Winter Sports

Between snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, sledding, skijoring, and snowshoeing, winter is a great time to get out on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. There are several Sno-Parks across the forest where you can start your winter adventure.

Parking at Sno-Parks at Gifford Pinchot National Forest requires an annual Washington State Sno-Park Permit between December and March. The money from Sno-Park passes pays for plowing access roads and grooming trails. Passes are not available on site, so purchase one on-line or from a local vendor. View a list of local vendors.

Many roads close for the winter with the first significant snowfall, or December 1st - whichever comes first. Get a free Motor Vehicle Use Map, listing all the seasonal road closures. Get to know the limitations of your vehicle, let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back, and read up on winter driving & safety.

Winter Recreation Reports:

Know Before You Go:

Conditions:

Avalanche Report: nwac.us
NOAA interactive snow map: bit.ly/3qqvu4y
National Weather Service: www.weather.gov
Washington Mountain Weather Forecast:
- Mount St. Helens: www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Saint-Helens/forecasts/2549
- Mt Adams: www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Adams/forecasts/3741

Washington State Parks Winter Recreation information:

Winter driving tips via WSDOT: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/winterdrivingtips

Winter Essentials: Winter Essentials Flyer

Sledding/Tubing

Sledding/Tubing Areas

Mt. Adams area

Sno-Park: Oldman Pass

Snowmobiling

here are great places and trails to snowmobile on the forest. Read more about Snowmobile Regulations here.

There are several Sno-Parks across the forest where you can park, unload your snowmobile, and head out on snowmobile trails.

Parking at Sno-Parks at Gifford Pinchot National Forest requires a daily or annual Washington State Sno-Park Pass between December 1-March 31. After March 31 a Sno-Park permit is no longer required and plowing and grooming services stop for the season. The money from Sno-Park passes pays for plowing access roads and grooming trails.

You can check the status of road plowing along the Wind River Highway from Skamania County Public Works.

*Use the search section below to look for Snowmobiling locations. *

XC Skiing/Snowshoeing

here are several Sno-Parks across the forest where you can park, unload your snowmobile, and head out on snowmobile trails.

Parking at Sno-Parks at Gifford Pinchot National Forest requires a daily or annual Washington State Sno-Park Pass between December and March. The money from Sno-Park passes pays for plowing access roads and grooming trails.

*Use the search section below to look for Skiing/Snowshoeing locations. *