Winter Camping Field Trip - Chocolate Falls

Marble Mountain sno-park, meet at 10am, ready to start at 10:30am.

Sno-park permit required to park here (non-motorized).

Directions: From Cougar, WA, drive east on Lewis River Road, which turns into Forest Road 90. Continue on Forest Road 90 until the intersection with Forest Road 83. Turn left on Forest Road 83 and continue approximately 6 miles to the Marble Mountain Sno-Park. 

This trip may be canceled at the leader's discretion if the weather is predicted to be very bad, the avalanche forecast is of concern, a public health crisis occurs, or other unforeseen circumstances occur. 

Trip itinerary:

• Saturday
  • Start hiking from Marble Mountain sno-park at 10:30am on Saturday, March 4
  • Lunch break on the trail
  • Approx. 3 hours/1200 feet elevation gain to the Chocolate Falls area
  • Select campsite location and set up camp
  • Practice an emergency snow shelter
  • Dinner
• Sunday
  • If we have energy to explore the area we can do a short snowshoe
  • Break down camp, pack up
  • Hike back to Marble Mountain sno-park, approx. 2.5 hours/1200 feet elevation loss

More information:

• Weather forecast from National Weather Service
• Mountain Forecast website for Mt. St. Helens - has different elevations listed
• Current conditions at Mt. St. Helens (Mt. St. Helens Institute)
• NWAC forecast for West Slopes South zone, which contains Mt. St. Helens
• Caltopo map link

Practice skills discussed in the winter camping lecture, including:

• site selection
• how to set up a winter camp
• cooking food
• gathering water
• getting around in winter
• practice constructing emergency snow shelters

More trip information:

• Map of Marble Mountain sno-park non-motorized trails