Camp Sites

Great locations are scattered across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 

Adams Fork:  Along Adams Fork of Cispus River.  Motorized users often stay here.  Access of nearby trails.

Beaver:  Has a swing set and horseshoe pitching stakes near the entrance.  A  little too close to civilization for some tastes.

Big Creek:  Proximity to Ashford and entrance to Mount Rainier National Park make for too much traffic in the area.

Chain Of Lakes:  Only a mile or so from Tahklaka Lake but no views of Mount Adams.  Lakes are small.

Council Lake:  Dumpy campground but scenic lake, stocked in spring with trout.  Anchor in the deep water and dunk Power Bait.  Trail to Council Bluff is steep but view at the top is exceptional.

Cultus Creek:  Well-maintained camp in a convenient location.  Two trails start here, making loop hikes into heart of Indian Heaven Wilderness possible.  Sawtooth Huckleberry Fields are nearby.

Forlorn Lakes: These small lakes offer semi secluded sites close to the water.  The fishing isn't great, but Goose Lake is  nearby as are the trail heads to the east side of Indian Heaven Wilderness.  There's plenty to do here to fill a weekend.

Goose Lake:  Awkward little camp perched on hillside but a nice lake that's well stocked with trout.  The lake yields curt-throat trout in September and October.  One of the better fishing spots in the Gifford Pinchot National Forrest.

Horseshoe lake:  Mediocre camp, but along an attractive lake.  High Lakes trail head in campground.

Iron Creek:  Classic camp in old-growth forest along the Cispus River.  Iron Creek trail No. 187 makes a 1.5 mile loop around the camp.  A good base site for hikes and drives south on the Windy Ridge side of Mount St Helens.

Killen Creek:  Not much here but gets points for being close to the three trail heads leading to Mount Adams.  Also is a horse camp.

La Wis Wis:  Another classic camp in the old-growth along the Cowlitz River.  Trail to a waterfall plus a second loop trail begin in the campground.  A good base site for trips north into Mount Rainier National Park.

Lower Falls:  Located on the North Fork of the Lewis Rivers it has the most scenic waterfall on the forest.  Lewis River trail follows the river both upstream and down from this campground, which at 1,500 feet elevation has a long season.  From Lower Falls it's a reasonable drive to Indian Heaven Wilderness or Mount Adams.

Morrison Creek:  High on south side of Mount Adams.  Shorthorn trail No.16 starts here and leads to wilderness.  Along road leading to popular South Climb route.

Moss Creek:  Along the picturesque Little White Salmon River, which is stocked in spring with rainbow trout.

North Fork:  Along North Fork of Cispus River.

Oklahoma:  Little White Salmon River is pretty tiny this far upstream.

Olallie Lake:  Mediocre Camp along 16 acre Olallie Lake.  Nice view of Mount Adams from lake shore.  Two trail heads are nearby.

Panther Creek:  Along major tributary of Wind River.  Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail brushes edge of campground.

Paradise Creek:  Best of the three camps in the Wind River area.  Lava Butte trail No. 200 starts in campground.

Peterson Prairie:  Pretty standard campground.  Lost Creek Ditch flows through camp.  Ice Caves are nearby.

Smokey Creek:  Forest Pass sites on east side of road No. 24 are best.

Takhlakh Lake:  With Mount Adams Towering to the east and reflected in the lake, this is among the most scenic spots in the Northwest.  The lake is stocked with trout once the snow melts, and there's a small boat ramp.  A trail circles the lake and another leads off from the loop.  Other trails and lakes are nearby.  This campground has it all, and cam be surprisingly uncrowded on weekdays in summer.

Tillicum: Some sites so infrequently used grass is growing in the tent pads.  It's a good place to be alone and is relatively close to Steamboat Lake, Sawtooth berry fields and Indian Heaven.

Tower Rock:  Nondescript spot along Crispus River.  Residences so close it gives it a country park feel.

Trout Lake Creek:  Along Trout Lake Creek, it's as  nice as many of the larger, better known campgrounds.

Twin Falls:  Small, rustic spot on ledge just above the North Fork of the Lewis River.  Twin Falls Creek drops into Lewis via two-tiered waterfall just across the river.

Walupt Lake:  Steep ridges, a large lake and a loop trail lending into the Goat Rocks Wilderness make this a special spot.  The lake has native  trout and t here's a boat ram.  It's a long way from Clark County but worth the trip.

This list was written up by the The Columbian, in their special Portrait edition, and we want to acknowledge their contribution.