Best Dispersed Camping near Kalama, WA
The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Kalama. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Kalama. Discover great camping spots near Kalama, reviewed by campers like you.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Kalama, Washington (32)
1. Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight
8 ReviewsClatskanie, OR16 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."
2. Gee Creek Rest Area I-5
1 ReviewRidgefield, WA17 miles3. Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping
8 ReviewsCougar, WA31 milesWebsite+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."
4. Mount St. Helens Dispersed Camping
10 ReviewsCougar, WA36 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."
5. Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed
13 ReviewsCarson, WA42 milesWebsite+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."
6. Butte Camp/Climbers Bivouac Dispersed Campsite
2 ReviewsCougar, WA31 milesWebsite"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."
7. Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping
15 ReviewsTillamook State Forest, OR45 milesWebsite+1 (503) 357-2191"Accessible through the Jones Creek campground turn off, continue up the forest roads past the OHV staging area and you’re in paradise!"
"My mistake, these coordinates took us to the top of the mountain. It is currently an active logging area, so the truckers are out at 3am. The road up was a very narrow road."
8. McBride Lake NF-81 Dispersed
1 ReviewCougar, WA29 miles"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. "
9. Pumice Butte- Dispersed Campsite
2 ReviewsCougar, WA32 miles"Pumice Butte is a dispersed camping area along the Loowit trail that circles Mt St Helens."
"The camp is around a gully on the north side of Pumice Butte with outstanding views of Mt St Helens and Mt Adams."
10. Tillamook Forest Dispersed - Shots and Pecks
2 ReviewsTimber, OR31 milesWebsite+1 (503) 842-2545
Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Kalama, WA
62 Photos of 32 Kalama Campgrounds
John P.
Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight
Starseed P.
Butte Camp/Climbers Bivouac Dispersed Campsite
Chris J.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping
Patsy P.
Mount St. Helens Dispersed Camping
Eric H.
Dome Camp
Kelsie L.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Dispersed Site
Jeffrey P.
Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed
Raphaela H.
Snag Creek Trailhead Dispersed
Ashlyn C.
FR-604 Dispersed Site
Todd J.
Oldman Pass Sno-Park
Casey B.
Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping
Hannah H.
Cole Mt Ridge
Dispersed Camping Reviews near Kalama, WA
74 Reviews of 32 Kalama Campgrounds
- D
Devin F.
TravelerTillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping
Perfect for Overland and off-road vehicle camping
Accessible through the Jones Creek campground turn off, continue up the forest roads past the OHV staging area and you’re in paradise! Gorgeous spots all over that are accessible in most 4WD/off-road capable vehicles. There is a massive network of forest service roads many with spots to set up your own quiet camp away from all the dirt bikes and RVs. No facilities obviously but that’s what makes this place special. It’s incredibly quiet and peaceful and a gorgeous piece of the PNW coastal area.
- bbrendan
RangerTillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping
GPS takes you to the top!
My mistake, these coordinates took us to the top of the mountain. It is currently an active logging area, so the truckers are out at 3am. The road up was a very narrow road. So careful if there’s other cars coming through, especially the logging semis.
Nonetheless a cool spot. Dry camping. Please clean up after yourselves.
Kevin W.
GuideMcBride 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.GuideGifford 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.Guide
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
- JJaden J.Guide
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.
ScoutLittle 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.
LegendMount 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.ScoutLittle 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?
Guide to Kalama
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Kalama, Washington, where nature meets tranquility. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to unwind and explore.
Stunning Waterfalls for Dispersed Campers
- The Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight is a great choice for those looking to enjoy a picturesque waterfall just a short hike away from your vehicle.
- Campers can enjoy the spacious pull-off area, which allows for easy car camping while providing a sense of seclusion in the woods.
- Be prepared for a bit of noise from passing vehicles, but the stunning scenery makes it worth the visit.
Tips for Free and Dispersed Camping Near Kalama, Washington
- When visiting the Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping, be ready for a rough gravel road that leads to beautiful, flat tent pads.
- It's advisable to visit during weekdays to avoid the crowds, as this area can get busy with foot traffic and fishermen on weekends.
- Keep in mind that there are no amenities, so plan to bring your own supplies and pack out any trash you generate.
Exploring Nature While Free Camping Near Kalama
- The Mount St. Helens Dispersed Camping area offers a primitive experience with plenty of spots to choose from, perfect for those seeking solitude and natural beauty.
- Expect a rugged drive to reach your site, but the reward is a peaceful environment away from the hustle and bustle of more developed areas.
- This location is ideal for hiking enthusiasts, as it provides access to trails that showcase the stunning landscapes of the Mount St. Helens region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there free dispersed camping available year-round in Kalama?
Is there free dispersed camping available year-round in Kalama?
Free dispersed camping is generally available year-round in the Kalama area, though seasonal conditions affect accessibility. Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping offers free sites accessible through Jones Creek, though winter snow and rain can make forest roads challenging without 4WD vehicles. Cole Mt Ridge provides free dispersed options, but higher elevation sites may be inaccessible during winter months. Weather is the main limiting factor rather than regulations - spring brings muddy conditions, while summer and fall typically offer the best access. Always check road conditions before heading out, especially during winter and early spring.
Where is dispersed camping allowed in Kalama?
Where is dispersed camping allowed in Kalama?
Dispersed camping is allowed in several areas around Kalama. Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping offers dispersed sites, though be cautious with navigation as forest service roads can be confusing. Mount St. Helens Dispersed Camping on the south side of the mountain provides numerous free sites with established fire pits. Other options include forest service roads throughout the region, particularly in national forest lands surrounding Kalama. Look for pullouts with existing fire rings, which indicate established dispersed sites.
What are the regulations for dispersed camping in Kalama?
What are the regulations for dispersed camping in Kalama?
When dispersed camping around Kalama, stay at established sites with existing fire rings. At Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed, Forest Service regularly patrols the area. McBride Lake NF-81 Dispersed and similar sites follow standard dispersed camping rules: pack out all trash, use existing fire pits only, and stay no longer than 14 days in a 30-day period. No facilities means practicing Leave No Trace principles is essential - bury human waste at least 6 inches deep and 200 feet from water sources. Check for seasonal fire restrictions before your trip, as they change frequently in this region.
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