- Gifford Pinchot National Forest
The best camping in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA
94% (81)
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Alexei & Nani
1 week ago
17 ft travel trailer
With pets
This is the 2nd time we stayed at Shelly's. We love the sound of the stream and its lush forest behind their land. Shelly is always the nicest host, super fast in answering questions. We will come back again Shelly! Thank you very much for hosting us and our little RV!
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Ryan
2 weeks ago
22 ft Class A
We stayed here while visiting Rainier. Location was perfect, instructions easy to follow. Power and water easy to use with our RV. Would definitely stay here again if visiting Rainier
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Julie
2 weeks ago
Tent
Such a beautiful property, my favorite part was by the creek in the 2 chairs, wished I took a picture. You’ll understand when you see it though.
I enjoyed exploring the property, so many things to see.
Will be back to check it out in the summer when the teepees and sweat lodge are up and running.
Only wished there were spots so you can park and camp in vehicle instead of packing it in. It just happened to work out for us this time as it is off season and only ones there.
Host is accommodating and responds in a timely manner.
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J
3 weeks ago
Weekend Trip to The Village at Rainier
Cute cabin perfect for a last minute get away in the wet season. The hot tub was nice. We enjoyed the fire pit and bbq.
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Edgar
November 2025
26 ft travel trailer
With pets
Very clean and comfortable location. It was nice to have a septic hook up while camping. I highly recommend this location.
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Kaory
November 2025
19 ft campervan
With kids
Friendly woman greeted us. Great location close to mt Rainier. Free WiFi, handwashing station, firewood, and more. I would stay again!
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Emmet
October 2025
Tent
We had a really nice time. The space was bigger inside than I had expected. USB-ready outlets were handy, and the little plug-in faux wood stove kept us warm and created a nice ambiance. My favorite thing about the structure is the large triangular window providing a beautiful view into the forest understory out back. Thank you!
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Isabella
October 2025
16 ft travel trailer
This spot was SO cozy. It’s on a street with a bunch of cute cabins so being in our camper almost felt like a “cabin” weekend. The gazebo was a game changer for fall camping and kept us dry to cook, eat, and sit by the fire under the rain. River sounds were so lovely and the hike Mark recommended (walking distance from the site) was so secluded and wonderful
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Namue
October 2025
16 ft travel trailer
This was such a charming and cozy site! Right on a creek in a beautiful neighborhood. Great waterfall hike nearby and the town of packwood is close and very fun. The gazebo was excellent as we got a little bit of rain and we were able to stay dry while still enjoying a fire 10/10 would go back!
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Ezra
October 2025
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Rick
October 2025
18 ft Class B
Jayson and The Moose spot checked all the boxes. Safe, quiet, power, water and dump. Great communication and a wonderful first Hipcamp experience. Clean porta potty was a nice surprise. Thank you Jayson for a great stay so close to beautiful Mt Rainier!
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Charlie
October 2025
Tent
Conveniently close to Mt Rainier NP. Clean campsite, private because of trees around the spot. Calm.
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Sander
October 2025
25 ft Class C
Crystal's land was an perfect place to visit Mount Rainier and it was an very private spot!
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Justin
October 2025
Tent
Was a great experience once again as I have now been here several times. Little bit on the cold side but came very prepared. The property is absolutely great. Will keep coming back whenever I can, and Crystal is a wonderful host. Highly recommend as always!
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Mary
October 2025
26 ft travel trailer
With pets
This site is a private lot tucked in amongst a community of cabins. It’ got a mountain stream in the back, gazebo, chairs, picnic table, fire pit, full hookups , Wi-Fi, and a new gravel pad. I wished we had built in a longer stay. It’s less than a 5-minute drive to an entrance to Mount Rainier National Park.
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Amy
October 2025
36 ft travel trailer
Hawks landing was a great little place to stay. Right off the road with easy access to Ashford and Skate Creek road.
The pull in was a little hard to find in the dark.
Once we located and backed to the spot the ambiance and lights were just the right touch.
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Tess
October 2025
20 ft Class A
With kids
Private, secure, quiet campsite close to town. Easy directions, simple clean up, and nice picnic shelter with string lights. Thank you!
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Parker
October 2025
Weekend Trip to The Village at Rainier
We had a great time! The cabin was cozy, and all of the amenities (hot tub, mini kitchen, campfire) were great add-ins.
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adrena
October 2025
Weekend Trip to The Village at Rainier
I had the best birthday at this little cabin in the woods! It’s right by Mt Rainier and had everything you need for a perfect trip including a hot tub!!!
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Laura M.
