Summary:
Goat Marsh Trail in Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a scenic, easy hike with a mix of forest paths, golden marsh views, and a rewarding lakeside view of Mount St. Helens. The drive to the trailhead can be rough for low-clearance cars, so be prepared. Padme enjoyed exploring downed trees and open spaces, while I appreciated the magical landscape that felt like stepping into a storybook. Hikers should be mindful of some knee-challenging spots and stay alert, as I encountered an armed hiker on the trail, which was a surprising reminder of the need for caution.
Grade:
| Padme’s Paws | (Out of 4) |  |
| My Grade | (A to F) | A+(trail) / D- (road) |
Trail Stats
- Trail: Goat Marsh Trail
- Location: Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- Distance: 2.7 miles (AllTrails.com) / 4.1 miles (Very few side quests, so I think AllTrails is wrong about mileage)
- Difficulty: Easy (creaky-knee clubbers might find about 50 feet of this slightly challenging toward the turn-around point)
- ADA Accessible: Absolutely not
Directions
Parking – Confusing
Parking at or near the trailhead for this hike was very easy for me. I let AllTrails.com give me directions, and it took me right there. It was extremely easy to find a place to pull off the small road. As far as I could tell, and according to the Washington Trails Association website, there is no cost to park.
From where I live in Portland, AllTrails took me through a very scenic route that I really enjoyed, out through Battleground and Amboy, Saddle Dam Park, and Yale. It was an incredibly twisty and gorgeous drive. I’m not sure why it took me this way instead of up I-5 and east on 503, but I’ll take it for the scenery. I’d have never seen that area if I hadn’t. If you’re ever out that way, give it a drive!
I’ve not written about this before, but I feel the need to now. I own a small car—a tiny car. I drive a lot for work and need the gas mileage advantages. With a small car comes very little ground clearance, however. This was not good for this drive.
At some point on this drive, a sign on the forest road advised that the road was bad, and boy-howdy, they were not kidding. A couple of times, I wondered if I was having a stress dream.
I’m not blaming anyone except myself here. I’m someone who has a lifted-truck delusion with a mini-car reality. Just be aware!
Please, please, please: do as I say and not (unfortunately for me) as I do—print out the directions back before you leave for the trip. I usually remember how to get back to the main roads, but I took a wrong turn this time and ended up going further up the mountain on a very sketchy road
Why It’s Good for Padme
I like giving Padme new experiences. I’ve never done a hike that is associated with an actual “marsh” before and had assumed it was a muddy, gloopy mess. This was not that.
I mean, it might have become that further out, but it looked like a golden wheat field, and from the places that Padme frolicked, it didn’t look that muddy or gloopy.
Every hike is good for Padme—she gets to run, play, and frolic. There were lots of downed trees that were long enough for her to run the length of them here, which is fun for her.
This trail even has a spot where the trail goes under a downed tree. It would be easy enough to go off trail and find a spot to go around or over it to get to the trail on the other side, but the actual trail requires a hiker to scurry under the tree.
I ended up doing it a couple of times because Padme and I could do it together. I’m pretty sure she thought I was a little silly for doing it, but she’s usually down for me being silly with her.
Why It’s Good for Me
I have probably said this before, but I will probably always be tougher on a trail in regards to Padme than myself. I enjoy being outside, but I need things to be fun and stimulating for Padme. Ok, I might be a little bit neurotic about my baby, but I don’t care. I want her to be happy.
But this place, this trail, just seemed magical from start to finish. I studied medieval literature in college, and everywhere I looked, I expected some sort of fairy king to appear to “invite” me into his realm.
It was an easy hike overall, but there were two things that I feel the need to point out. According to the GPS, the trail went straight through this little weird ditch that wasn’t so easy on my knees and was confusing about whether or not I was actually on a trail. When I got to the other side, it was fine.
The trail was right where it was supposed to be, but it was confusing. On the way back, I realized there was an addition to the path that was a little easier on my knees. It still went through a ditch, but it wasn’t as confusing.
The second thing I want to mention is that very close to the end of the trail, as you skate along the edge of the lake, there’s a stretch of about 100 feet or so where the trail has some bumps of 1½–2½ feet to get down and up.
If I were younger, I would have just taken the short jump down. But I’m older and my knees are crap, and even that short of a distance makes me think of braces and hospitals. Lol. Just be aware, creaky-knee brigade.
The lake was beautiful. Several trees were down in the water on the edge closest to the trail. The reflections off the surface of the water were amazing. The trees on the slope on the other side.
One of the best things about this hike was the views of Mt. Saint Helens. All around the marsh and lake, I saw some great views of the mountain, but the best view in my opinion was the view at the top of the lake.
Warning: Discussion of Firearms
I loved being on this trail, but when I was about a half mile from the car, a young man approached me from down the trail. He made a lot of noise as he approached, probably thinking it would scare me less. Unfortunately, the pistol he had in his hand did that well enough.
I grew up in the South in a family of hunters and have gone hunting with them. You don’t approach someone you don’t know with your weapon drawn. Ever. He put it away after a few moments, but the damage was already done.
I am fine. I lived. But it scared me. A lot. As someone who is AFAB. As someone who is transmasc. As a solo hiker. As a dog and cat parent. As a friend. As a human.
I was scared because I didn’t know whether he was a serial killer, a bigot, or just a knucklehead who was high on adrenaline because he had just come too close to a cougar while he was hunting. I had no idea why he was approaching me with his gun drawn.
I thought, does he think I’m a man? Trans? Gay? A woman? Because I know that one of those things makes me safer.
Wrap Up:
Goat Marsh Trail offers a beautiful and accessible way to experience the unique landscapes of Gifford Pinchot National Forest, with a surprise view of Mount St. Helens waiting at the end. The hike is easy with a few challenging spots, and the scenic drive, while rough for smaller cars, is part of the adventure. Overall, it’s a peaceful escape perfect for hiking with a dog, though solo hikers should stay aware and prepared for any surprises on the trail.
Get out there and take your dog on a hike!