Wind River Experimental Forest, Forest research facility in Skamania County, United States

Wind River Experimental Forest is a research forest in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Stabler, Washington, west of the Cascade Range. Its two divisions, Trout Creek and Panther Creek, hold old-growth stands, mature trees that grew after a fire in the early 1840s, and young stands regenerated after clearcuts. The tallest trees reach about 220 feet.

Research began in 1908 when Forest Service scientist Thornton T. Munger set up Douglas fir plots in the Wind River area. In 1910 he and Julius Kummel established a permanent nursery near Hemlock Ranger Station, and in 1912 Munger founded the Wind River Arboretum. The site became the Wind River Experiment Station in 1913 and was designated an experimental forest in 1932.

Scientists use this forest laboratory to study forest management practices, tree growth patterns, and how ecosystems respond to environmental changes in the Pacific Northwest.

The forest lies in the Mount Adams Ranger District, about a 1.5-hour drive east of Vancouver, Washington, west of the Cascade Range and north of the Columbia River Gorge. It is an active research site, so access is not guaranteed; ask the Gifford Pinchot National Forest before travelling. The canopy crane stopped operating in 2011.

From 1994 to 2011, researchers used a 75-meter crane system to directly observe the forest canopy and collect data from upper forest layers. This innovative equipment provided unprecedented insights into forest habitat dynamics that are normally difficult to access.