A MUST VISIT Overlanding Destination -- Washington's Gifford Pinchot National Forest

[@WheretoNextOverland]

We can't wait to get back to the GP National Forest! Have you been? Any favorite spots, or spots we MUST see next time? Let us know!

[@JesseHires]

My wife and I were up at that lookout a few years ago. We were lucky enough to do it on a perfectly clear day.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

The desire is strong to go back there on a clear day. I imagine the views are pretty bananas?

[@billmoore7133]

Great single track dirtbike trails, some serious exposure not for the faint of heart, I would recommend it only for very accomplished riders down there.

[@LarryElliott-t7y]

I’ve been fortunate to hike to 18 lookouts Washington.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

We went up there in our 2wd Vanagon Westy in August when we made our video. Smokey then too but not as bad as when you were there! Cool place nate

[@campinamerica2469]

Just got back from Gifford too. Don’t forget about the richness of mushroom foraging and the most Sasquatch sitings. Love the Gifford.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Oooh, Sasquatch sightings? That'd make for a fun video

[@chuckb470]

GP has been my back yard for my whole life. There's really no end to the places to visit, and yes, hundreds of miles of gravel roads. The Ape Caves, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams areas are must-sees. I'm more of a backpacker, but you can drive to Berry Fields just north of Indian Heaven and pick huckleberries. Late summer is the best time there. Much earlier and the mosquitos will eat you alive.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

@@chuckb470 GP is such a gem. Kinda wish it was a little closer for us to get to. Thanks for the suggestions!

[@chuckb470]

@@WheretoNextOverland BTW, if you guys aren't into exploring the Ape Caves, or even if you are, Lava Canyon is nearby and is very cool, showcasing the area's volcanic history as well, but with spectacular scenery!

[@allentisthammer4763]

Thanks for sharing. I made it through there prior to fire season and then around the 4th of July camped up on Bethal Ridge. What views, now that late fall is soon to close in and there's snow starting to creep in, I'm going to make another run up there. It's been a good season this year for you two and again I thank both of you for sharing with us.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Yeah I hear Bethel Ridge finally reopened. I wonder what it looks like after the fires. Thanks for watching and for your support. Cheers!

[@IGuppieI]

Fun Fact, this National Forrest has some of the lowest light pollution in the State. I'd recommend bringing a nice camera and setting up in a way that lets you move away from the campfire and submersing yourself in the darkness so you can truly see the stars. I was watching the northern lights last week up there.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

@IGuppieI that is good to know. I enjoy a bit of astrophotography when the opportunity presents itself. Sounds like this would be a great spot for it!

[@ItsMikosWorld]

My husband and I live in Portland and Gifford is our go to forest for camping. We have found some beautiful sites there! Definitely excited to watch your journey exploring this forest!

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Yeah, I wish it were a bit closer to us .... but it definitely seems worth the trip!

[@ronchapmanII]

Ahh my backyard, grew up in that area and been all over those mountains, the view up there is definitely worth another visit and you can also see Mt. Hood up there, lots of great trails as well and the area of the goat rocks is tops in that area if you feel like hiking some of the PCT

[@WheretoNextOverland]

We'll have to look into the Goat Rocks area. Sounds pretty great

[@midnightadventureswa]

Well done definitely going to have to check out laser Cave and fire Fire Outlook one day when I’m down in that area going to put it on my list thanks for sharing definitely can tell that you’re enjoying your new rig

[@mykalbee]

I, too, love OnX and have been using the heck out of it this year. Cool cave and fire tower. I'll put those on next year's list of places to go. I've been to Mt St Helen's several times. However, I've never been off the pavement. I agree there is lots of offroad travel in the GP NF. Have you been to Ape Caves on the south side of Helens? If not, bring light and good shoes. Cool lave tube to hike through. Hey, it was still a cool adventure even though the smoke was bad.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Ape cave looks pretty cool. Haven't been there, but it's on the list for sure

[@ScaleofTwo]

Gifford is one of our favorites, it's so massive!

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Yeah, even just spending half a day there it became apparent how much there is to explore in the area

[@pacnwhiker1213]

I live in WA state and I always appreciate the history you include in your videos!

[@WheretoNextOverland]

@pacnwhiker1213 thanks! Glad to hear it. I love including some history where I can. I never know if others like it ....but I do, so I do it anyway haha.

[@volcomsk8terpunk]

We just went up to burley mountain last weekend. Was a Tacoma at the lookout hard to turn around because he was parked in the middle. Did the loop around the back and down to bottom.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

@@volcomsk8terpunk how were the views sans smoke?

[@volcomsk8terpunk]

@@WheretoNextOverlandit wasn’t to bad, we went mid day til about dark. Was able to see the surrounding mountains.

