Mossyrock is a small city in the eastern part of Lewis County, Washington, along U.S. Highway 12 in the foothills of the Cascade Range. It lies east of Interstate 5 and the larger towns of the county, at the point where the highway begins its climb toward White Pass and the eastern side of the mountains. With a population of roughly 770, it is a compact rural service center surrounded by lakes, timberland, and farmland. The city's modern identity is inseparable from the Mossyrock Dam, a major hydroelectric facility operated by Tacoma Power that impounds the Cowlitz River to form Riffe Lake, one of Washington's larger reservoirs. The dam and lake dominate the landscape south of town and support a regional economy of power generation, recreation, and tourism. Nearby Mayfield Lake, formed by the Mayfield Dam downstream, adds another major recreation resource with a stable shoreline and year-round appeal. Mossyrock was incorporated in 1948, and it has remained a small, working community through the changes brought by the dams and the shifting timber economy. Its location on the White Pass Scenic Byway gives it a steady role as a waypoint for travelers headed between Mount Rainier and the Cascades, and its position along Highway 12 keeps it connected to both the I-5 corridor and the eastern side of the state. The community suits those seeking an affordable, outdoors-oriented life in rural western Washington. It offers direct access to two substantial lakes, national forest land, and mountain recreation, while remaining a manageable drive from the larger towns of Lewis County.