CARSON — Four campgrounds in the southern Gifford Pinchot National Forest open for the season today.
The Forest Service reports that Beaver and Panther Creek camps in the Wind River valley, Moss Creek campground along the Little White Salmon River north of Willard and Peterson Prairie campground west of Trout Lake will be opening.
The four are operated by Hoodoo Recreation, a private concessionaire.
Overnight fees are $12 at Peterson Prairie, $16 at Moss Creek, $18 at Panther Creek and $20 at Beaver.
Water is not available at Peterson Prairie.
Two other nearby camps — Paradise Creek and Oklahoma –are scheduled to open on May 22, according to Hoodoo Recreation.
Goose Lake campground between Carson and Trout Lake and Trout Lake Creek campground north of Trout Lake are open already.
Road No. 25, a major north-south route through the Gifford Pinchot from the upper end of Swift Reservoir to the Cowlitz River valley also is open for the summer.
Road No. 23, the other major north-south route, is open from Trout Lake to Randle.
Road No. 2329 through the high lakes is open for four-wheel-drive vehicles.
High snow elevations for May have left many trails accessible.
Among trails reported open are Observation No. 132 and Soda Peaks Lake No. 133 in Trapper Creek Wilderness.
In Indian Heaven Wilderness, the snow has melted out to Thomas Lake on Thomas Lake trail No. 111.
Climbers Bivouac on the south side of Mount St. Helens opens today.
Road No. 99 to Windy Ridge Viewpoint is expected to open on May 15.
The snow level in the Dark Divide roadless area is at about 5,000 feet elevation.
