U.S. Forest Service · Gifford Pinchot National Forest · Washington

Horseshoe Lake Campground

The campground is a rustic site situated on a 24 acre lake, and offers most campers a view of the water. The campground is small with only 11 campsites. Fishing, boating (electric motors only), and hiking are available. Trail access to Mt. Adams Wilderness is nearby at Killen Creek trailhead. Nearby access to Green Mountain Trail #110, High Lakes Trail #116, Spring Creek Trail #115.

First-come, first-served11 sitesFrom $20 per nightTents only

Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.

More like this: first-come in Washington · tent only in Washington

Horseshoe Lake Campground
Photo from the area. Jake Melara jakemelara (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons
4fires
active
High Lava · 40 mi away · 2,899 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesCamping: Single Site/$20. Extra Vehicle:$8

The campground is a rustic site situated on a 24 acre lake, and offers most campers a view of the water. The campground is small with only 11 campsites. Fishing, boating (electric motors only), and hiking are available. Trail access to Mt. Adams Wilderness is nearby at Killen Creek trailhead. Nearby access to Green Mountain Trail #110, High Lakes Trail #116, Spring Creek Trail #115.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

ForestGifford Pinchot National Forest
FeesCamping: Single Site/$20. Extra Vehicle:$8
RulesSee Closure Order Exhibit Map. Maximum vehicle length is 16 feet. Electric motors only allowed on the lake. Gas powered motors are not allowed on the lake. Wilderness regulations apply within Mt. Adams Wilderness.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Horseshoe Lake Campground30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.2°F averageFebruary: 34.8°F averageMarch: 39.3°F averageApril: 45.6°F averageMay: 53.7°F averageJune: 59.4°F averageJuly: 66.9°F averageAugust: 66.4°F averageSeptember: 58.8°F averageOctober: 47.5°F averageNovember: 37.5°F averageDecember: 31.1°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Mt Adams RS, 21 miles from the campground at 1,950 feet, station USC00455659 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

Coordinates46.3087° N, 121.5666° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    High Lava

    40 mi from the campground · 2,899 acres · 95% contained

  • Prescribed
    Tracy Hill Rx

    40 mi from the campground · 28 acres

  • Prescribed
    Top Of The World Rx

    41 mi from the campground

  • Wildfire
    West Fork

    45 mi from the campground · 310 acres · 16% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗18.6 mi
Outdoor gearRMI Expeditions - Mountaineering Guide Service ↗38.3 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗48.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • under 0.1 mi
    Horseshoe Lake
    0.2 mi trail
  • 0.2 mi
    Spring Creek
    2.9 mi trail
  • 0.5 mi
    Loop
    1.2 mi trail
  • 0.5 mi
    Keenes
    0.5 mi trail
  • 0.8 mi
    Green Mountain ↗
    5.7 mi trail
  • 1.3 mi
    Muddy Meadows ↗
    4.7 mi trail

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Washington

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Washington
    Ellie Kozlowski, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Washington camping
    Tom Stienstra, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Waterfalls in Washington
    Sawyer Scheer, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Horseshoe Lake Campground?

No. Horseshoe Lake Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Horseshoe Lake Campground?

Camping: Single Site/$20. Extra Vehicle:$8

Source: Forest Service

How many sites does Horseshoe Lake Campground have?

11 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Horseshoe Lake Campground?

Horseshoe Lake Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Horseshoe Lake Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Keenes Horsecamp (1 mi, first-come), Killen Creek Campground (1.4 mi, first-come), and Takhlakh Lake Campground (2.5 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby