five
feet down from the week before, now 17 feet below full elevation of 2926 ft., with inflow 268 cfs and
releases 1,324 cfs.
Boat launch access for Rimrock Lake, east of White Pass, is available at Rimrock Lake Resort, Silver Beach Resort, The Cove, Horseshoe Cove, and various private and Forest Service public sites around the lake.
ÒFlip-flopÓ raising Tieton River
flows and enabling rafting begins around
Labor Day
The Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec) will begin its annual Òflip-flopÓ operation in late August to aid in fall orchard irrigation, to aid successful spawning and incubation of chinook salmon eggs and to improve winter reservoir storage in the Yakima basin.
Increased flows in the Tieton River will enable the popular white-water rafting.
Flows out of Keechelus and Cle Elum reservoirs in the upper Yakima River basin will gradually decrease, while flows from Kachess and Rimrock reservoirs will increase. This operation will affect flows in the Tieton and Naches rivers as well as the upper Yakima, Cle Elum, and Kachess rivers in the upper Yakima basin. In other words, flows from these facilities will transition, or Òflip-flop.Ó
Flows out of Rimrock will increase to the 1,000-1,800 cubic feet per second range by Labor Day weekend and to 1,700-2,400 cfs by mid-September, depending on irrigation demands and weather conditions, BuRec said.
Partly excerpted from the Yakima Herald-Republic
All Campgrounds and Group Sites are OPEN except:
á Peninsula Day Use/Boat Launch- 7/8- closed for repair of the boat launch road.
American River Guard Station and American Ridge Lodge are open. Make reservations at American River Guard Station through Recreation.gov
Campgrounds will begin to
close after Sept. 12. Call the Ranger station with questions on individual
campgrounds.
Available:
á Indian Creek
á Bumping Lake
á Lodge Pole
á Many others
Campers in dispersed (no-fee) campsites must pack their garbage
home!
Overnight camping is also available at the private Rimrock
Lake Resort and at Silver Beach Resort on the east side of White Pass.
The forest belongs to YOU!
Be proud of it!
Keep it clean and beautiful!
Leave every site cleaner than when you arrived!
All highest trails may have snow.
Boulder Cave Day Use Site, Trail & Cave is OPEN 10:00 am – 4:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Boulder Cave will be closed to ALL ACTIVITY, walk-ins included, after Sept. 19 and will reopen in the spring.
Green Trail Maps and informational books are available in the lobby at Naches Ranger Station.
More current info on thousands of trails at:
https://www.wta.org/go-outside/trip-reports
#2000
Pacific Crest Trail (8/25) Pacific
Crest Trail hikers that planned to exit the trail at HartÕs Pass near Winthrop,
WA, should plan for alternate routes. The road is closed due to mudslides and
continued unstable road conditions. Specific information on this closure, as
well as current fire conditions, can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/OkaWenNF . The Pacific Crest Trail Association has provided
suggested alternatives at: https://www.pcta.org/.../harts-pass-road-closed-mudslide/.
Many prospective thru-hikers have started their PCT journey on the Mexican border during the third or fourth week of April and aim for a September completion date.
How long does it take to hike? Thru-hikers typically take 5 to 7 months, but many people hike sections at a time. Many canÕt take continuous hiking for months so take rest breaks periodically off the trail.
The
Kracker Barrel at White Pass has had multiple PCT hikers
each day as many are pushing to get to the northern terminus during the
wind-down of summer weather.
We have found online one Pacific
Crest Trail hiker who started at the southern trailhead at Campo, CA on
March 18, 2022. So far, he is uploading videos regularly. You can follow his
journey on YouTube at
ÒMagnet NorthboundÓ.
Hiker Magnet Northbound
Completes the
Pacific Crest Trail!
Congratulations!
8/24 ÒYesterday, we
completed the 2,653 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican to the
Canadian border. Today, I am a thru-hiker. I donÕt yet fully
know what that means, but I can tell you I am not the same person I was 5
months ago. These people, this community, this experience has been the most
impactful thing I have ever done in my life. It was hard, so hard, to keep
going sometimes, but I knew I would not stop until I got to Canada. Thank you
to all the Angels that supported us! Thank you to the entire trail community
for this experience!
ÒThank you to all of you who showered me with supportive comments along
the way. Many of your comments stuck in my mind and gave me strength while I
struggled. IÕm so appreciative. Cheers my friends!
ÒNow, back home to Oregon.Ó
For passes that require verification
such as Senior, Access, and Military passes, you must come to the ranger station service window during office
hours with the appropriate verification documents for eligibility. Eligibility requirements can be found
here (Region 6 - Recreation Passes & Permits (usda.gov) under each pass.
ALL passes can be purchased online at the USGS Store at USGS.GOV.
Firewood
Naches RD is now
processing Firewood
Permits ONLINE.
Please utilize the Naches RD website (Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest - News & Events (usda.gov)) and fill out the firewood request form to have your permit initiated.
You must come to the ranger station to pick up your permit.
Naches District Firewood Permits are now active. Firewood cutting is now permitted on the Naches District.
The Forest Service Northwest
Forest Pass or NWFP is required to park at many US Forest Service sites
such as trailheads and is sold at the ranger station
and at several area businesses. The NWFP is sold as an annual pass for
$30, or a one-day pass for $5.
