Best Campgrounds near Glenoma, WA

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest surrounds Glenoma, Washington, offering a range of camping experiences from developed campgrounds to more secluded sites. Taidnapam Park serves as a central camping area with full hookup RV sites and walk-in tent camping options near Riffe Lake. Several established campgrounds in the vicinity, including Cowlitz Falls Campground and Iron Creek Campground, provide both tent and RV accommodations, while some locations like Elkamp Eastcreek and Ike Kinswa State Park feature cabin options for those seeking more comfort.

Seasonal availability varies significantly throughout the region, with many Forest Service campgrounds operating only from May through September. Most developed campgrounds near Glenoma require reservations, particularly during summer months when facilities fill quickly. The area experiences typical Pacific Northwest weather patterns, with mild summers and wet conditions during spring and fall. Elevation changes affect temperatures, especially when venturing closer to Mount Rainier or Mount St. Helens. Campers should note that water levels at Riffe Lake have been permanently lowered by approximately 30 feet since 2013, affecting water activities. According to one visitor, "The lake level is too low to swim or launch a boat here, but it makes the campground less crowded and easier to get a reservation."

Camping experiences near Glenoma blend forest settings with water access, though amenities vary between campgrounds. Riffe Lake and Cowlitz River provide fishing and boating opportunities at several sites, while hiking trails are accessible from most campgrounds. Family-friendly amenities are common at the larger developed campgrounds, with playgrounds and open fields available at locations like Taidnapam Park. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, many campers appreciate the spacious sites and privacy available at Cowlitz Falls Campground, where "the campsites are far enough apart that there is lots of privacy." Bathroom facilities range from vault toilets at primitive sites to full shower houses at larger campgrounds, with most offering at least basic amenities. Winter camping options are limited, though some campgrounds like Taidnapam Park remain open year-round with reduced services.

Best Camping Sites Near Glenoma, Washington (319)

    1. Elkamp Eastcreek

    37 Reviews
    Mineral, WA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 492-3104

    $25 - $40 / night

    "Rainier as it is within minutes of the Nisquilly entrance.  The majority of the campsites were amid tall trees. "

    "The sites are situated amongst beautiful tall trees, spacious and private. A beautiful creek runs through with a foot bridge with access to a beautiful meadow."

    2. Iron Creek Campground

    19 Reviews
    Randle, WA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 338-7869

    $27 - $50 / night

    "There is a path from our campsite that join the bigger walking loop around the campground and access to the river. We were there after the July 4th holiday so it was quiet."

    "The campground is super quiet and allows you to get away from it all. There are no services and no cell phone reception so come expecting that."

    3. Cowlitz Falls Campground

    12 Reviews
    Randle, WA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 345-1484

    "Absolutely beautiful campground in Washington state nestled into the woods between Randall and Morton on the Cowlitz River. 4 loops to choose from. 2 with electric and water, 2 geared to tent or dry trailer"

    "Very quiet campground with lots of walking trails and activities. Good place for families - the water is walking distance and seems to provide good fishing opportunities."

    4. Mossyrock Park

    15 Reviews
    Mossyrock, WA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 983-3900

    "This camping is great if you do not mind having others near you or if you are fearful of venturing out alone. If you are looking for a secluded location, this is NOT the spot."

    "Driving through and tried to book online day of but you’re not able to. Called in and employee told me there was plenty of camping if we showed up late."

    5. Ike Kinswa State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Mossyrock, WA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 226-7688

    "One of my favorite campgrounds in Washington! Lots of camping spots right on Lake Mayfield with tons of trails in and around the campground."

    "Let me start off by saying - if there are so many campsites in Washington, why would you want to stay at the same place multiple times??? Ike Kinswa is the place I would stay at repeatedly."

    6. Taidnapam Park

    9 Reviews
    Glenoma, WA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 497-7707

    $37 / night

    "We scored a walk-in tent site ($22.) on Monday in the middle of August without a reservation."

    "We came here for the 4th of July to get away from the fireworks in the city (our dog is terrified of them!). We had an amazing experience!"

    7. Alder Lake Park

    31 Reviews
    La Grande, WA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 569-2778

    "It's about an hours drive from Paradise, which makes it less ideal than Cougar Rock if that's your destination, but the reservations do not fill up nearly as quickly."

    "Walking distance to the day use beach area. Very clean showers. Well maintained sites and fire wood for sale with the camp host. A great spot for exploring near Mt. Rainer."

