Advocacy Update: Gifford Pinchot National Forest Schedules Roads Meetings

A view of the west face of Mount Adams from the Bumper, the trailhead for which is accessed by Forest Road 23. Photo by Elemental Fluttershy.

It's no secret to hikers that forest roads can be a little on the rough side, making it challenging to reach some trailheads. This is especially apparent trying to navigate some of the trail access roads within Gifford-Pinchot National Forest, which stretches south along the Cascades between Mount Rainier and the Columbia River Gorge.

The National Forest Service has heard from hikers on the issue and is preparing to share a management plan that will prioritize road infrastructure and maintenance on forest roads.Three meetings have been scheduled for late May where Forest Service officials will discuss the report and receive comments from the community. The report is now available at the Forest's website.

The Columbian reports that the report "is part of a 2005 Travel Management Rule and requires forests to provide a road system that is financially and environmentally sustainable and can be maintained realistically."

Learn about the plan and give your comments

Meetings will be held across southwest Washington on the following dates:

May 27, 6 p.m.
Randle Fire Hall
U.S. Highway 12, Randle

May 28, 6 p.m.
Forest Headquarters
10600 N.E. 51st Circle, Vancouver

WTA asks Forest Service to prioritize roads to trailheads

During the public comment period in 2013, WTA communicated concern over declining roads access to popular trailheads including the gravel road (FR 4109) to the Silver Star Trail where travelers needed a high clearance vehicle to reach the parking area.

The roads to Siouxon (FR 5701), Grassy Knoll (FR 6808), Quartz Creek Butte (FR 9075), Glacier View and Lake Christine (FR 59) were also of concern.

The road to access the scenic views from Silver Star Mountain is notoriously rough. Photo by trip reporter, pnwhiker.

Learn more about becoming a trail advocate

WTA will be hosting a Hiker Potluck on May 27 at Lewisville Regional Park in Battle Ground where staff will be available to answer questions about issues facing hikers. This is also an opportunity to learn about the Dark Divide, an under-utilized but incredibly scenic space also faced with road access issues.

RSVP for the Hiker Potluck here.