Memorial Day weekend often is called the unofficial start of summer — but it really isn’t. At least not in the backcountry of Southwest Washington.
The three-day holiday is more like a tease: You get access to a few good trails, campgrounds and other locations, but the best spots — at the higher elevations of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest — remain under snow.
And this year, they’ll remain under snow until about the official start of summer in late June.
That’s not to say there aren’t some good options for starting the backcountry recreation season on Friday. Here are five suggestions for enthusiasts who have been away from the woods too long:
No. 1 — Visit Ape Cave.
The 2.5-mile lava tube on the southwest side of Mount St. Helens is a regional favorite — so you won’t be alone. Bring two dependable sources of light when entering the cave.
To get there, find the community of Cougar in southern Cowlitz County, then follow Highway 503 Spur east until it morphs into Lewis River road No. 90. Keep going east (6.8 miles from Cougar) to the junction with Gifford Pinchot National Forest road No. 83. Turn left on road No. 83 in 1.6 miles and follow to the parking lot.
A Northwest Forest Pass is needed or you can pay a $5 day-use fee.
No. 2 — Hike Falls Creek Falls trail No. 152A
The best hike for Memorial Day weekend would be the Dog Mountain trail in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, but Dog Mountain is just too crowded this weekend and parking too limited.
So the 3.4-mile round-trip to stunning Falls Creek Falls in the upper Wind River drainage is an alternative. This is a great trail any day, but in spring when the snowmelt is at its peak is best.
The three-tiered falls is among the most scenic in the Northwest.
The trip gains about 600 feet elevation in the 1.75 miles, so there’s some climbing, but not a lot.
To get there, find the stoplight in downtown Carson in Skamania County. Go north on the Wind River Highway for 14.2 miles to junction with GPNF road No. 3062. Follow the road for 2.6 miles to the trailhead.
No. 3 — Drive Mount Adams/Lewis River loop
Roads No. 90 leading east up the North Fork of the Lewis River and No. 23 heading north from Trout Lake toward Mount Adams are free of snow.
Combining the two makes for an excellent drive through the Gifford Pinchot. Make a stop at Lower Falls Recreation Area for sure to view Lower Falls. Take some time near the junction of the two roads just to savor the Mount Adams country and get a look at the peak, weather willing.
No. 4 — Fish in Coldwater Lake
This 750-acre lake north of Mount St. Helens often offers good trout fishing, especially this time of year.
Be advised a small boat (no gas motors) or a float tube are necessary, since there’s almost no shoreline access allowed except at the boat ramp and a couple of spots on Lakes trail No. 211.
This lake is mostly about catch-and-release fishing. A column about fishing at Coldwater Lake can be found at www.columbian.com/outdoors.
No. 5 — Camp at Lower Falls
This is the most scenic of the forest campgrounds available this weekend.
It has 43 standard sites that can accommodate tents and recreational vehicles. Lower Falls on the North Fork of the Lewis River are viewable without leaving the campground.
Lewis River trail No. 31 leads upstream to Middle, Upper and Taidanapum falls.
Lower Falls campground costs $15 per night for a single site, $30 per night for double sites (Nos. 08 and 28) and $35 per night for premium site No. 21.
