Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
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.
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 pedestal grill, fire pit and picnic table at each site.
Gray water disposal facilities are located throughout the campground.
Need to Know
Check in: 2 pm, Check out: 12 pm (noon)
No ATVS or OHVS in campground
Click here for more information about Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
Camping fee covers the first two vehicles (2 cars or RV/Trailer and tow vehicle). Extra vehicle fee of $8.00 is charged for the third vehicle.
Firewood is available for sale at host site for $10.00/bundle.
Please do not park your vehicle within the 100' well exclusion area as signed. Thank you your cooperation is appreciated!
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.
Nearby Attractions
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.
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.
Changes & 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
Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. 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.
For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
Contact Information
Default
ASHFORD WA 98304
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 541-338-7869
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Ashford, WA, take Forest Road 52 approximately 5 miles to the campground.
Available Campsites
- Site 023, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop AREA BIG CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