    8. Cougar Rock Campground — Mount Rainier National Park

    58 Reviews
    Longmire, WA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 569-6626

    $20 / night

    "If you are looking for an volunteer opportunity while in the park, check out the Washington Train Association also know as the WTA."

    "Large campground located near the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier. Many sites tucked into large trees. Some loops close to main toad so the noise can be an issue, but overall beautiful!"

    9. Riffe Lake Campground

    7 Reviews
    Mossyrock, WA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 983-8122

    "It was a 5-minute walk downhill to reach the lake, which had a very long and nice boat ramp deep enough to accommodate just about any boat."

    "We were lucky to nearly have the entire camp site to ourselves. Quiet and serene place to stay. Set up was easy and quick. Highly recommend."

    10. Big Creek Campground

    11 Reviews
    Ashford, WA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 338-7869

    $25 - $45 / night

    "I chose to stayed here because of its location. It’s close to the entrance into Rainier NP and there’s plenty of Amazing hikes nearby. I camped alone (I’m a female) and I felt safe."

    "Located a short distance from Mt Rainier NP, this is the perfect springboard for any NP adventure or chillax getaway."

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Recent Reviews near Glenoma, WA

1331 Reviews of 319 Glenoma Campgrounds


  • Julie K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2025

    FR74 dispersed

    Good for a night

    We tucked in off of Forest Road 74. Beautiful sites. No toilet. I would have given it a 5 but there was quite a bit of trash.

  • Jan P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2025

    Packwood RV Park & Campground

    Adequate for a night

    An adequate place for a night. Rather pricey for what you get. Wi-Fi is very sketchy. Not pleasant staff. Basic amenities such as shower etc. Good location for hiking in the area. however.

  • M
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Rimrock Lake Resort

    Very low lake level in October.

    Campground is deserted. Lake is only 10% full. This is normal for this time of year

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    White River Campground — Mount Rainier National Park

    Beautiful

    Best campground! I was in loop D which is right by the river. Amazing views from my roof tent. Sites are close to each other, but the roaring river drowns out any noise. I believe I had the best site in the whole campground… D29. Pretty big site and best views.

  • Richard C.
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Silver Lake Resort

    Nice Place - Great Hosts

    This was a great place to stay at when visiting our daughter.  We checked in after hours and the hosts were waiting for us and even opened the store for us to get some ice.  They were very friendly and made sure we had all we needed.  Sadly Silverlake itself is not very clean due to Weyhauser logging they are ruining the lake but if you are staying in Castlerock/Silverlake area I would recommend staying here

  • Chris H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Mounthaven Resort

    Nice spot

    Very clean and quiet. Close to park entrance

  • Michelle R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Forest Road 7300 Pull-Off

    Large open pull off

    Lots of pull offs spots on FS Rd 73 but this spot is very open and it’s the one the GPS guided me to from The Dyrt site.

  • Michelle R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    White River Dispersed Camping

    Couldn’t find it

    The GPS coordinates told me I arrived and there was nothing around me.

  • E
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Tower Rock U-Fish RV Park

    Wonderful, kind people!!!

    This campground is an excellent spot to spend some time on your travels! Highly recommend!! Pam and Trevor are wonderful and accommodating hosts!!


Guide to Glenoma

Dispersed camping near Glenoma, Washington offers access to both forested and lakeside sites at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,200 feet. The area sits at the nexus of three major recreation destinations—Mount Rainier National Park to the north, Mount St. Helens to the southwest, and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest surrounding the community. Winter camping options expand beyond the limited year-round campgrounds, with several locations reducing services rather than closing entirely during colder months.

What to do

Explore riverside trails: Big Creek Campground provides easy access to three surrounding trails. "There are a couple of nice restaurants between the campground and the park too. This will be our 'go to' site for camping on the southside of the park," notes one Big Creek Campground visitor, highlighting its proximity to Mount Rainier National Park.

Fish the Cowlitz River: The river offers fishing opportunities even when lake levels are low. "Just a short walk/hike down is the cowlitz river. The water is very cold, even on a hot day. Use caution, check under the water's surface before jumping off big rocks," warns a Cowlitz Falls Campground visitor.

Visit lower-elevation hiking areas: When mountain weather turns unpredictable, head to trails along Riffe Lake. A visitor to Iron Creek Campground reported: "The river was moving very fast in early June, and we would not have felt safe being beginning kayakers. The river was moving quite fast and seemed turbulent."