October 2025
Tent
We loved our stay and felt very warm and comfortable on the cool nights. Rainfall sounded so beautiful on the roof of the A-frame :) super close to Mt Rainier and had the best time! Would love to return someday :)
See moreTop public campgrounds in the park
Stay at a public campground in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Top-rated campgrounds
The best camping in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA guide
Overview
About
One of the oldest national forests in the United States, Gifford Pinchot spans a massive 1.3 million acres and encompasses Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. With more than 1,200 miles of trails, 1,300 miles of streams, 100 lakes, and a landscape that spans old-growth forests, volcanic peaks, and glaciers, the region is prime for adventure seekers. More than 30 established campgrounds offer plenty of overnight options, while campers seeking solitude can take advantage of dozens of designated backcountry campsites and dispersed backcountry camping in remote locations.
Notable campgrounds
- Best for Mount Adams views and access: Located at the base of Mount Adams, the Takhlakh Lake Campground offers easy access to nearby trails.
- Best for lake access: The Forlorn Lakes Campground is set near 16 scenic lakes and ponds, with several lakeside sites.
- Best for families: The Beaver Campground offers flush toilets, a playground, and easy access to hiking and biking trails.
Tips for snagging a campsite
- Plan ahead and make your peak season reservation as soon as possible. Reservations for most sites can be made up to six months in advance.
- If you don’t have a reservation, arrive first thing in the morning to grab any potential unreserved sites, or those available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Seasonal opening and closing dates vary from campground to campground.
When to go
Summer is the busiest time in the forest, so you should plan ahead to grab popular campsites. During peak season, reservations are required to enter popular areas and permits are required for climbing and some backcountry camping. Late summer and early fall are peak huckleberry and mushroom harvesting season, while snow-dependent downhill skiing is usually available at White Pass Ski Area from late November to early April. Check the weather and the status of campground, trails, roads, boating sites, and other facilities before finalizing plans.
Know before you go
- Permits are required for fishing, hunting, and the harvesting of berries and mushrooms.
- Advanced reservations are required for the Lewis River Recreation Area and Mount Adams Wilderness Area from mid-June to September. Climbing permits are required for Mount St. Helens (April to October) and Mount Adams above 7,000 feet (May to September). An overnight camping permit is required for Mount Margaret Backcountry between March and November.
- Bring headlamps or flashlights to explore Ape Cave. Tickets are required for vehicles parking on-site.
- Cell phone coverage is limited in many areas of the park.
94%
81 ratings · 25 reviews
Not recommend
· September 2025
Lies and Deception / The Worst Experience Ever
Tent ·
Big Creek Campground
I'm an avid camper, and the experience I had at this campground with the host was ABSOLUTELY THE WORST ever. We arrived at the campground early & carefully selected a spot. I took a photo of both the envelope with payment and the receipt clipped at the site. After exploring the national park, we arrived at the campground at around 9pm. To our surprise, there was a group of people who took our campsite! When I checked the pole where I clipped the receipt, it was GONE & REPLACED by someone else's!! When I talked to those people who took our campsite, there were already drunk and were at the verge of becoming hostile. But they told us that the host "allowed" them to take the spot. We went to the host and he said (1) we never paid and that (2) there was no receipt clipped at the site. When I told him that that wasn't true, he proceeded to tell me that the information I wrote on the clip let him know that we were checking out today. So, for a second, I thought maybe I wrote either the # of nights spent or check-out date incorrectly. But then, I remembered I took pictures of both the envelope and the receipt!! I showed the photos to him, then, of course, he could not lie his way out of this. We did not want to spend another second there, so we demanded a refund, and "MIRACULOUSLY", the envelope (still glued) with our payment was found in his RV. I'm reporting the host to the US Forest Service.
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Eun Ji L.
3 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Cold but beautiful swimming
Tent · With pets · Group trip ·
La Wis Wis Campground
Great campground with lots of river spots , and a great short hike to the crystal clear waters of the blue pool swimming hole if you can handle the cold water. But on a hot day you do get used to it. I’d go back again for sure
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Corinna H.
3 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Fantastic day trip with family
There are several trails for 4x4 vehicles, mountain biking or hiking to enjoy. Not only is there a gorgeous river running through to picnic near with fast moving falls, it has a high peak looking over miles and several Oregon and Washington peaks from Gumboot Mountain peak.
Angela M.
16 reviews
July 2023
Just curious if huckleberries are ripe for the season yet?
A
Aletheia C.
2 years on Hipcamp
February 2023
February 2023
The fireplace is propane. When we called the ranger station they told us it was wood burning, I can confirm that it is definitely propane. There’s still wood stocked at the cabin, but there’s literally no place to burn wood.
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Hobbit J.
2 years on Hipcamp
July 2021
A beautiful campground with clean vault toilet and potable water. There is path from our campsite that join the bigger loop around the campground and access to the river. We were there after the July 4th holiday so it was quiet. We chose this campground as a base to explore the East side of Mount St Helens. It takes about an hour to reach the hiking trails and viewpoints for St Helens. Highly recommended.
Irene F.
4 years on Hipcamp
December 2020
Great campground, well maintained, great sites, easy access.
