Primitive camping near Camas, Washington offers access to the surrounding Gifford Pinchot National Forest spanning over 1.3 million acres. The region features elevations ranging from 800 to 12,000 feet with volcanic topography and dense evergreen forests. Summer temperatures typically reach 70-80°F during day with nighttime lows in the 40-50°F range, creating significant temperature swings campers should prepare for.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: The area around Panther Creek Creekside Camp provides access to waterfall viewing. "A great spot with privacy! Lots of turnouts along the road with river accesses just steps away! Definitely recommend!" notes Isaac H.
Stargazing opportunities: Open areas provide excellent night sky viewing. At Dispersed Camping above Panther Creek Falls, one camper observed, "It's a wide-open rocky area. Close enough to hear the falls. Super dark at night with plenty of stars."
Swimming spots: Several camping areas feature natural swimming areas in nearby creeks. Ashlyn C. from FR-604 Dispersed Site shares, "If you follow the trail by foot in the back of the forest for maybe 10 minutes you will find a beautiful swimming hole and small waterfalls!"
What campers like
Privacy and seclusion: The dispersed camping options provide separation between campsites. Joe M. from Panther Creek Creekside Camp noted, "There are several sights that get secluded from others with a very short drive off the main road."
Rushing water sounds: Many sites position campers near moving water for ambient noise. Bobby J. mentioned, "This was an awesome stay right on the creek which was secluded and nice to hear the rushing water of the creek."
Digital disconnection: The area offers a true break from technology due to limited connectivity. Alex R. explains, "Not too far from the nearest town but you will feel totally immersed out here. My carrier is Verizon, I didn't have any service whatsoever."
What you should know
Navigation challenges: Some forest roads can be difficult to navigate. Vanessa T. warns about Canyon Creek dispersed camping: "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."
Weather preparedness: Temperature fluctuations can be significant between day and night, requiring appropriate gear.
Insect considerations: Several creekside locations experience seasonal mosquito activity. Joe M. observed at Panther Creek: "Can be buggy had a lot of mosquitos near the river."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose established sites with natural boundaries. At Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed, Jeffrey P. found, "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."
Bathroom accessibility: Some areas provide vault toilets. Johny B. points out, "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."
Safety considerations: Select sites near other campers when traveling solo. Lindsey N. noted, "There is also a nearby paid camp so, if you're a solo traveler, you will feel safe knowing there are other campers nearby."
Tips from RVers
Road condition awareness: Many forest roads present challenges for larger vehicles. Chris J. from Canyon Creek advised, "Like others said road getting in sucks. Site I picked had a trail down to the creek that was nice."
Leveling requirements: Parking areas may not be level for RVs and trailers. Jeffrey P. at White River West Sno-Park found, "This is a large, paved parking lot with a stream nearby. Has a good view of Mt. Hood and vault toilets, so that's a positive. The downside is that it's not level."
Group accommodations: Some sites can accommodate multiple vehicles. Lindsey N. mentioned about FR-604: "It ended up working great for us to have a trailer, 2 cars, several dogs, kids, and an SUV tent."
