Tower Rock Campground
Tower Rock Campground is named for the impressive pillar that looms nearby and offers semi-private sites shaded by a mix of cedar, Douglas fir and maple.
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 | 20 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
20 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 002 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | 16 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 005 | Pull-through | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 006 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 007 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 009 | Back-in | 20 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 010 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 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 2:00 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 |
Tower Rock provides easy RV camping with paved parking spurs that can accommodate vehicles between 20 to 30 feet. Drinking water, picnic tables and campfire rings are provided. This facility has vault toilets.
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 | Make reservations at Recreation.gov, or by calling 1-877-444-6777, up to 6 months in advance. |
| Fees | Camping: $25/Site. Extra Vehicle: $8 |
| Rules | Maximum vehicle length is 20-30 feet. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Take Highway 12 east from I-5 and head south on Road 25. Go left at Y towards Highway 23 and continue for 8 miles. Take a right on Road 28 and another right on Road 76. Proceed to the campground.
| Nearest town | Randle, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46.4450° N, 121.8681° 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
35 mi from the campground · 310 acres · 16% contained
- WildfireHigh Lava
41 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 ↗ | 7.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | RMI Expeditions - Mountaineering Guide Service ↗ | 23.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Cedar Creek RV Center ↗ | 49.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Tower Rock Campground trip July 2021
Worth a stop
Tower Rock Campground is just east of Mount St. Helens, making it a convenient base for exploring this volcanic monument. Layser Cave Interpretive Site, which has a short trail leading to the cave, is also nearby.
- 8.5 miTrailhead: Jackpot Lake ↗Trailhead
- 9.7 miSite: Wakepish Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.8 miCovel Creek0.9 mi trail
- 0.9 miCovel Cr-Braille0.6 mi trail
- 1 miCovel Creek Falls1 mi trail
- 1.1 miLayser Cave0.3 mi trail
- 1.3 miValley ↗15.5 mi trail
- 1.4 miAngle Falls Loop0.5 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
- 13.6 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 · 3.9 mi
- Randle Ranger Station–Work CenterBuilding · Randle · 7.6 mi
Natural features
Tower Rock Campground is located about a quarter mile from the south bank of the Cispus River on the east side of Mount St. Helens. The terrain is mostly meadow and mountainside, as the campground is surrounded by mountains on almost every side.
Recreation
A privately-owned trout pond offers fishing nearby, but anglers can also cast for brook trout in the Cispus River. The Burley Mountain trailhead is located off of Forest Road 28, about 4 miles from the Highway 23 intersection. From this trailhead, visitors can hike to multiple waterfalls, including Angel Falls.
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 Tower Rock 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 Tower Rock Campground?
Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Tower Rock Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Tower Rock 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 Tower Rock Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Tower Rock Campground have?
22 sites, including 20 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Tower Rock 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 Tower Rock Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Tower Rock Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Tower Rock 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 20-30 feet.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Tower Rock Campground?
A privately-owned trout pond offers fishing nearby, but anglers can also cast for brook trout in the Cispus River. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Tower Rock Campground?
Randle, Washington. Tower Rock Campground is just east of Mount St.
Source: Getting there
What if Tower Rock Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are North Fork Elk Group Camp (3.8 mi), North Fork Campground (3.8 mi, partly first-come), and North Fork Bear Group Camp (3.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby