North Fork Bear Group Camp
Shaded by a dense canopy of pine, fir and cedar trees, North Fork Bear Group sits alongside the Cispus River in the North Fork Campground. Typically open from mid-May to late September, North Fork Bear Group is one of three popular group sites within the campground. 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.
More like this: reservable in Washington · pets allowed in Washington · group sites in Washington
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A001 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 25 / 7 | 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 4:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The group site will accommodate up to 25 people with tents and RVs. It's secluded with gated access. Picnic tables, grills and drinking water are 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.
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
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
- 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
Worth a stop
Randle is the closest town to North Fork, and it 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 reaches 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
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. North Fork is part of the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, which is located in the northernmost portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This Ranger District manages four Wilderness Areas including the Goat Rocks, Glacier View, Tatoosh and William O. Douglass Wilderness. Nearby rivers include 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 Bear Group makes a great base camp for a variety of activities. Hikers, mountain bikers and off-road vehicle riders can access the nearby multi-use Valley Trail. From this trail, riders can enjoy a network of over 50 miles of additional off-road vehicle trails. The North Fork Loop trail is 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 Bear Group Camp?
Sites at North Fork Bear Group Camp are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at North Fork Bear Group Camp?
Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at North Fork Bear 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
How many sites does North Fork Bear Group Camp have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at North Fork Bear Group Camp?
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 pets allowed at North Fork Bear Group Camp?
Yes, pets are allowed at North Fork Bear Group Camp. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at North Fork Bear Group Camp?
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.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at North Fork Bear Group Camp?
North Fork Bear Group 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 Bear Group Camp?
Randle, Washington. Randle is the closest town to North Fork, and it offers access to the Windy Ridge Lookout at Mount St.
Source: Getting there
What if North Fork Bear Group Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are North Fork Campground (under 0.1 mi, partly first-come), North Fork Beaver Group Camp (under 0.1 mi), and North Fork Elk Group Camp (0.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby