Cougar Rock Campground
Cougar Rock Campground, on the southwest side of Mt. Rainier National Park, is conveniently located near Paradise. Individual campsites are reservable on this page. Group campsite reservations can be made via Cougar Rock Group Campground. Paradise is the most popular destination in the park, with a lodge and visitor center, many miles of hiking trails and a commanding view of the mountain-the highest in the state and Cascade range. The main attraction at Mount Rainier National Park is the mountain itself, a massive glacier-clad volcano, peaking at 14,411 ft. and dominating the skyline for hundreds of miles.
The group site has its own page: Cougar Rock Group Campground.
More like this: reservable in Washington
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 176 |
| Host/management | 8 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
176 sites in 6 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A001 | Loop A | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | ||
| A002 | Loop A | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A003 | Loop A | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | ||
| A004 | Loop A | Pull-through | 22 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A005 | Loop A | Pull-through | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | ||
| A006 | Loop A | Pull-through | 27 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A007 | Loop A | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | ||
| A008 | Loop A | Back-in | 28 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | ||
| A009 | Loop A | Pull-through | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | ||
| A010 | Loop A | Back-in | 22 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites A026, C002, C007, C020 and 1 more are listed accessible |
Cougar Rock is relatively rustic, but has drinking water, flush toilets and picnic tables at all 173 campsites. This facility is one of only two campgrounds in the park with campsites that can be reserved. Visitors must use extra caution with food storage, as foxes and other animals have been known to frequent the campground looking for food.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Cougar Rock Campground is located 14 miles east of Ashford, Washington, on State Route 706/Paradise Road.
| Nearest town | Longmire, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46.7672° N, 121.7944° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
If a camper does not check-in at the ranger station by 12:00pm check-out time the day after the scheduled arrival date, their reservation will be cancelled, the camper will incur a $10.00 service fee, and forfeit the first night's camping fee.
Fire nearby
- WildfireWest Fork
13 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 station | Dump Station ↗ | 0.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | RMI Rentals ↗ | 11.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Sunset RV ↗ | 29.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
[4K] Before booking, watch this first. Cougar Rock Campground in Mt. Rainier National Par
Worth a stop
Mount Rainier National Park is about 50 miles southeast of the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area.
- 1.4 miLongmire Wilderness Information Center ↗Visitor center
- 3.1 miParadise Wilderness Information Center ↗Visitor center
- 8.3 mi
- 13.2 miTrailhead: Bluff Lake ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 4.7 miSilver Creek4 mi trail
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 Mount Rainier Wilderness.
- inMount Rainier Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 228,480 acres
- 4.6 miTatoosh Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 15,776 acres
- 5.6 miGlacier View Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 3,060 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Cougar Rock Campground has one lookout point from which campers can view Mt. Rainier. Although it is peaceful now, the still active volcano last erupted in the mid 1800s. The campground is adjacent to the Nisqually River and is surrounded by thick forests. A short drive to Paradise in summer reveals fields of lush wildflowers.
Recreation
From the facility, experienced hikers and backpackers can access the well-known, strenuous and beautiful Wonderland Trail, which encircles the park for 93 miles. For those who enjoy learning more about the park's natural and cultural history, there is an on-site amphitheater where interpretive programs are held.
Guidebooks for Mount Rainier National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Best Easy Day Hikes Mount Rainier National ParkDi Heidi Schneider and Mary Skjelset, 2024Find at Bookshop.org
Landscape Photographer's Guide to Mount Rainier National ParkAnthony Jones, 2021Find 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 Cougar Rock Campground?
Sites at Cougar Rock Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cougar Rock Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cougar Rock Campground have?
184 sites, including 176 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cougar Rock Campground?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Cougar Rock Campground?
Cougar Rock is relatively rustic, but has drinking water, flush toilets and picnic tables at all 173 campsites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Cougar Rock Campground?
Sites A026, C002, C007, and C020 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 5 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Cougar Rock Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Cougar Rock Campground?
From the facility, experienced hikers and backpackers can access the well-known, strenuous and beautiful Wonderland Trail, which encircles the park for 93 miles. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Cougar Rock Campground?
Longmire, Washington. Mount Rainier National Park is about 50 miles southeast of the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area.
Source: Getting there
What if Cougar Rock Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cougar Rock Group Campground (under 0.1 mi), Big Creek (8.6 mi), and Ohanapecosh Campground (10.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Cougar Rock Campground in?
Cougar Rock Campground is a Mount Rainier National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Mount Rainier National Park