A one-day NWFP can be purchased online for $5.
State Discover Pass
Required
to park in Washington State-owned Parking Lots.
The Washington State Discover Pass is entirely a Washington State program. The Discover Pass does not apply to anything on National Forests. U.S. Forest Service employees canÕt answer most questions about it. A single, state recreation Discover land pass now can be used on either of two motor vehicles.
Questions about the Discover Pass may be answered by calling the Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife in Olympia (866) 320-9933, Yakima 509-575-2740, or Ellensburg 509-925-8510.
á The annual pass - $30. Good for one year from the date of purchase.
á Day-use pass - $10. Good for the date marked on the pass.
Available from the WILD system:
¥ at a license dealer,
¥ online: shpr.fyi/2l1Ugdp
¥ phone 1-866-320-9933
Front Office is now open for business- no window! In person!
Office Hours: Mon-Wed & Fri, 8am-4:30pm (Closed for
lunch noon-12:30) for purchasing Federal Recreation passes, permits and FS
maps.
Recreation passes can
also be purchased online at recreation.gov
Naches Ranger Station
10237 Highway 12
Naches, WA 98937
(509) 653-1401
For other area information visit the Naches Valley Chamber: uppervalleybb.com or call (509) 966-1529.
_________________________
View many
northwest webcams.
See
the Space Needle Rotating
Cam, 360¡ Roundshot Cam atop the Space Needle in
Seattle!
Information below is from Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia WA 98501-1091, phone 360-902-2256.
Read your regulations!
Report violations and dangerous wildlife at 877 933-9847. Many reports below are by or excerpted from WDFW reports.
Lower Columbia
salmon fishing closed
With Chinook salmon catches trending well above expectation,
fishery managers from Washington and Oregon announced that the lower Columbia
River from Bonneville Dam to Buoy 10 (including the Camas Slough) will close
to salmon fishing beginning Friday, Sept. 2.
Fishery managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife agreed Thursday to close salmon fishing downstream of Bonneville Dam after preliminary data showed impacts to Lower Columbia River ÒtuleÓ Chinook – which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) – were much higher than anticipated.
Lower Columbia River Chinook salmon have three life history types including a spring run, a fall timed component referred to as tule Chinook, and a late-fall timed component referred to as bright Chinook. From a harvest perspective, tule Chinook are the most problematic. There are large numbers of hatchery tules that are produced to mitigate for the effects of hydropower development. These hatchery fish contribute heavily to fisheries from Alaska to the northern Oregon coast, as well as the lower Columbia River. The wild tule populations are at greatest risk because of the collective effects of hydropower development, habitat degradation, hatcheries, and harvest. Since 1999, when Lower Columbia River Chinook salmon were listed under the Endangered Species Act, the harvest impacts to tule Chinook have been reduced from 80 percent to 37 percent.
Fishing Reports
8/16/22
Mainstem Columbia River
Salmon/Steelhead:
Lower Columbia River Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to
Bonneville Dam – 352 salmonid
boats and 92 Washington bank rods were tallied during SaturdayÕs (8/13) flight
count.
Sec 1 (Bonneville)
– 26 bank anglers kept one Chinook and released two steelhead. 4 boats/5
rods had no catch.
Sec 2 (Camas/Washougal) – 5 boats/7 rods had no catch.
Sec 3 (I-5 area) –
No report.
Sec 4 (Vancouver)
– 42 bank anglers kept three Chinook. 22 boats/39 rods kept five Chinook
and released one Chinook jack.
Sec 5 (Woodland)
– 47 bank anglers kept one Chinook. 70 boats/160 rods kept 22 Chinook,
one Chinook jack and released three Chinook, two Chinook jacks and two
steelhead.
Sec 6 (Kalama)
– 146 bank anglers kept 15 Chinook, one Chinook jack and released one
Chinook and one steelhead. 20 boats/51 rods kept five Chinook.
Sec 7 (Cowlitz)
– 30 boats/71 rods kept six Chinook and released two Chinook.
Sec 8 (Longview)
– 48 bank anglers released one steelhead. 38 boats/79 rods kept two
Chinook. Sec 9 (Cathlamet) – 13 bank anglers released one steelhead. 9
boats/15 rods had no catch.
Sec 10 (Cathlamet)
– Three bank anglers had no catch.
Sturgeon:
Sec 4 (Vancouver) –
1 boat/3 rods released two sublegal sturgeon.
Sec 5 (Woodland) –
One bank angler had no catch. 1 boat/2 rods released one sublegal and four
oversize sturgeon.
Sec 6 (Kalama)
– 1 boat/2 rods had no catch.
Sec 7 (Cowlitz) –
1 boat/7 rods released four legal and 36 sublegal sturgeon.
Sec 8 (Longview)
– 1 boat/2 rods released eight sublegal sturgeon.
Columbia River Tributaries
Salmon/Steelhead:
Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – 23 bank rods kept one Chinook jack, one steelhead, one cutthroat and
released one Chinook jack. 1 boat/2 rods released two
cutthroat.
Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Br – 18 bank rods had no catch. 9 boats/31 rods kept 39 steelhead.
Kalama River –
Seven bank rods kept two steelhead and released two steelhead. 1 boat/2 rods
had no catch.
Lewis River – 15 bank rods kept five steelhead. 3 boats/6 rods kept one steelhead.