With the Labor Day weekend approaching, officials from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are expecting plenty of campers, anglers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts to visit the forest. Here are some reminders they passed along in a news release:

Fires: There are no campfire restrictions in effect. Conditions remain dry across the Pacific Northwest region. If you make a campfire when visiting the forest, make sure it is not left unattended and is dead out and cold to the touch before leaving your camp site.

Huckleberries: Above 4,000 feet, the purple berries should be in their prime. Picking should be good through mid-September in what is an average berry crop this year.

Camping: Some popular campgrounds, including Lower Falls Campground on the Lewis River, La Wis Wis Campground near Packwood and Takhlakh Lake near Mount Adams are expected to be full. Others are expected to fill or be near capacity as the weekend approaches.

Roads: Access to Windy Ridge via Forest Road 99 remains limited; visitors are only able to access Windy Ridge on foot or by bicycle, as the road is closed to motor vehicles until further notice.

Work has begun on reconstruction of Forest Roads 23 and 83, damaged by flooding in November 2006. These roads should be reopened in early fall. On the north end of Road 25, the Woods Creek bridge project, which will enable Coho salmon to access additional habitat in Woods Creek, will be completed in early-September. A temporary bridge bypass allows drivers to access Forest Road 25 with only minor delays at milepost 4, south of Randle.

Trails: Many trails are open. However, forest visitors should check ahead before attempting to access some popular sites. A list of current trail conditions is available on the forest Web site at www.fs.fed.us/gpnf.

Hours: Johnston Ridge Observatory is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., including Labor Day.

Apes headquarters (lantern rentals) at Ape Cave is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday, then is closed for the season.

The Cowlitz Valley Ranger Office in Randle is open Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch and will be closed Labor Day.