[@OFFTHEGRIND]

I really need to spend more time in this area. I encountered the same issue last year when my brother and I tried to camp there.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Yeah, seems like there is an endless amount of exploring to be done in that forest (when it's not all on fire)

[@OFFTHEGRIND]

@@WheretoNextOverlandA crucial caveat haha

[@dvsmike]

Happy birthday Jeff!! Our wildfires down here in socal was bad for like 3 weeks and residual smoke lingered. Sucks that it ruined your bday campout but im sure you both were able to celebrate it in other ways🎉

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Thanks! Yeah, fire season on the west coast just seems to get worse and worse. Up here in the PNW it was (thankfully) not as bad as the past few years.

[@bigbrownmab189]

Awe yes, good old fire season here in WA, some amazing sunset colors in the sky from it; but thats about it.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Yep. It can ruin summer plans pretty quick. But at least it wasn't too bad this year compared to some of the previous ones I guess 🤷

[@Shine13373]

Lots of amazing off trail waterfalls in the Giffords.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Nice! Looking forward to checking some of them out!

[@WheresWiseman]

Lila really enjoyed this video.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Hahahahaha. Liked it enough to finally subscribe?

[@WheresWiseman]

@@WheretoNextOverland turns out she was # 24k! 🎉🎉🎉🍻🤘🏻

[@tobynelson5188]

Great video! GP south is close to us I have a tarp!

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Oh yeah ... I bet it's only like ... 30 mins away?

[@6point1hemi]

Be careful when adventuring in that area. It can get very tight really quick when off the main roads. Also, watch your fuel range. Once in the middle of it, fuel stops are very few and far between. It’s easy to get carried away exploring.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

@6point1hemi that's good to know. Appreciate the heads up. I can see what you mean I'm terms of fuel ... it seems like a pretty massive forest and side trails were EVERYWHERE

[@6point1hemi]

@@WheretoNextOverland go to Windy Ridge before they close road which is when the snow starts falling. It’s the back side of Mt St Helens. Plenty of camping opportunity before crossing the park boundary.

[@tyrelitetv1323]

Love this state

[@WheretoNextOverland]

@@tyrelitetv1323 right there with ya!

[@TheAnxietyAdvocate]

Happy belated birthday!

[@WheretoNextOverland]

@@TheAnxietyAdvocate thanks friend!

[@Oregontrailblazin]

Happy Belated Birthday !!

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Thank you!

[@rustyshakleford7277]

I was really hoping the cave was named after the American Gladiator Laser 😢

[@WheretoNextOverland]

You and me both ...

[@mattshaffer5935]

Well. Happy birthday Guy. Weirdly my brothers and I got driven out of Deer Park Campground last summer. Heavy wildfire smoke. When does the Olympic Peninsula burn!?

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Oh man. Yeah, you'd think camping on the OP you'd be safe from wildfires .... but I guess that's not really the case anymore. Bummer because Deer Park is one of the best views in WA IMO

[@mattshaffer5935]

@@WheretoNextOverland yeah my first time there and the view was amazing the first day. We saw the Eagle Point fire blow up then…. That drive up rivals Harts Pass 😂

[@jaymontgomery3330]

The northeastern Olympics where Deer Park is located is part of the rain shadow and can be very dry from May to October.

[@pala4833]

The GP givith and the GP takeith away. I like the Cat Creek CG. It's only 5 or so sites, and on a weekday I've often been the only one there.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

@pala4833 hahaha, yeah, a'int that the truth. Good tip on the CG, thank you!

[@mercurials54]

Feliz cumpleaños 🍻

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Gracias! 🍻

[@LuanNguyen-rj1bt]

Love the new rig but bring back the LX. Nothing like a 100 series.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Getting her ready to move down to Arizona as we speak! With any luck, we'll have some good LX content coming over the winter.

[@SharifEwees]

There was forest fire smoke at a forest fire lookout point? That's weird.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

@@SharifEwees who'd have guessed...

[@HogTide_Rising]

Discretion being the better part of valor, you made the right decision to bail on this adventure. Much better to return this trip to the bucket list and return when conditions are better. Despite the lack of scenic grandeur, still an excellent video.

[@WheretoNextOverland]

Thanks! Yeah, sometimes the best call is to bail. It's always a bit of a bummer .... but we've "stuck it out" enough times to know it usually doesn't go well 😅

[@VictorVlogsPDX]

I forget what chapter, but I'm pretty sure in the Official Overlanding Handbook, anything with the word laser in it is a REQUIRED stop, lest you turn in your Overlander card. Gifford Pinchot is definitely on our short list to visit. Side note, that drone shot leading up to the lookout? *chefs kiss*! 🤌

[@WheretoNextOverland]

LAAAAAYYYYYYYSERRRRRRRRRR! 🤣

[@VictorVlogsPDX]

🤣🤣🤣