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Cougar

Cougar is a small unincorporated community located 29 miles NE of Woodland along Washington State Route 503 with a population of 186. Cougar is home to outdoor attractions such as the Ape Caves, the Lava Canyon Trailhead, and Yale Lake. The community offers miles of walking,jogging, and biking trails, parks, campgrounds, boating, fishing, and hiking opportunities surrounded by scenery and wildlife.

 Campgrounds

 

BEAVER BAY CAMPGROUND-  is located on Highway 503, approximately 34.5 miles to Beaver Bay Park. They offer campsites, day use, and a fishing and boating area. The park allows access to water activities. Kayaks, paddle boards, oars, and  inflatable water crafts are all welcome.

Includes: picnic area, day use fee, campsites, covered shelter, restrooms, vehicle dump station

COUGAR PARK AND CAMPGROUND- is located along Highway 503 East off of exit 21. Cougar Park offers overnight stays and day use visits. The park allows access to a picnic area and water activities such as Kayaks, paddle boards, oars, and  inflatable water crafts are all welcome.

Includes: day use fee, boat ramp, swim area, restrooms, picnic area, parking

GREEN RIVER HORSE CAMP- is located off Forest Road 26 on NF-2612. Green River Horse Camp provides campsites and trails into the back country.

Includes: horse riding, camping, trails

LONE FIR RESORT is located on 16806 Lewis River Road, Nestled at the base of two mountains. Lone Fir Resort provides outdoor recreation activities, cafe service, and scenic views.

Includes: campsites, cabin, hotel rooms, cafe, club house, pool, gift shop, horseshoe pits, restroom area, showers, laundry, playground, fire pit

LOWER FALLS CAMPGROUND- is located at mile marker 28 on Forest Road 90. Lower Falls offers 43 standard campsites. $15 to $35 a night. No hook-ups, vault toilet, hiking trails, mountain bike trails and a magnificent waterfall.

Includes: trails, campsites, day-use parking. A Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass needed at day-use area. Reserve on recreation.gov or try one of 24, first come, first served sites.

MERRILL LAKE CAMPGROUND- On Forest Road 81, 4.6 miles north of Highway 503. This 114-acre site consists of a forest cover of conifers and hardwoods along a lake. Nine, first-come, first-serve campsites, catch-and-release fly fishing, boat launch for small craft (non-gasoline powered).

Includes: trails, camping, lake access, boat access (small craft, non-gasoline powered), catch and release fly fishing.

SWIFT FOREST CAMP- is located on 280 Road in Cougar and used for camping and day use purposes. Swift Forest Camp provides a two lane boat ramp and swimming beach.

Includes: boat ramp, swimming area, picnic area, covered area, restrooms, parking, dump station, campsites

 Parks

 

BEAVER BAY CAMPGROUND-  is located on Highway 503, approximately 34.5 miles to Beaver Bay Park. They offer campsites, day use, and a fishing and boating area. The park allows access to water activities. Kayaks, paddle boards, oars, and  inflatable water crafts are all welcome.

Includes: picnic area, day use fee, campsites, covered shelter, restrooms, vehicle dump station

COUGAR PARK AND CAMPGROUND- located along Highway 503 East off of exit 21 is Cougar Park and Campground. Cougar Park offers overnight stays and day use visits. The park allows access to a picnic area and water activities such as Kayaks, paddle boards, oars, and  inflatable water crafts are all welcome.

Includes: day use fee, boat ramp, swim area, restrooms, picnic area, parking

MARBLE MOUNTAIN SNO-PARK-  is located six miles up Forest Road 83. The trail is used for climbing Mount St. Helen’s, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.

Includes: trail, skiing, climbing access, permit required

  Trails

 

APE CANYON TRAIL- This nine mile round trip trail begins at the end of Forest Road 83 near Lava Canyon Trail head. The trail gives views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helen’s. This is a hiking and popular mountain biking trail.

​Includes: trail, mountain biking. NW Forest Pass, America the Beautiful passes or $5 in a fee tube (closest tube is at Lava Canyon) required for parking.

APE CAVE- Walk through a 1,900 year-old lava tube. Ape Cave’s two routes (1.5 mile or 3 mile round trip) accommodate families or the more adventurous. Bring two light sources per person and dress warmly.

Includes: underground trail, rock structures, vault toilet. Washington State Sno-Park needed to park and walk in from at Trail of Two Forests 12-1 to 3-31.  NW Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass or $5 in a fee tube required for parking the rest of the year.

