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Things to do near Silver Creek & Mossyrock
Explore the Area
From freshwater fishing and sparkling mountain lakes to legendary Bigfoot country, historic logging towns and the peaks of the Cascades, adventure is all around Silver Creek Cabins. Explore Southwest Washington by day, then return to your peaceful cabin retreat.
(Select a topic below, or scroll to explore)
Drive times are approximate, measured from Silver Creek Cabins (130 Chief Kiona Rd, Silver Creek, WA) in normal conditions. Tap any drive time with a map pin for Google Maps directions from the cabins. Allow extra time for weather, traffic and mountain roads, and check road and park conditions before you go.
Lakes, Fishing & Water Recreation
Two big Cowlitz River reservoirs sit right on your doorstep. Mayfield Lake is minutes from the cabins, and Riffe Lake starts just past Mossyrock.
Riffe Lake
Big Fishing, Big Adventure
Calling all anglers! Surrounded by the Cascade foothills, Riffe Lake is a favorite freshwater fishing destination in Southwest Washington. This long Cowlitz River reservoir, held back by Mossyrock Dam, is known for smallmouth bass fishing, with landlocked coho and Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, crappie and other species too. Spend the day casting a line and enjoying the scenery, then come back to your cabin beneath the evergreens.
- Species listed by WDFW include smallmouth and largemouth bass, landlocked coho and Chinook salmon, coastal cutthroat trout, black crappie and bluegill.
- Tacoma Power’s Mossyrock Park (west end) and Taidnapam Park (east end) offer camping, day use and boat launches.
Check before you launch: Tacoma Power is keeping Riffe Lake lower than normal while it studies Mossyrock Dam, and launches can be limited or closed when water is low. The Mossyrock Park launch stays usable in most low-water conditions. Always check current fishing rules and lake levels.
Mayfield Lake
Adventure on the Water
Surrounded by evergreen forests and rolling hills, Mayfield Lake is a scenic spot for boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming and fishing. Anglers can find rainbow trout, tiger muskies, largemouth bass and other freshwater species. Ike Kinswa State Park, just down the road from the cabins, offers a swim beach, picnic areas, trails and a beautiful setting for a family day outdoors.
- WDFW manages Mayfield Lake for catchable rainbow trout and warmwater species, including tiger muskie.
- Ike Kinswa State Park: swim beach, boating, fishing, about 1.5 miles of trails and picnic areas. A Discover Pass is required for parking.
WDFW: Mayfield Lake fishing Ike Kinswa State Park Tacoma Power: Mayfield Lake Park
Mountains, National Parks & Outdoor Adventures
The Cascades rise just east of the cabins. Mount Rainier is an easy day trip, and Mount St. Helens and White Pass are within reach for a longer outing.
Mount Rainier National Park
Explore the Majestic Cascades
Discover Mount Rainier National Park, an unforgettable day trip from Silver Creek Cabins. Rising 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier is surrounded by waterfalls, ancient forests, alpine lakes, scenic trails and summer wildflower meadows. Explore Paradise, admire Reflection Lakes, visit historic Longmire, or photograph Narada Falls and Christine Falls. From summer hiking to snow-covered winter scenery, the park offers breathtaking views when roads and weather permit.
Seasons matter: The Nisqually Entrance is open all year, but the road from Longmire to Paradise closes nightly in winter and vehicles must carry tire chains. Reflection Lakes and Stevens Canyon Road are reachable by car only in summer. The park is not requiring timed-entry reservations in 2026.
Windy Ridge · Dirtsc, CC BY-SA 4.0Mount St. Helens
See the volcano’s open crater and 1980 blast zone from Windy Ridge, reached from Randle on Forest Roads 25 and 99. Forest Road 99 is normally open July 1 to November 30 and is narrow, slow and not suited to trailers. A day-use fee may apply. Johnston Ridge Observatory, on the west side, remains closed after a 2023 landslide and may reopen in 2027.
White Pass · Goleh (public domain)White Pass Ski Area
Skiing, snowboarding and winter scenery at the summit of US Highway 12, about 20 miles east of Packwood and 12 miles southeast of Mount Rainier National Park. The resort is open daily through the winter season, weather and snow conditions permitting.
Scenic Train Rides in Elbe
Ride a vintage steam train through the foothills of Mount Rainier. The historic depot in Elbe is under an hour from the cabins, which makes it an easy half-day outing for families, couples and rail fans.
All Aboard! Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad
Vintage Steam Near Mount Rainier
Climb aboard a restored steam train in Elbe and roll through forest and farmland on the way to Mineral, about 7 miles each way. Seasonal themed trains add holiday magic, fall fun and grown-up tasting nights. The depot is at 54124 Mountain Hwy E, Elbe, WA 98330.
- Steam Into Christmas (Nov 21 – Dec 23, 2026): visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, with cocoa, cookies and a keepsake ornament. A favorite with families, so book early.
- Scenic steam excursions: about 75 minutes round trip between Elbe and Mineral, generally running February through October.
- Family Halloween Trains in October.
- 21+ tasting trains: Steam & Whiskey, beer and cider trains on select evenings.
Check before you go: Schedules, departure times and ticket prices are set by the railroad and change by season. Please confirm dates and book directly on the official site.
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Steam Into Christmas Steam excursions Halloween Train Steam & Whiskey (21+) Beer trains (21+) Cider trains (21+)
Local Towns, History & Festivals
Small towns with deep roots: farm country, timber history and summer festivals that bring the whole valley together.
Mayfield Lake · U.S. National ArchivesSilver Creek
Your Gateway to Nature
Set among the forests and rolling hills of Lewis County, Silver Creek is a quiet rural community on US Highway 12, close to Mayfield Lake and the Cascade foothills. Enjoy fishing, boating, scenic drives, wildlife watching and a slower pace of life, then unplug and reconnect at Silver Creek Cabins.
Near Mossyrock · SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0Mossyrock
Christmas Tree Country & Blueberries
Surrounded by farmland and the Cascade foothills, Mossyrock is known for its farming heritage. The area grows a large share of Washington’s blueberries and many of the nation’s Christmas trees. In 2004, a Mossyrock grower supplied the Christmas tree for the White House Blue Room. The free Mossyrock Blueberry Festival is held each year in late July or early August.
Morton depot · Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0Morton
Logging History & Loggers’ Jubilee
Morton celebrates a proud timber heritage and was once known as the “Railroad Tie Capital of the World.” Each August (always the second weekend), the Morton Loggers’ Jubilee, running since 1943, brings logging traditions to life with axe throwing, speed climbing, springboard chopping, log rolling, a grand parade and lawnmower and bed races. The next Jubilee is planned for August 12–15, 2027.
Bigfoot Country & Pacific Northwest Legends
Where Legends Roam
Folklore, forests & a little mystery
Deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, legends come alive. Skamania County, home of the Windy Ridge viewpoint at Mount St. Helens, is famous for Sasquatch folklore and reported Bigfoot sightings. In 1969 the county even passed an ordinance protecting Sasquatch, amended in 1984, and it still calls itself a Sasquatch refuge. Enjoy the stories and the big-tree forests, and keep your eyes open. Who knows what you might spot?
Bigfoot is folklore: sightings are reported, not scientifically confirmed. Skamania County is a regional excursion rather than a short drive. The Windy Ridge viewpoint at Mount St. Helens is the closest part of the county to the cabins.
Explore by Day. Relax by Night.
Make Silver Creek Cabins your adventure basecamp for the lakes, mountains and small towns of Southwest Washington.
Photo credits & sources
Photos are real images of the places shown, used under their licenses via Wikimedia Commons. Public-domain images are U.S. government works.
- Riffe Lake: photo by Christian Berkman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mayfield Lake (autumn): photo by U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, public domain
- Mayfield Lake from the White Pass Scenic Byway: photo by U.S. National Archives, public domain
- Mount Rainier from Reflection Lake: photo by Ron Clausen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Paradise wildflowers: photo by NPS / Mount Rainier National Park, public domain
- Narada Falls: photo by Ron Clausen, CC0
- Paradise Inn in winter: photo by NPS / Mount Rainier National Park, public domain
- Mount St. Helens from Windy Ridge: photo by Dirtsc, CC BY-SA 4.0
- White Pass Ski Area: photo by Goleh, public domain
- State Route 122 near Mossyrock: photo by SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Morton train depot: photo by Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old-growth fir, Gifford Pinchot National Forest: photo by U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, public domain
- Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad No. 70: photo by benagain_photos, CC BY-SA 2.0
Facts on this page come from the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Washington State Parks, Tacoma Power, Discover Lewis County, the City of Morton, the Morton Loggers’ Jubilee, White Pass Ski Area, the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce and the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, checked in October 2026. Seasons, roads, fees and event dates change, so please confirm with the official links before you travel. Drive times are estimates from OpenStreetMap routing.