The Gardner Unit lies at the confluence of the North and South Fork Toutle Rivers and is part of the debris plain of the Mount St. Helens eruption. The unit is managed for riparian habitat and also provides streambank fishing access.
The Gardner Unit is located just south of Toutle in Cowlitz County. The unit can be accessed through Harry Gardner Park from South Toutle River Road.
The Gardner Unit is located at the confluence of the North and South Fork Toutle Rivers, northeast of Silver Lake. It is within the Cowlitz River watershed.
This unit is part of the Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area.
Game Management Units: 550, 520
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- No developed parking areas
- No restrooms
Recreation and access advisories
- Off-road driving and ATVs are prohibited.
- Camping and overnight parking is prohibited
- Fires and fireworks are prohibited
Hunting
This unit may provide hunting opportunities for black-tailed deer, waterfowl, elk, and small game.
Hunting advisories
- Most of this unit is comprised of debris from the Mt. St. Helens eruptions and contains very little cover for wildlife
Fishing
This unit provides streambank fishing access.
Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead occur in this unit.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes riparian habitat, offering opportunities to view a variety of songbirds.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Other recreational opportunities
This area can be a popular place for swimming.
Other advisories
- There are several log structures in the river along this unit, which could be hazards to swimmers
Conservation
The entire unit exists in the floodplain of the Toutle River and was covered by debris flows from the eruption of Mount St. Helens. This unit includes riparian habitat.
Conservation goals
- Maintain and restore riparian and instream habitat for steelhead and chinook and coho salmon
Land stewardship
The Gardner Unit was acquired to provide fishing access.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased in 1968.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | State Bond Account |
Management planning
2019 Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area Management Plan
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife completed the new management plan for the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area, which is comprised of 18 units in Skamania, Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties, and totals 10,002 acres. The Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area is largely managed for elk in the North Fork Toutle River Valley, but the area units are diverse, and provide habitat for multitudes of species, over a broad range of habitats including old growth forest, forested floodplains, riparian areas, ancient lava flows, mineral springs, tidal mudflats, and wetlands. The new management addresses the status of wildlife species and their habitat, ongoing restoration efforts and public recreation opportunities at the wildlife area.
Planning Advisory Committee
Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area Advisory Committee