BADGER PEAK TRAIL- This 10-mile round-trip with an elevation gain of 1,600 feet with a high point of 5,664 feet is the best spot in the Dark Divide roadless area for dramatic views of Mount St. Helens and the blast zone. From I-5 north, take exit 21 to Cougar. Drive through Cougar along the north side of Swift Reservoir. At the end of the reservoir, continue straight onto Road 25. Stay on FR-25 for 17.1 miles until you see the sign for Mosquito Meadows turnoff. Take a sharp right onto a gravel road (FR 28) and drive 2.3 miles. The Mosquito Meadows Trailhead is on the right side of the road.

Includes: trail

BUTTE CAMP TRAIL- This 2.7 mile one-way trail goes through old-growth firs, open slopes and has views of Mount Hood and Mount St. Helen’s. Start at Red Rock Pass Trail-head on Forest Road 81. Hike 1 mile to Butte Camp Trail 238A.

Includes: Red Rock Pass Trail-head requires no pass for parking.

CLIMBERS BIVOUAC TRAILHEAD- is located at end of Forest Road 830. Bivouac is the trailhead to Monitor Ridge Climbing Route. Campsites and vault toilet available.

Includes: trail, vault toilet, camping. Climbing permit required to travel above 4,800 ft. Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass or $5 in fee tube required for parking.

COUGAR PARK AND CAMPGROUND- is located along Highway 503 East off of exit 21. Cougar Park offers overnight stays and day use visits. The park allows access to a picnic area and water activities such as Kayaks, paddle boards, oars, and inflatable water crafts are all welcome.

Includes: day use fee, boat ramp, swim area, restrooms, picnic area, parking

CURLY CREEK FALLS TRAIL- Short, .2 miles long, well-groomed trail that ventures through a verdant, western hemlock forest. It has an excellent view of Curly Creek Falls. Located off Forest Road 90, just past Curley Creek Road.

Includes: trail, waterfall, restroom, mountain biking, free parking

JUNE LAKE TRAIL- 1.3 miles one-way, this moderate trail leads to June Lake, which is fed by a small waterfall tumbling off basalt cliffs from a 1,900 year-old lava flow. Trail follows a beautiful creek. Located on Forest Road 83, seven miles off Forest Road 90.

Includes: free parking at June Lake trailhead,small parking lot.

LAVA CANYON TRAIL- Walk beside the River and see spectacular waterfalls and rock formations.  The Upper 1.5 mile loop is fairly easy and brings you across a suspension bridge. Lower canyon is much more difficult, with narrow trails and ladders to climb. The trail is five miles round trip.

​Includes: trail, waterfall, bridge, river view. Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass or $5 in fee tube required for parking.

LEWIS RIVER TRAIL- 15 mile round trip along the Lewis River is the Lewis River Trail. It provides biking access and views of side streams, springs, and waterfalls. It guides you along a path of old growth forest full of tall old rustic trees.

Includes: hiking trail, mountain biking, requires valid recreation pass

LOWER FALLS CAMPGROUND- is located at mile marker 28 on Forest Road 90. Lower Falls offers 43 standard campsites. $15 to $35 a night. No hook-ups, vault toilet, hiking trails, mountain bike trails and a magnificent waterfall.

Includes: trails, campsites, day-use parking, Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass needed at day-use area. Reserve on recreation.gov or try one of 24, first come, first served sites.

MARBLE MOUNTAIN SNO-PARK- is located six miles up Forest Road 83. It’s used for climbing Mount St. Helens, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.

Includes: trail, skiing, climbing access. WA State Sno-Park permit required Dec. 1 to March 31. Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass or $5 in fee tube required for parking during rest of the year. (Pay at fee tubes at Trail of Two Forests or Lava Canyon.)

MIDDLE FALLS TRAIL- located on Forest Road, Middle falls is home a waterfall that plummets from beneath two rock arches. This trail is part of one big loop of connecting paths.

Includes: trail, waterfall

MILL CREEK FALLS TRAIL- located on Forest Road is a 3.8 round trip trail forested with creek crossings. It contains a 75 foot drop waterfall and views of surrounding wildlife.

Includes: trail, waterfall

MONITOR RIDGE HIKE- This ten mile round trip path offers hikers great views of fall foliage, wildlife, summits, and mountain views. It is considered to be a more difficult trail but can be a great challenge for hikers 

Includes: climbers permit required, trail

NORWAY PASS- is located on Forest Road 26 on the east side of Mount St. Helens. The 4 mile round-trip hiking trail offers active hikers mountain views, and leads into the Mount Margaret Back country.

Includes: restroom, water during the summer. Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass or $5 in fee tube required for parking. (Closest fee tube is at Meta Lake on Forest Road 99.

TRAIL OF TWO FORESTS- This short, ¼ mile boardwalk trail is kid friendly. View lava casts of trees from a forest that grew 1,900 years ago. Located on Forest Road 83.

Includes: trail, restroom and interpretive signs. Washington State Sno-Park permit required Dec. 1 to March 31. Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass or $5 in fee tube required for parking during rest of the year.