North Fork Campground
North Fork Campground sits along the North fork of the Cispus River, shaded by a canopy of trees that include hemlock, maple and Douglas fir. This popular campground is typically open from mid-May through late September and offers standard sites in addition to the Bear, Beaver and Elk group sites. North Fork is situated between three of Washington's most impressive mountains: Mount St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier. The variety of recreational activities and the diverse natural beauty draws many visitors to this area.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Washington · reservable in Washington · big rigs in Washington · pets allowed in Washington
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 19 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
19 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | Riverfront | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 002 | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | Riverfront | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 006 | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 007 | Pull-through | 32 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | Riverfront | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | Back-in | 16 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 010 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 011 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00 |
The campground consists of 33 sites that have parking spurs, which vary from 20 to 40 feet in length. A few of these sites are 40 foot pull-through, and the rest are back-in. Picnic tables, grills and potable water are also provided. There is a host on-site and firewood is available for sale.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Gifford Pinchot National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations may be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1 (877) 444-6777. |
| Fees | Group sites: $75/$100 |
| Rules | Maximum vehicle length is 22 feet. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-5, take Highway 12 east to Randle, and from there go south on Road 25 and continue until you reach a fork in the road. Take the left fork onto Road 23 and travel for about 10 miles to North Fork Campground & Group Camps.
| Nearest town | Randle, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46.4508° N, 121.7878° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and 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. 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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireWest Fork
34 mi from the campground · 310 acres · 16% contained
- WildfireHigh Lava
42 mi from the campground · 2,899 acres · 95% 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 ↗ | 5.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | RMI Expeditions - Mountaineering Guide Service ↗ | 24.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Sunset RV ↗ | 50.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
North Fork Campground - Meeker Colorado
Worth a stop
Randle is the closest town to North Fork, and offers access to the Windy Ridge Lookout at Mount St. Helens. Adventurous hikers who want to enjoy some spectacular views may be interested in the Tongue Mountain Trail, which climbs to an elevation of 4,838 feet.
- 4.6 miTrailhead: Jackpot Lake ↗Trailhead
- 12.4 miSite: Wakepish Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 13.3 miTrailhead: Packwood Lake ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miNorth Fork River0.6 mi trail
- 0.2 miNorth Fork Loop1.2 mi trail
- 1.2 miTongue Mountain ↗6 mi trail
- 1.6 miBishop Ridge ↗8.8 mi trail
- 2.1 miCamp Creek Falls0.2 mi trail
- 2.3 miHigh Bridge1.1 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 Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
- inGifford Pinchot National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,496,308 acres
- 9.9 miGoat Rocks Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 108,020 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
On the National Register nearby
- North Fork Guard Station No. 1142Building · Randle · 0.2 mi
- Randle Ranger Station–Work CenterBuilding · Randle · 10 mi
Natural features
North Fork is part of the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, which is located in the northernmost portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 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. This Ranger District manages four Wilderness Areas including the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Glacier View Wilderness, Tatoosh Wilderness and William O. Douglass Wilderness. Major River drainage includes the Cowlitz River, Clear Fork of the Cowlitz, and the Cispus River. A variety of wildlife may be spotted in this area, including elk, deer and bears.
Recreation
North Fork Campground makes a great base camp for a variety of activities. Hikers, mountain bikers and OHV riders can access the nearby multi-use Valley Trail. From this trail, OHV riders can enjoy a network of over 50 miles of OHV trails. The North Fork Loop and River trails are open to foot traffic and can also be accessed in this area. Anglers can fish the Cispus River for brook trout, steelhead and salmon.
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 North Fork Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at North Fork Campground?
Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at North Fork Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at North Fork Campground?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is North Fork Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does North Fork Campground have?
20 sites, including 19 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at North Fork Campground?
The longest site here provides 40 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 pets allowed at North Fork Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at North Fork Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at North Fork Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum vehicle length is 22 feet.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at North Fork Campground?
North Fork Campground makes a great base camp for a variety of activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to North Fork Campground?
Randle, Washington. Randle is the closest town to North Fork, and offers access to the Windy Ridge Lookout at Mount St.
Source: Getting there
What if North Fork Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are North Fork Bear Group Camp (under 0.1 mi), North Fork Beaver Group Camp (under 0.1 mi), and North Fork Elk Group Camp (0.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby