While this section of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is considered one of the top landmarks in southwest Washington, it’s important to note it’s easy to get turned around here so be sure to pay close attention to landmarks. A hill rises 800 feet from the northern section, while lodgepole pines, mosses and a grassy meadow cover parts of the crater.
The three-mile round trip climb is tough, but worth it for the unbeatable views of the surrounding valley, especially in spring when wildflowers are blooming.Ībout 40 minutes from Trout Lake toward Goose Lake lies the Big Lava Bed, a 12,500 acre crater with plenty of interesting formations like crevasses, small caves and high rock piles.
Mount Adams from Lake Road in Trout LakeĪ great hike is Sleeping Beauty, which has sweeping views of Mt St Helens and Mt Rainier as you make your way 1,500 feet up to a former fire lookout. That means there are plenty of places around Trout Lake where you can enjoy the view, including along Lake Road at the entrance to the Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve which is also a great picnic, SUP or kayaking spot. Mt Adams is the second highest peak in the northwest after Mt. Whitewater rafting over Husum Falls Enjoy the view of Mt Adams Navigating the 12-foot drop that ends up in a boulder garden and is guaranteed to submerge you is completely optional, yet guaranteed to be the highlight of your trip if you can work up the courage to go over. The White Salmon Riverīook the trip with an outfitter like Zoller’s, River Drifters or Wet Planet, and spend the next few hours tackling Class III-IV rapids rapids and cliff-jumping before reaching the falls. A thrilling way to experience it is on a whitewater rafting trip from nearby BZ Corner toward Husum Falls, which is the tallest commercially rafted waterfall route in the country. The scenic White Salmon River is known for its narrow cliffs and gem-toned glacial water that flows down from Mt. The Natural Bridges Whitewater raft over Husum Falls The Natural Bridges are another great option for families, since it only takes a couple of minutes to walk down a flat pathway from the parking lot to the arches. Vegetation has since grown over them, turning them into bridges you can walk right on top of. The destruction created a small, mile-long canyon in a serene forest, with two big rock archways that were left standing. Just past the Guler Ice Caves, there’s a parking lot and trail that leads to the Natural Bridges which were formed by a partially collapsed lava tube. READ MORE: Exploring the Cheese Cave in Trout Lake, Washington The Cheese Cave Admire the Natural Bridges It only takes about 10 minutes to get to the other side, where there’s a large, steel staircase to the exit. Head down a wooden ladder, and find yourself swallowed up by the wide, cavernous walls covered in flow ledges and lavacicles. The entrance to the Guler Ice CavesĪnother option is the Cheese Caves, which were once used as a natural refrigerator by the Guler Cheese company to store and age their products. Head down a 20-foot staircase into the pitch-black cave, and use a flashlight to see frozen stalactites and stalagmites as you explore the twists and turns of this natural wonder. The 650 foot long cavern was discovered more than a century ago, and has four sections separated by three collapsed sinks. The Guler Ice Caves are popular, and part of a two-thousand-foot lava tube in the Cascade Range. There’s a gas station, burger joint and cafe in town called Andy’s Valley Service found along Highway 141, where you can sip a huckleberry milkshake while relaxing in the shaded picnic area out back.Įxplore the Guler Ice Caves or Cheese Caveīeat the heat by heading down into one of the Trout Lake ice caves found in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Huckleberries are a staple in the PNW, and the best way to enjoy them is by indulging in a tasty treat.
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