Can you reserve a site at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)?

Yes, Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA) is reservable through Recreation.gov.

What is the maximum RV length at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)?

20 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)?

Yes, pets are allowed at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA).

Are campfires allowed at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)?

Campfires are allowed at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA). Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA), Washington — 29 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Situated in the vicinity of majestic Mount Rainier, Big Creek is a family campground nestled among Douglas firs, hemlock, alders and maples. The lush vegetation offers plenty of privacy between sites.

The sites at Big Creek form a loop, with only a handful of sites sitting along the banks of Big Creek. Open from mid-May through late September, Big Creek provides an alternative to the campgrounds at Mount Rainier National Park, which can get very crowded during the summer.

Recreation

Anglers can try their luck at catching brook trout in Big Creek or for those looking to explore the area, the Osborne Mountain Trail starts at the campground. The route is steep, but the scenery is amazing, and the trail can be traversed by foot, horse, mountain bike or dirt bike.

Facilities

The campground requires vehicles to have a relatively tight turning radius. Big Creek can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs, with a maximum vehicle length of 22 feet. Some parking spurs are paved; others are native moss and dirt. Some sites have rocks or heavy vegetation, which may make it difficult to pitch a tent. Drinking water is available, but there are no hot showers available onsite. Vault toilets are provided as well as a fire pit and picnic table at each site.

Natural Features

Located in southwest Washington State, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses over 1.3 million acres and includes the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument established by Congress in 1982.

Big Creek is located in the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, the northernmost portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This Ranger District manages four Wilderness Areas including the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Glacier View Wilderness, Tatoosh Wilderness and William O' Douglass Wilderness.

The Cowlitz Valley Ranger District is roughly located among three volcanic peaks: Mt. Rainier to the north, Mt. Adams to the east, and Mt. St. Helens to the west, providing visitors with a unique geological landscape.

Contact Info

This location has limited staffing. Please call (360) 686-3008 for general information.

Nearby Attractions

Big Creek is 6 miles from the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The popular Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise is 21 miles away, and the nearby town of Ashford offers restaurants, along with a few art galleries and shops.

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellations

Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.

A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite.

Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.

No-Shows

A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.

No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.

Refunds

Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.

Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.

For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.

In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.

The facts

29 bookable sites
Vehicles up to 20 ft
Up to 12 people per site
Loops: AREA BIG CREEK

Site types

29 Standard Nonelectric

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Picnic tables
Shade
Pets allowed
Water hookups — not available
Sewer hookups — not available

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

29 campsites at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
001	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
002	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
003	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
004	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
005	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
006	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
007	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
008	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
009	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	12	🐾
010	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
011	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
012	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
013	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
014	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
015	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
016	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
017	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
018	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
019	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
020	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
021	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	12	🐾
022	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
023	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
024	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
025	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	12	🐾
026	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
027	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
028	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
029	AREA BIG CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾

Getting there

From Ashford, WA, take Forest Road 52 approximately 5 miles to the campground.

46.73528, -121.97028 · 46°44'7.0"N 121°58'13.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 76°F in Aug, down to 36°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	37	40	45	51	60	66	75	76	69	55	43	36
Low °F	26	26	28	31	37	42	46	46	42	35	29	25
Precip in	11.4	8.6	7.5	5.9	4.8	3.7	1.2	1.5	3.5	9.0	13.0	12.4

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 7.6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Common questions about Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)

Can you reserve a site at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)?: Yes, Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA) is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA) have?: 29 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)?: 20 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)?: Yes, pets are allowed at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA).
Does Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA) have hookups?: No hookups are recorded here.
Are campfires allowed at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)?: Campfires are allowed at Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA). Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)

Cougar Rock Campground 8.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cougar Rock Group Campground 8.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
La Wis Wis Campground 18.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Ohanapecosh Campground 18.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Campground: Big Creek 0.1 mi · Campground
Longmire Museum 7.5 mi · Facility
Longmire Wilderness Information Center 7.6 mi · Visitor Center
Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center 11.6 mi · Facility
Paradise Wilderness Information Center 11.7 mi · Visitor Center
Evans Creek Campground 14.2 mi · Campground
Carbon River Ranger Station 17.4 mi · Facility
Trailhead: Packwood Lake 18.5 mi · Facility

Contact

Phone 541-338-7869
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)