Ape Caves Camping Adventure This Weekend!
Fellow Rotarians,
We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible this weekend at our "Ape Caves" camping adventure. Remember this event is BYOB (bring your own bottle) for drinks, and if you haven't "pre-registered" you might want to bring along some extra food as well.
"for your safety and convenience" I am sending you the following information and driving directions. Click HERE for an interactive camping map of the area. Lower Falls Capgrounds is labled "8F3"
See you there!
Ape Caves Camping Information...
We are camping this weekend at Lower Falls Campground. This campground (in Gifford Pinchot National Forest) is isolated about 20 minutes from a little store and 45 minutes from the nearest town - Cougar. Forest Service Road #90 is paved all the way to the campground. The little store 20 minutes away has everything you need, and there's a great little burger bar there, if you want a treat and not cook lunch.
Almost every site is good as they have maintained a good sized wooded area between the loop roads. Kids can bike around on paths between roads. The new composting toilets are great, and there is pumped well water available. There are no campground hosts, nor is firewood for sale at the campground. The campground is right along the Lewis River, which is beautiful and just a short walk from the Lower Lewis Falls, which is spectacular. A 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 mile hike gets you to the middle and upper falls. The river is shallow at the campground, so kids and dogs can play or float.
The campground is very close to the south and east sides of Mt. St. Helen's National Volcanic Monument. This campground is well kept up and beautiful!
Driving Directions.
Take I5 South
In approx. 172 miles take Exit 21 toward WA-503 E/Woodland/Cougar
In .2 mile - Merge onto Pacific Ave
In .7 mile - Turn left to stay on Pacific Ave
In 157 ft. - Turn left onto Lewis River Road
In 28.6 miles - Turn right onto Cougar Camp Rd.
In .5 Mile - Make a U-turn
In .5 mile - Turn Right onto Lewis River Ro0ad
In 3.1 miles - Continue onto Rd 90
NOTE: in .6 mile Rd 90 turns slightly right and becomes Rd No 90
In 2.6 miles - Continue onto Nat For Dev. Rd 90 (National Forest Divided Road 90)
In 9.2 Miles - Continue onto Hwy 90
In 2.7 miles - Turn right toward Nat For Dev. Rd 90
In .4 mile - Continue straight onto Nat For Dev. Rd 90
In 13.8 miles - Turn right into Lower Falls Campground.
Note: From Cougar Camp Rd on, we will be posting Rotary signs at all critical points to help guide you in. Watch for them!
William Murray
Rotary Club of South Everett/Mukilteo