What campers like

Old-growth forest atmosphere: The thick forest canopy at several campgrounds creates a unique environment. An Iron Creek Campground visitor described it as "lush and beautiful... There are so many trees and plants here! The camp sites are pretty secluded so you don't feel like everyone is watch you."

Extra cushioning at tent sites: Elkamp Eastcreek offers specially prepared tent pads. "The campsites are pretty private and there's specific spots for your tent that has an extra layer of mulch underneath for cushioning," noted one visitor who appreciated the attention to comfort.

Clean facilities despite remote locations: Many campers mention bathrooms exceed expectations. A visitor to Mossyrock Park reported: "The showers and bathrooms are cleaned regularly. Thoroughly enjoyable."

What you should know

Water levels impact activities: Riffe Lake's permanent lowering affects more than swimming. "Due to COVID you have to make reservations to stay here," noted a visitor to Big Creek in June 2020, indicating reservation systems have changed at some locations.

Variable cell service: Connectivity depends on carrier and specific campground location. "I had no problem with cell service with Verizon, but my husband who has T mobile didn't get reception," reported a visitor at Cowlitz Falls.

Winter restrictions vary by campground: Some campgrounds close completely while others remain open with limited services. "We were in loop D, which was the only open loop along with the cabins (cabins are loop C and attached to loop D)," noted a visitor at Ike Kinswa State Park during off-peak season.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer play equipment for children. A reviewer at Taidnapam Park noted: "Taidnapam is a great place to bring your kids. There are some great spots to camp on both sides. The bathrooms are kept clean and super warm in the winter."

Bike-friendly loops: Several campgrounds feature paved roads for kids to ride. At Alder Lake Park, a visitor observed: "Lots of room for kids to ride bikes. There is almost no privacy though it's really just open fields with tents."

Scavenger hunts: Taidnapam Park offers structured activities for children. "They also have a scavenger hunt of items hidden around the campground that you can do with your kids (or if they are a bit older they can do on their own) and a playground."

Tips from RVers

Site privacy varies significantly: Some campgrounds offer more separation between RV sites than others. "Loop A & D have utilities for camping with the water Spicket and drains in each loop. Nice, clean bathrooms with showers in every loop," reported a visitor to Riffe Lake Campground.

Hookup limitations: Many campgrounds lack full RV services. "I would say the only drawback is that they don't have sewer hook ups. We stayed Friday to Monday trying to be moderately careful filling our tanks and did just fine dumping tanks on our way out," noted a Cowlitz Falls Campground visitor.

Dump station locations: Plan ahead for dumping tanks if staying at parks without full hookups. "The trash compactor is probably a good 1/4 mile down this trail by the dump station," observed a visitor at Ike Kinswa State Park, indicating the walking distance required for services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping options are available in Glenoma, Washington?

Glenoma offers diverse camping experiences, from developed campgrounds to dispersed options. Taidnapam Park provides reservable sites with water and toilet facilities right in Glenoma. Nearby, Silver Springs Campground offers beautiful riverside sites with well-distributed spaces and helpful staff. For those seeking more primitive experiences, the surrounding Gifford Pinchot National Forest has dispersed camping areas. The region also features state park options and national park campgrounds within driving distance, providing everything from basic tent sites to full-service RV accommodations.

What outdoor activities can you do while camping in Glenoma?

The Glenoma area is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Water activities abound at Beaver Bay Campground, which provides easy access to Yale Lake for boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming. Hiking opportunities are exceptional—visit Lower Falls Campground to experience what some consider Washington's best waterfalls, with trails running along the river. Mount Rainier National Park is nearby for spectacular alpine hiking and wildlife viewing. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest offers miles of trails, fishing opportunities, and mountain biking routes. Don't miss exploring Ape Caves for underground adventure. Winter visitors can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing when conditions permit.

What are the best campgrounds near Glenoma for RVs?

Seaquest State Park Campground offers dedicated RV sites with hookups, making it a popular choice for RVers exploring the Mount St. Helens area. While the RV section is arranged in a parking lot style without much privacy, its proximity to the Washington State Visitor Center makes it an excellent base for exploration. Mossyrock Park is another great option for RVs, featuring big-rig-friendly sites with water and toilet facilities. Ike Kinswa State Park also accommodates RVs with drive-in access and necessary amenities. Most RV-friendly campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during peak summer months.