Peterson Prairie Campground

Campground · Washington · 30 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Gifford Pinchot National Forest (NF) · Open Access

30
Bookable sites
40 ft
Max rig length
up to 50
People per site
2,982 ft
Elevation
Peterson Prairie Campground
Photo: Gifford Pinchot National Forest · Recreation.gov

Overview

Peterson Prairie Campground offers shaded and secluded campsites nestled in a forest of large pine, spruce and fir trees. The campground tends is popular among huckleberry pickers.


At an elevation of 2,800 ft., Peterson Prairie offers a cool summertime climate during the hottest part of the season. Several kid-friendly attractions are a short distance away, making this campground a great choice for families.

Recreation

Seasonal harvesting of huckleberries and mushrooms is a popular pastime.



Natural Bridges and Ice Cave are scenic, family-friendly nature trails near Peterson Prairie Campground. A stairway leading into the Ice Cave allows convenient access to the cave's incredible ice formations. Please be prepared when visiting the caves. Information is avaialble at the campground and the Mt Adams Ranger Station.

Facilities

Drinking water and vault toilets are available. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. The sites are spacious with gravel parking spurs.

Natural Features

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



Peterson Prairie is located in the Mt. Adams Ranger District. Nearest town is Trout Lake, WA.


The Mount Adams Ranger District offers a large variety of habitats and natural features, from old growth to second growth forest, wetland areas, low and high elevation meadows, glaciers, and low and high elevation lakes.

Contact Info

This location has limited staffing. Please call (509) 427-3677 for general information.

Nearby Attractions

This campground is near Bird Creek Meadows, a trail that offers spectacular wildflower displays and opportunities to observe numerous birds.

Goose Lake is 8 miles west of the campground and offers excellent trout fishing.

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.

Group Sites

Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use 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

  • Season: 06/14/2024 – 09/22/2024 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
  • 30 bookable sites
  • 31 sites in total, including non-bookable
  • Vehicles up to 40 ft
  • Up to 50 people per site
  • Loops: AREA PETERSON PRAIRIE

Site types

  • 29 Standard Nonelectric
  • 1 Group Standard Nonelectric
  • 1 Management

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Grills
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups.

Book on Recreation.gov

31 campsites at Peterson Prairie Campground

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceWaterMax rigPeople
001AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——30 ft6 🐾
002AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront30 ft8 🐾
003AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricPull Through——40 ft8 🐾
004AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront40 ft8 🐾
005 HostAREA PETERSON PRAIRIEManagementPull Through——40 ft8 🐾
006AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricPull Through——40 ft8 🐾
007AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront40 ft8 🐾
008AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront40 ft8 🐾
009AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——40 ft8 🐾
010AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront30 ft8 🐾
011AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——30 ft8 🐾
012 MultiAREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——30 ft16 🐾
013AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront30 ft8 🐾
014 MultiAREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront30 ft16 🐾
015 MultiAREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricPull Through——30 ft16 🐾
016AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——30 ft8 🐾
017AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——30 ft8 🐾
018 MultiAREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricPull Through——30 ft16 🐾
019AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——30 ft8 🐾
020AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricPull Through——30 ft8 🐾
021 MultiAREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront30 ft16 🐾
022AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricPull Through——30 ft8 🐾
023AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—30 ft6 🐾
024 MultiAREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront30 ft16 🐾
025 MultiAREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——30 ft16 🐾
026AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——30 ft8 🐾
027AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricPull Through——40 ft8 🐾
028AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront40 ft8 🐾
029AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In——30 ft8 🐾
030AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEStandard NonelectricBack In—Riverfront30 ft8 🐾
Group 1AREA PETERSON PRAIRIEGroup Standard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel—30 ft50 🐾

Getting there

From SR 14 follow SR 141 North to the town of Trout Lake, continue through town on SR 141 till the road ends and FS 24 begins(approximately 5 miles WSW of town). Continue west on FS 24 for another 2.25 miles to the entrance of Peterson Prairie.

45.96944, -121.66083 · 45°58'10.0"N 121°39'39.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 84°F in Jul, down to 37°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F394349586874848475604537
Low °F262729334045504942353025
Precip in————————————

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.2 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.

More photos

Member photos

Common questions about Peterson Prairie Campground

Can you reserve a site at Peterson Prairie Campground?
Yes, Peterson Prairie Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Peterson Prairie Campground have?
31 sites in total, of which 30 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Peterson Prairie Campground?
40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Peterson Prairie Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Peterson Prairie Campground.
Are campfires allowed at Peterson Prairie Campground?
Campfires are allowed at Peterson Prairie Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Peterson Prairie Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Peterson Prairie Campground's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • $115/night

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Peterson Prairie Campground

Comments

Contact

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

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.