Southwest Cascades
Southwest Cascades in Washington has 4 routes with alpine no fixed protection.
- 4 routes
- 5.6
- Alpine
Is Southwest Cascades open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 12 alerts for Cowlitz Valley Ranger District.
Backbone Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Cowlitz Valley Ranger District · Order 06-03-05-26-07 · USFS · Cowlitz Valley Ranger District
Bridge Installation on High Bridge Trail
Agency alert covering Gifford Pinchot National Forest · USFS · Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Gifford Pinchot National Forest · USFS · Gifford Pinchot National Forest
High Rock Closure Area
Agency alert covering Cowlitz Valley Ranger District · Order 06-03-05-26-02 · USFS · Cowlitz Valley Ranger District
Seasonal Road Closures
Agency alert covering Gifford Pinchot National Forest · USFS · Gifford Pinchot National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Southwest Cascades
Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
44° / 31°
19 wet
Feb
49° / 31°
17 wet
Mar
53° / 34°
19 wet
Apr
59° / 38°
18 wet
May
67° / 44°
15 wet
Jun
71° / 48°
10 wet
Jul
79° / 53°
5 wet
Aug
80° / 52°
4 wet
Sep
74° / 47°
8 wet
Oct
61° / 40°
15 wet
Nov
49° / 35°
19 wet
Dec
43° / 31°
20 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Packwood, WA, 17.2 mi away at 1,060 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Southwest Cascades is a climbing area in the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District of Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington, managed by the Forest Service. It sits within the broader network of trails and waterways in this corner of the forest, and several other destinations lie within a few miles. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Packwood weather station show July and August highs around 79 to 80°F with only four or five wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the low 40s and rain on most days. That station sits well below the climbing area, so temperatures up high run cooler. Langille Ridge and the Langille Ridge Trail are both within a mile, and Yellowjacket Creek offers canoeing about 1.6 miles away. For an overnight stay, Blue Lake Creek Campground is roughly 4 miles off.
Routes (4)
Little Tahoma(1)
Mount Adams(1)
Mount St. Helens(1)
Shark Rock(1)
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