Peterson Prairie Cabin
The Peterson Cabin is located on the Mt. Adams Ranger District, is powered by propane, and wood heat and can sleep six people. The cabin was salvaged from demolition in 2014 and moved into place of a cabin that was razed by fire in 2012. The cabin has been meticulously restored and is open year round. Between December 1st and April 1st the road to the cabin is closed. Parking at Atkisson Sno-Park is required between these dates and a Washington State Sno-Park Pass is required. Ski, snowshoe or snowmobilers can access the cabin from Atkisson Sno-Park.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 4 | 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 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Accessibility | Site 001 is listed accessible |
Peterson Cabin accommodates up to six guests. The rustic cabin's lower floor has an accessible bedroom with a double bed, a kitchen area and living/dining room with two loveseats and a fireplace/wood stove insert. Propane lighting and heating are provided throughout. The kitchen is equipped with a propane cook top, stove, and refrigerator, pots and pans, dishes and utensils, as well as a dining table and four chairs. An outdoor picnic table and vault toilet are on-site. Firewood is provided. No water is available during from October through Spring; guests must bring plenty for drinking, cooking and washing. In the summer months potable water is available. Although the cabin has several amenities, guests do need to provide their own sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. Bringing an additional light source in case of emergencies is also advised.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Vancouver take Highway 14 East to Highway 141, then go North to Trout Lake WA. Peterson Prairie Cabin is located 7 miles from Trout Lake, Washington, along Forest Road 24. At Trout Lake go 4 Miles past the Mt. Adams Ranger Station at the end of Highway 141. Continue West on Forest Road 24 for 2.5 miles, the site will be on your left.
| Nearest town | Trout Lake, Washington |
| Coordinates | 45.9696° N, 121.6603° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTracy Hill Rx
20 mi from the campground · 28 acres
- PrescribedTop Of The World Rx
21 mi from the campground
- WildfireHigh Lava
23 mi from the campground · 2,899 acres · 95% contained
- WildfireGrasshopper
50 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 station | Dump station ↗ | 6.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Outer Limits Sports ↗ | 44.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 52.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Guler Ice Cave is one mile west of the cabin. It is filled with spectacular ice formations that resemble stalactites, stalagmites, columns, fans and boxwork. The ice is believed to form because the cave acts as a trap, retaining the heavy cold air that settles into the cave in winter. As the snow melts above, moisture dripping into the cave forms into ice columns and masses. The cave is about 650 feet long, with four sections separated by three ceiling collapses. The Forest Service has built a stairway down to the cave, but the steps can be slippery during winter. When exploring the cave, wear warm clothing, boots and a helmet. Use crampons if you have them. Have three sources of light. Winter access requires cross-country skis, snowshoes or snowmobile. Many of the ice formations are just inside the cave entrance, so it's not necessary to explore deep inside.
- 4.9 miTrailhead: Monte Cristo-Upper ↗Trailhead
- 6.3 miTrailhead: Monte Cristo-Lower ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miCoyote Sm Loop3.5 mi trail
- 0.6 miNatural Bridges XC Loop2.5 mi trail
- 1.2 miPeterson Ridge3.3 mi trail
- 1.5 mi6020 Sled ↗5.7 mi trail
- 1.9 miBerryfield Sm Loop ↗18 mi trail
- 2.1 miIce Caves XC Loop3.8 mi trail
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.6 miTrailhead: Natural Bridges ↗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
This campground sits inside Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
- inGifford Pinchot National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,496,308 acres
- 3.5 miIndian Heaven Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 20,784 acres
- 13 miMount Adams Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 47,123 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
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Trout Lake Tourist ClubBuilding · Trout Lake · 6.2 mi
- Gothen Creek Ranger StationBuilding · Gifford Pinchot National Forest · 11.8 mi
Natural features
A dense canopy of Douglas fir towers over the cabin and huckleberry bushes are thick in the understory. Nearby Mt. Adams Wilderness is dominated by its namesake peak. At an elevation of 12,276 feet, Mount Adams looms over at least ten glaciers, forested slopes and subalpine meadows. Wildlife in the area is abundant, including spotted owls, black tail deer, Roosevelt elk and black bear. The more elusive cougar, bobcat and pine marten are seen occasionally.
Recreation
Many recreational opportunities are within close proximity of the cabin. Hiking, biking, fishing, hunting and mushroom and huckleberry picking are popular during the snow-free months. Guests can enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing during winter. The Pacific Crest Trail, Indian Heaven Wilderness and Mt. Adams Wilderness are all within easy driving distance and boast scenic vistas. Atkisson Sno-Park is approximately 2.5 miles from the cabin and serves as a portal to the forest's network of 95 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Three signed, ungroomed cross-country ski loops also depart from the Atkisson Sno-Park, offering loop opportunities of 4 to 11 miles. Portions of these loops overlap with each other and the snowmobile trail network.
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 Peterson Prairie Cabin?
Sites at Peterson Prairie Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Peterson Prairie Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Peterson Prairie Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Peterson Prairie Cabin?
Site 001 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Peterson Prairie Cabin?
Many recreational opportunities are within close proximity of the cabin. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Peterson Prairie Cabin?
Trout Lake, Washington. Guler Ice Cave is one mile west of the cabin.
Source: Getting there
What if Peterson Prairie Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Peterson Prairie Campground (under 0.1 mi), Atkisson Group Camp (2.5 mi), and Forlorn Lakes CG Gifford Pinchot NF (4.7 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby