| The Gifford Pinchot National Forest, located in southwest Washington is one of the oldest national forests in the United States. Established in 1949, the forest now contains 1,312,000 acres and includes the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.Named after Gifford Pinchot, an active conservationist and the first chief of the Forest Service, the forest has something for everyone from solitude and scenic beauty to creative inspiration and outdoor activities. Visitors can travel over 1,200 miles of trails of varying difficulty. Parts of these trails are open to bicycles, horses, ATV's, and hiking. In winter, many cross-country ski and snowmobile trails can be accessed in the area.The Gifford Pinchot National Forest also provides opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and other forms of boating. The abundant rain and snowfall in the Cascades feed an extensive river system. There are more than 20 species of fish in the 1,360 miles of streams and over 100 lakes in the Gifford Pinchot. |
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