After some frustration from longtime campers due to delayed openings of the La Wis Wis and Iron Creek campgrounds in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the grounds are now open for the season.
The grounds are managed by concessionaire company Rocky Mountain Recreation, which was this year responsible for clearing hazard trees on site. According to Nikia Hernandez of the Gifford Pinchot Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, Rocky Mountain struggled to fulfill this end of its duties and staff from the Forest Service had to come in and get the job done in order to open the popular campgrounds.
“The Forest Service decided to use our limited personnel to complete the hazard tree abatement so we could try to speed up the process and get the campgrounds open. I am happy to announce that most of that work has been completed for La Wis Wis, Iron Creek and Big Creek campgrounds and the concessionaire has been approved to open those campgrounds,” Hernandez said. “As long as they can respond and provide staffing they should be open for this weekend.”
A post by the Forest Service Friday confirmed the grounds were open.
For the other still-closed campgrounds in the district, Hernandez said the staff hope to have them open by the end of next week.
