Government Mineral Springs Campground
This is a historic site in an attractive old-growth forest setting. The campground was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937. Camp sites for tent camping are located under trees around the edge of the foundation of the old resort hotel that was built in 1910 and burned in 1935, in an unusual configuration for a campground. The Iron Mike Bubbling Spring provides mineral water once thought to have medicinal properties. The campground is located near Trapper Creek Wilderness. Nearby trails provide access to this Wilderness.
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 · accessible sites in Washington
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $10/night |
| Accessibility | This site is flat, but gravel. The spring is reached via a short trail from the gravel parking area |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year-round |
| Forest | Gifford Pinchot National Forest |
| Fees | $10/night |
| Rules | Maximum vehicle length is 18 feet. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Carson, Washington travel north on Wind River Highway/Forest Road to the Fish Hatchery. Just past the Fish Hatchery, after about 13.5 miles, Forest Road 30 forms a V with Forest Road 3065. At this V take the left fork on to 3065 and continue for about a mile to the campground.
| Nearest town | Trout Lake, Washington |
| Coordinates | 45.8821° N, 121.9957° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireHigh Lava
6 mi from the campground · 2,899 acres · 95% contained
- PrescribedTop Of The World Rx
30 mi from the campground
- PrescribedTracy Hill Rx
31 mi from the campground · 28 acres
- WildfireGrasshopper
49 mi from the campground · 93,972 acres · 98% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Stevenson Trailer Sewage Dump Station ↗ | 14 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 31 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 36.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 11.4 miTrailhead: Thomas Lake ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miObservation ↗7.4 mi trail
- 0.2 miSoda Peaks Lake ↗5 mi trail
- 0.7 miTrapper Creek Bridge0.3 mi trail
- 0.7 miCabin0.07 mi trail
- 0.8 miTrapper Creek ↗8.2 mi trail
- 1.6 miBig Slide0.4 mi trail
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.7 miTrailhead: Trapper Creek ↗Gifford Pinchot National Forest
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
This campground sits inside Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
- inGifford Pinchot National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,496,308 acres
- 0.4 miTrapper Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,963 acres
- 9.7 miIndian Heaven Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 20,784 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
This is a historic site in an attractive old-growth forest setting. The campground was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937. Camp sites for tent camping are located under trees around the edge of the foundation of the old resort hotel that was built in 1910 and burned in 1935, in an unusual configuration for a campground. The Iron Mike Bubbling Spring (closed) once provided mineral water that was thought to have medicinal properties.
Recreation
The campground is located near Trapper Creek Wilderness. Nearby trails, such as the Trapper Creek Trailhead, provide access to this Wilderness. There is a $5 day use at Trapper Creek Trailhead. The annual Northwest Forest Pass or an Interagency Pass is also applicable.
Guidebooks for Washington
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Government Mineral Springs Campground?
No. Government Mineral Springs 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 Government Mineral Springs Campground?
$10/night
Source: Forest Service
Is Government Mineral Springs Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year-round.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Government Mineral Springs Campground?
Government Mineral Springs Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Are there accessible sites at Government Mineral Springs Campground?
This site is flat, but gravel. The spring is reached via a short trail from the gravel parking area.
Source: Forest Service
What is there to do at Government Mineral Springs Campground?
The campground is located near Trapper Creek Wilderness. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Government Mineral Springs Campground?
Trout Lake, Washington.
Source: Getting there
What if Government Mineral Springs Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Beaver Campground (2.6 mi), Paradise Creek Campground (5.5 mi), and Panther Creek Campground (7.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby