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Best Dispersed Camping near Battle Ground, WA

68 Reviews

Dispersed camping near Battle Ground, Washington centers primarily around the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, with several free primitive sites located along forest roads and near trailheads. The Little Soda Springs Road area offers multiple established dispersed sites, while Canyon Creek provides riverside camping opportunities. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument contains additional backcountry camping zones, particularly along Forest Road 81 and near Climbers Bivouac. These areas typically require Northwest Forest Passes or America the Beautiful passes for parking.

Forest service roads accessing these dispersed sites vary significantly in condition, with many requiring slow navigation on gravel or dirt surfaces. Several campers report that Forest Road 81 becomes "rough in many spots" with "several miles of gravel between Forest Road 830 and 8123." High-clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing more remote sites, particularly during wet conditions. Cell service is extremely limited, with most areas having no reception. One visitor noted, "There's absolutely no cell service, so make sure to download any maps or trail guides before you get there." Fire restrictions apply seasonally, with some areas permitting campfires in established rings while others prohibit fires entirely.

The dispersed camping experience near Battle Ground provides opportunities for solitude and natural immersion. Sites along Little Soda Springs Road feature creek access and relative privacy despite being close to trailheads. A camper described it as "peaceful with a nice mix of forest and open space—felt super remote with hardly anyone else around." Mount St. Helens dispersed areas offer volcanic views and wildlife sightings, though they can become busy during summer months. Canyon Creek sites provide water access but may show signs of overuse. Forest Service rangers regularly patrol many of these areas, checking for proper passes and ensuring compliance with regulations. Most sites are primitive with no amenities beyond occasional fire rings, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Battle Ground, Washington (38)

    1. Gee Creek Rest Area I-5

    1 Review
    Ridgefield, WA
    7 miles

    2. Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping

    8 Reviews
    Cougar, WA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 891-5000

    "Found in typical condition. Please pick up after yourself. Many sites out here. Camped on a week day. One other camper out here. No traffic on road. Like others said road getting in sucks."

    "Road got a little bumpy getting out here but once we found a spot right near the riverbank, you felt like you were deep in it. Saw a few people on the way out."

    3. Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed

    14 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 891-5000

    "It looks like there might be two walk-in campsites as well and I believe there might be one if you walk across the Creek. It's very close to trapper Creek trailhead and there is a vault toilet there."

    "Spent a quiet weekend at Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed and loved it. The area is peaceful with a nice mix of forest and open space—felt super remote with hardly anyone else around."

    4. Snag Creek Trailhead Dispersed

    6 Reviews
    Stevenson, WA
    25 miles
    Website

    "I wanted to add videos of the river sites to my other review for this site, but the website wouldn't let me - anyway, the hike has 3 river sites about 1 mile in from the trailhead and they are beautiful"

    "We wanted a beginner backpacking trip (10 to 12 miles round trip) close to town - this one is a pretty hike with views at the end (theoretically, we saw fog)."

    5. Mount St. Helens Dispersed Camping

    10 Reviews
    Cougar, WA
    33 miles

    "This is a dispersed campsite near the south side of Mount St. Helens. It's free, which is always great. The drive in is just off the highway and up a little hill, but my car had no problems with it."

    "This dispersed camping is free, huge bonus in my book."

    6. Panther Creek Creekside Camp

    5 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    33 miles

    "Lots of turnouts along the road with river accesses just steps away ! Definitely recommend!"

    "Man I'm glad I did This is one of the best dispersed camp sites I've ever stayed at!!"

    7. Butte Camp/Climbers Bivouac Dispersed Campsite

    2 Reviews
    Cougar, WA
    29 miles
    Website

    "Group camping with 4-5 places for tents and 2 maybe 3 spots for travel trailers but will need to back in. 2 fire pits and a few walking trails. Solar friendly and level."

    "The area around mount Saint Helens is beautiful, tons of space to park any rig, tent, or vehicle. The forest has majestic trees and when it rains, it resembles a rainforest."

    8. Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    8 Reviews
    Clatskanie, OR
    36 miles

    "Definitely best for car camping as the spots down by the river were pretty wet and muddy this time of year. The waterfall is amazing and only a 15 minute hike down!"

    "The river is a walk down a very steep hill behind the pullout. No place to pitch a tent, best for car camping."

    9. FR-604 Dispersed Site

    2 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 891-5000

    "We tried 3 campgrounds that were all full and then found this free site right next to the road. Luckily, we were able to buy "US National Forrest camping passes" from the gas station in Carson."

    10. Gifford Pinchot National Forest Dispersed Site

    5 Reviews
    Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA
    35 miles
    Website

    "This site is amazing people have already set things up for tent camping. There is space for RV but I recommend your really good with it. Has a fire pit with rocks. Plenty of firewood in woods."

    "Waterfalls, hiking trails, remote camping! ♥️"

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Battle Ground, WA

54 Photos of 38 Battle Ground Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Battle Ground, WA

68 Reviews of 38 Battle Ground Campgrounds

  • Kevin W.
    Aug. 20, 2024

    McBride Lake NF-81 Dispersed

    Lots of shade, very private and trailer friendly.

    I have camped here twice now, once during a scouting trip in 2016 with my boys and again in September 2024 with just me and my dog :).  I could pull my 17' pop-up "A" frame trailer and back into one of the two spots with no problem.  Due to the narrow road, it may be a bit more snug with bigger rigs (25+ feet long and anything more than 8+ feet wide).  I would scout the road and area before committing; however, there is a turnaround that you could use to maneuver the trailer to drive out.  It's plenty big to accommodate a few trucks/cars and one, maybe two towable trailers.  If you're going tent camping, there are about four flat places for tents.  The area has no trails, so you would not have to worry about people wandering into the campsite. The Ape Caves is a small drive away. The town of Cougar, WA. is about 10 miles away if you need gas or food.  There is a lot of shade, and it is not solar-friendly.  The main road is about 100 feet away, relatively quiet, and very private.  There was a large rock fire pit in the middle. There is no cell phone reception; however, if you drive East for a few miles, you may be able to get 2 bars with Verizon.

    Per the state website, "On the southwest side of Mount St. Helens, Forest Road 81 provides an experience away from crowds. On this road, access Kalama Horse Camp, Red Rock Pass, and Forest Road 830, the road to Climber's Bivouac, and the start of the summer climbing route. From the west, the road begins on Forest Road 90, near Cougar, WA, and travels through private timberlands and state lands before entering Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The road connects with Forest Road 83 on its east side. While mostly paved, be prepared for several miles of gravel(between Forest Road 830 and 8123) and a road that is sometimes very rough."

  • Vanessa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping

    You may get lost

    The coordinates here were incorrect coming from Hood River Oregon. It sent me down a rough dead end forest service road. I ended up lost on the mountain for 3 hours and finally made it out somewhere near camas. Make sure you have lots of fuel

  • Vanessa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 11, 2025

    Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed

    Amazing spot!

    Absolutely loved the spot. There were about three sites. I believe from what I saw. I stayed at the first site when you first get there back there on the right hand side. It's a short hike down to the creek. It looks like there might be two walk-in campsites as well and I believe there might be one if you walk across the Creek. It's very close to trapper Creek trailhead and there is a vault toilet there. Minimal bugs didn't get any bug bites and it was in the '90s while I was there. Very little traffic. Not far from the highway just in case of emergencies. Absolutely no cell service. You must have a Northwest Forest pass or America the beautiful pass. Forest service does drive through there frequently to check

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2023

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Amazing Hike!!

    This place was beautiful!! Definitely best for car camping as the spots down by the river were pretty wet and muddy this time of year. The waterfall is amazing and only a 15 minute hike down! The only reason this place got lower than a 5 star is because of all the trash near the parking lot. Too beautiful of a place to be used as a dump!! Definitely used as a party spot but aside from this it’s worth the visit!

  • Johny B.
    Jun. 19, 2025

    Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed

    Peaceful and Scenic Getaway

    Spent a quiet weekend at Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed and loved it. The area is peaceful with a nice mix of forest and open space—felt super remote with hardly anyone else around. We found a great shady spot not far from a small creek, and it was perfect for relaxing. Heads up: there’s absolutely no cell service, so make sure to download any maps or trail guides(we used an offline hiking APK) before you get there. It’s close to Mount St. Helens and Columbia River Gorge, so we got in a great day hike. Nights were cool, days were warm and bug-free. Forest service came by once, which was nice to see. You’ll need a Forest Pass.

  • Danielle S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2018

    Mount St. Helens Dispersed Camping

    Dispersed Camping - s. Mount St. Helens

    This is a dispersed campsite near the south side of Mount St. Helens. It's free, which is always great. The drive in is just off the highway and up a little hill, but my car had no problems with it. There's a lot of space here. From our spot, we saw at least a half a dozen fire pits, but we were the only ones there. It has some nice trees and a trail. Up the road is Lava Canyon, where there are toilets if you need. There are some decently flat spots for a tent and I felt was all around a good site.

  • Haroon A.
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed

    Little Soda Springs Rd: Washington's Wild Camping Haven

    I love how Vanessa mentioned the creek access from that first campsite! As someone who's been searching for dispersed camping spots with water features, this feels like such a gem. The fact that Forest Service regularly patrols is actually reassuring rather than intrusive- I've been to some dispersed sites that felt a bit too"wild west" if you know what I mean. I've been using offline hiking apps for my trips in the Gifford Pinchot, but I hadn't considered Little Soda Springs until now. That tip about downloading maps beforehand due to no cell service is crucial- learned that lesson the hard way last summer near Mt. Adams! Anyone know if the creek is suitable for filtering drinking water, or should I pack in all I need?

  • Jeffrey P.
    Aug. 31, 2024

    Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed

    Easy Get Away

    A couple spots right off the road for car camping or small campers. There was an “official” camp sight more near the Dry Creek Trail (has a bathroom). We opted to walk south along the river to try and find a space. Ended up crossing the river where there are a couple more hidden spots. We found out later that there is a trail right before you cross Trapper Creek that leads you to the spot we were at. There were a few people out and you can sometimes hear cars but overall it was an easy stay with some nice views. The river drowns out most the noise. Would definitely come back here

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2023

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Decent place for the night

    A big pavement pull off on the ride of the road. The river is a walk down a very steep hill behind the pullout. No place to pitch a tent, best for car camping. Had some issues with people stopping and playing loud music, seems to be a hangout spot.

Guide to Battle Ground

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Battle Ground, Washington, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, this area is perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.

Scenic River Access for Dispersed Campers

  • The Snag Creek Trailhead Dispersed area features beautiful river sites just a mile in from the trailhead, providing a picturesque setting for camping.
  • Campers can enjoy the soothing sounds of the river while relaxing in the scenic surroundings, making it an ideal spot for a peaceful getaway.
  • Keep in mind that the best camping spots are limited, so arriving early is recommended to secure a prime location.

Top Activities While Free Camping Near Battle Ground

  • At Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping, visitors can engage in fishing and hiking, with plenty of trails to explore nearby.
  • The area allows for campfires, making it perfect for evening gatherings under the stars while enjoying the natural beauty of the forest.
  • For those seeking solitude, this location offers spacious sites that are far enough apart to provide a sense of privacy, especially during weekdays.

Dispersed Campers Should Check Out Pumice Butte

  • The Pumice Butte- Dispersed Campsite offers stunning views of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams, making it a breathtaking spot for photography and relaxation.
  • This site is popular among hikers, as it serves as a great base for those exploring the Loowit Trail that circles Mt. St. Helens.
  • Be prepared for crowds during peak summer weekends, as this well-reviewed spot attracts many outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy the scenic vistas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the rules and regulations for dispersed camping in Gifford Pinchot near Battle Ground?

When dispersed camping in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, you must camp at least 150 feet from water sources, trails, and developed recreation areas. Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed and similar areas are regularly patrolled by Forest Service rangers who enforce regulations. Most sites have a 14-day stay limit within a 30-day period. Campfires may be restricted seasonally—always check current fire restrictions before your trip. Pack out all trash and use established fire rings when available. Mount St. Helens Dispersed Camping and other sites offer free camping, but require a Northwest Forest Pass for parking at many trailheads. No facilities are provided, so be prepared with your own water and waste disposal plan.

Where can I find dispersed camping in Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Battle Ground?

Gifford Pinchot National Forest offers several dispersed camping options near Battle Ground. McBride Lake NF-81 Dispersed is accessible for smaller trailers (up to 17' pop-up) and features multiple camping spots. For those exploring the west side of the forest, Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping provides additional options, though be aware that forest service roads can be challenging to navigate. Always check current forest conditions before heading out, carry plenty of fuel, and download offline maps as cell service is limited throughout the forest. Most dispersed sites in this area are first-come, first-served with no reservation system.

How can I find secluded camping spots near Battle Ground?

For secluded camping near Battle Ground, explore forest service roads in less-traveled areas. Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight offers beautiful riverside spots with nearby waterfall access—arrive early as the best spots fill quickly. For mountain views with privacy, consider Pinnacle Ridge dispersed camping which features well-maintained roads suitable for vans and rooftop tents. Look for pull-offs with established fire rings, a good indicator of suitable camping spots. The most secluded areas typically require higher clearance vehicles and comfort with forest navigation. Download offline maps before your trip and scout locations during daylight hours. For maximum seclusion, aim for mid-week visits when fewer campers are exploring the area.

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