North Fork Campground (Wa)

Overview

North Fork Campground sits along the North fork of the Cispus River, shaded by a canopy of trees that include hemlock, maple and Douglas fir.

This popular campground is typically open from mid-May through late September and offers standard sites in addition to the Bear, Beaver and Elk group sites.

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.

Recreation

North Fork Campground makes a great base camp for a variety of activities. Hikers, mountain bikers and OHV riders can access the nearby multi-use Valley Trail. From this trail, OHV riders can enjoy a network of over 50 miles of OHV trails.

The North Fork Loop and River trails are open to foot traffic and can also be accessed in this area.

Anglers can fish the Cispus River for brook trout, steelhead and salmon.

Facilities

The campground consists of 33 sites that have parking spurs, which vary from 20 to 40 feet in length. A few of these sites are 40 foot pull-through, and the rest are back-in.

Picnic tables, grills and potable water are also provided. There is a host on-site and firewood is available for sale.

Natural Features

North Fork is part of the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, which is located in the northernmost portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

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.

This Ranger District manages four Wilderness Areas including the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Glacier View Wilderness, Tatoosh Wilderness and William O. Douglass Wilderness. Major River drainage includes 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.

Nearby Attractions

Randle is the closest town to North Fork, and 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 climbs to an elevation of 4,838 feet.