Bill F.
6 years on Hipcamp
October 2020
Really enjoyed this location. Lake was low in October, but still lots of fish biting. Campsites are hilly and most don't have a ton of flat ground real estate so plan accordingly.
Jennifer G.
6 years on Hipcamp
September 2020
the photo of the falls IS NOT Iron Creek campground -- that's Lewis River Lower Falls.
Fred I.
6 years on Hipcamp
August 2020
The picture you see here is NOT of the campground at least not Fallls Creek Horse Camp. It is a picture of Lower Falls on the Lewis River as accessed from Lower Falls Rec Area campground.
Mary S.
5 years on Hipcamp
August 2020
Just camped here for three nights. It's great if you don't mind the HORRENDOUSLY LOUD noise of the logging trucks going by at all times of the day especially in the early morning when you might be trying to sleep. Not the best way to enjoy the peacefulness of nature.
Mary S.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2019
Beautiful campground and in a central location to get to nice hikes and attractions. The portable water is not suitable for drinking so bring your own. We pumped out some and it looked like watered down apple juice. We used our water filter to filter it, the water was clear for a day, but tasted like iron. It also starting getting yellow again after a day. When we cleaned out our filters at home they were full of brown gunk.
We would stay there again and bring our own water.
Corie S.
10 years on Hipcamp
May 2019
Great campground with lots of privacy. It is somewhat primitive, with only vault toilets and no electricity or hookups, but the grounds are well maintained and each campsite has a fire ring. We really enjoyed our long weekend here.
The hiking loop around the campground and along the river was enjoyable and easy enough for kiddos. There are some beautiful old growth trees to be seen, and the river is gorgeous.
Carrie C.
6 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2019
A bit of a drive but very worth it. Lake is beautiful..
C
Cindy R.
6 years on Hipcamp
September 2018
Nice little clean campground. 8 miles up the road is the "Oklahoma" Campground which is maintained by the same group. No bugs. Great hiking on the "Monte Carlo Trail No. 52. Steep elevation on the hike but a beautiful view of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams.
Scott J.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2018
Twin Falls is a great campground. It’s beautiful and clean. I’ve been twice and there are very few people who come here.
Be prepared to be cold!!! I have camped here in July and August and it was really cold the entire time on both occasions. Bring multiple layers and lots of warm and dry clothes, as if you get wet your clothes may not dry in time to wear them again.
Bring extra toilet paper, sanitizer, and BABY WIPES!!! The toilet is literally on top of a hole over a big septic tank. It doesn’t flush. I had the unfortunate experience of splash back so MAKE SURE you have a way to clean yourself should that happen!!!
You have to bring everything you need to this campground and Pack out or burn your garbage.
Shanna P.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· February 2018
Beautiful and peaceful place. Fantastic Hosts!
Chad O.
7 years on Hipcamp
September 2017
Great, large but secluded spot. Camped at E 6 along the right along the river. Fire ban was in place so I assume late night vibe might be different had they been allowed. Pretty basic amenities, the bathrooms look newer. Its out there though bring everything you think you would need.
Todd A.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2017
Right near Mt. Rainier base camp. Many hiking locations nearby. High Rock fire-tower hike was absolutely stunning.
Kamren K.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2017
If driving in on SW 503, buy firewood (and anything else you need) at the Eagle Cliff Camp Store in Northwoods. It's your last chance before you get to Lower Falls.
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Matt S.
8 years on Hipcamp
July 2017
Moss is a beautiful campground and only 20 minutes from Hood River Oregon!!!! Windsurfing, white water rafting, kayaking!!! Just minutes away!!! And there's 16 sites available and you can have fires!!!
Cord B.
8 years on Hipcamp
May 2017
Awesome campground out of the way from everything. The road there is a little rough if you don't have a vehicle built for it. Pit toilets and pump water. If you can bring plenty of water and wood. The falls will be awesome once the water level goes down. The campsites vary in size and some are only for The.
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Joseph R.
8 years on Hipcamp
May 2017
Camped here over Memorial Day weekend and WOW! It was everything we hoped for and more. The sites were large and had quite a bit of tree covering so it made it feel like no one was around! A quick walk and we were right by lower falls which was RAGING because of the fantastic winter that we have had. One thing to note, DO NOT follow google's directions as the address is incorrect, make sure to follow the coordinates! For sure will plan to go back!
Patty R.
8 years on Hipcamp
May 2016
Sunset Campground was a great spot for a weekend getaway from Portland. Our site was big enough to fit two tents comfortably and the campground had places where you could set up corn hole or other games.
Tieneke V.
9 years on Hipcamp
July 2015
The yellow jackets (aka: meat bees) are crazy dense at certain times of year. They go to bed at night, but they're seriously unpleasant dining companions. Those who are allergic should totally avoid this place.
S
Shenoa L.
10 years on Hipcamp