U.S. Forest Service · Gifford Pinchot National Forest · Carson, WA

Atkisson Group Camp

Sitting just west of Washington's second largest mountain, Mt. Adams, Atkisson Group Camp is open for campers between May and September and becomes a sno-park for a variety of activities in winter. The flat, forested terrain makes Atkisson a popular spot for hikers, mountain bikers and winter sports enthusiasts.

More like this: reservable in Washington · big rigs in Washington · pets allowed in Washington · group sites in Washington

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Atkisson Group CampAtkisson Group CampsiteAtkisson Group campAtkisson Group camp
Photos courtesy of Gifford Pinchot National Forest · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteFits, ftSurfaceWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
00199PavedNo / No50 / 20Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length99 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

This group site is a large paved area with plenty of room for RVs. There is a covered, common picnic building in the center. Atkisson will accommodate up to 50 people and offers 99 feet of paved driveway. In winter, this area serves as Atkisson sno-park, with a covered warming shed a large wood burning stove. Campers must bring drinking water, but vault toilets, a fire ring & picnic table are available.

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

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestGifford Pinchot National Forest
BookingReservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Fees$115/night

Gifford Pinchot National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Atkisson Group Camp30°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, 4 miles from the campground at 1,950 feet, station USC00455659 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

From I-5 at Vancouver, take Highway 14 east for 66 miles and continue on Highway 141 north for 15 miles to Forest Service Road 2400 (5 miles south of the town of Trout Lake). Turn northwest and head 3.5 miles to the Group Camp.

Nearest townCarson, Washington
Coordinates45.9625° N, 121.6089° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

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 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. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Tracy Hill Rx

    18 mi from the campground · 28 acres

  • Prescribed
    Top Of The World Rx

    19 mi from the campground

  • Wildfire
    High Lava

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

  • Wildfire
    Grasshopper

    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 stationDump station ↗4.3 mi
Outdoor gearOuter Limits Sports ↗43.7 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗54.7 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

Atkisson is a great base for exploring the region further, including the abundance of activities and sights around Mount Adams. The nearby town of Trout Lake offers restaurants and shopping.

  • 0.3 mi
    Ice Caves XC Loop
    3.8 mi trail
  • 0.6 mi
  • 1.3 mi
    Peterson Ridge
    3.3 mi trail
  • 1.9 mi
    Natural Bridges XC Loop
    2.5 mi trail
  • 2.5 mi
    Coyote Sm Loop
    3.5 mi trail
  • 2.9 mi
    Monte Cristo
    3.8 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 →

Natural features

Located in southwest Washington State, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses over 1.3 million acres, including the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument established by Congress in 1982. Atkisson is located in the Mount Adams Ranger District in the easternmost portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This Ranger District comprises 367,000 acres and includes Mt Adams Wilderness, Indian Heaven Wilderness and Trapper Creek Wilderness. Mt Adams, a potentially active stratovolcano and the second-tallest mountain in Washington state, is a prominent landmark of the District. Elevations here range between 1,200 feet at the Wind River Work Center (12 miles north of Carson, WA) and 12,276 feet at the summit of Mt. Adams. The District also features a great diversity of habitats, from old growth to second growth forest, wetland areas, low and high elevation meadows and lakes, as well as glaciers.

Recreation

The flat terrain surrounding Atkisson is ideal for biking and hiking during the warmer months. Huckleberry and mushroom picking is permitted, and Nordic skiing and snowmobiling are popular during the winter.

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 Atkisson Group Camp?

Sites at Atkisson Group Camp are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Atkisson Group Camp?

$115/night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Atkisson Group Camp?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Atkisson Group Camp?

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.

Source: Charges and cancellations

Is Atkisson Group Camp open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Atkisson Group Camp have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Atkisson Group Camp?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Atkisson Group Camp?

Yes, pets are allowed at Atkisson Group Camp. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Atkisson Group Camp?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Is there cell service at Atkisson Group Camp?

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 Atkisson Group Camp?

The flat terrain surrounding Atkisson is ideal for biking and hiking during the warmer months. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Atkisson Group Camp?

Carson, Washington. Atkisson is a great base for exploring the region further, including the abundance of activities and sights around Mount Adams.

Source: Getting there