Big Creek
Situated in the vicinity of majestic Mount Rainier, Big Creek is a family campground nestled among Douglas firs, hemlock, alders and maples. The lush vegetation offers plenty of privacy between sites. The sites at Big Creek form a loop, with only a handful of sites sitting along the banks of Big Creek. Open from mid-May through late September, Big Creek provides an alternative to the campgrounds at Mount Rainier National Park, which can get very crowded during the summer.
More like this: reservable in Washington · pets allowed in Washington
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 29 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
29 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 002 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 005 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 006 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 007 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 009 | Pull-through | 20 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 12 / 2 | Yes |
| 010 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | 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 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00 |
The campground requires vehicles to have a relatively tight turning radius. Big Creek can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs, with a maximum vehicle length of 22 feet. Some parking spurs are paved; others are native moss and dirt. Some sites have rocks or heavy vegetation, which may make it difficult to pitch a tent. Drinking water is available, but there are no hot showers available onsite. Vault toilets are provided as well as a fire pit and picnic table at each site.
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 | First come, first serve. |
| Fees | Camping: Single Site/$25, Double Site/$40. Extra Vehicle: $8 |
| Rules | Maximum vehicle length 24-40 feet. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Ashford, WA, take Forest Road 52 approximately 5 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Ashford, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46.7353° N, 121.9703° 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
19 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
| Outdoor gear | RMI Rentals ↗ | 3.5 mi |
| Dump station | Dump Station ↗ | 8.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Sunset RV ↗ | 29.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND REVIEW / SECLUDED NATIONAL FOREST CAMPING
Worth a stop
Big Creek is 6 miles from the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The popular Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise is 21 miles away, and the nearby town of Ashford offers restaurants, along with a few art galleries and shops.
- 6.1 mi
- 7.6 miLongmire Wilderness Information Center ↗Visitor center
- 11.7 miParadise Wilderness Information Center ↗Visitor center
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miOsborne Mountain ↗5.5 mi trail
- 1.3 miCave Creek0.5 mi trail
- 1.6 mi5200 Snowmobile ↗24 mi trail
- 2.8 miTeeley Creek4.3 mi trail
- 2.9 miLake Christine1.7 mi trail
- 4.4 miGlacier View2.2 mi trail
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.9 miTrailhead: Lake Christine ↗Gifford Pinchot National Forest
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
Glacier View Wilderness begins about 3.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 3.3 miGlacier View Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 3,060 acres
- 4.7 miMount Rainier Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 228,480 acres
- 5.4 miGifford Pinchot National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,496,308 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
Located in southwest Washington State, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses over 1.3 million acres and includes the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument established by Congress in 1982. Big Creek is located in the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, the northernmost portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This Ranger District manages four Wilderness Areas including the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Glacier View Wilderness, Tatoosh Wilderness and William O' Douglass Wilderness. The Cowlitz Valley Ranger District is roughly located among three volcanic peaks: Mt. Rainier to the north, Mt. Adams to the east, and Mt. St. Helens to the west, providing visitors with a unique geological landscape.
Recreation
Anglers can try their luck at catching brook trout in Big Creek or for those looking to explore the area, the Osborne Mountain Trail starts at the campground. The route is steep, but the scenery is amazing, and the trail can be traversed by foot, horse, mountain bike or dirt bike.
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 Big Creek?
Sites at Big Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. First come, first serve. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Big Creek?
Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Big Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Big Creek?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Big Creek open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Big Creek have?
29 sites, including 29 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Big Creek?
The longest site here provides 20 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 Big Creek?
Drinking water is available, but there are no hot showers available onsite.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Big Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Big Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Big Creek?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum vehicle length 24-40 feet.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Big Creek?
FCC coverage maps show T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Big Creek?
Anglers can try their luck at catching brook trout in Big Creek or for those looking to explore the area, the Osborne Mountain Trail starts at the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation