CARSON — Six campgrounds are open in the southern Gifford Pinchot National Forest with five more opening on May 19, the U.S. Forest Service reports.
Open now are Government Mineral Springs, Sunset, Kalama Horse, Lower Falls, Trout Lake Creek and Twin Falls campgrounds.
Sites at Lower Falls are on a first-come basis until mid-May, when the reservation system begins. Water might not be available and trailers are not recommended due to the road slump near the Crab Creek bridge of Lewis River road No. 90.
Kalama Horse Camp costs $8 per night for a single site and $16 for doubles.
Twin Falls has snow patches and there’s a washout on the loop road through Trout Lake Creek, according to the recreation report on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website.
Opening on May 19 will be Beaver, Panther Creek, Paradise Creek, Moss Creek and Oklahoma campgrounds. Peterson Prairie will open June 12.
Most roads in the forest remain blocked by snow at higher elevations.
Panther Creek No. 65 is open to Four Corners. Road No. 66 is not open from Willard as far as South Prairie.
Road No. 81 is open, but blocked by snow near Redrock Pass. Road No. 8123 has a washout requiring a 1.5-mile walk to the Blue Lake trailhead.
Road No. 83 is open and snowfree to about the June Lake trailhead. There are still more than 3 feet of snow at June Lake.
Road No. 25 is gated closed near the junction with Spencer road No. 93. The Ape Cave parking lot is accessible, There is a $5 parking fee or a Northwest Forest Pass required.
Lewis River trail No. 31 is open, except closed to stock use until the bridges are repaired.
Siouxon trail No. 130, Falls Creek No. 152, Falls Creek Falls No. 152A and Lakes No. 211 are open.
The lower ends of Trapper Creek No. 192 and Observation No. 132 are open.
