Best Dispersed Camping near Underwood, WA

Dispersed camping near Underwood, Washington concentrates in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, with several primitive sites located along forest service roads and creek areas. The region includes free camping options above Panther Creek Falls, along Little Soda Springs Road, and near Dog Creek Falls, all requiring Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass. These off-grid campsites typically feature established fire rings but no developed facilities, following standard Forest Service regulations for primitive camping.

Access to many dispersed sites requires careful navigation on forest roads that vary significantly in condition. The road to Panther Creek Falls dispersed area branches off NF-65 just before the falls parking area, leading to three distinct camping zones on the ridge above. Little Soda Springs Road dispersed camping provides creek access but demands high-clearance vehicles in some sections. Several sites have no cell service, making offline maps essential for navigation. Forest Service personnel regularly patrol these areas to check permits and enforce the typical 14-day camping limit.

These primitive camping areas provide solitude with varying levels of accessibility. The Panther Creek Falls dispersed area offers stargazing opportunities from a large open ridge where "the stars were amazing" and campers can "hear the noise of the waterfall from up on the ridge." Little Soda Springs Road camping features multiple established sites with creek access, where visitors note "very little traffic" and that "the river drowns out most noise." According to one visitor, "Forest service does drive through there frequently to check" permits, while another mentioned that "there are about three sites" with some requiring a "short hike down to the creek."

Best Dispersed Sites Near Underwood, Washington (55)

    1. Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed

    16 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    24 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."

    2. Panther Creek Creekside Camp

    5 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    18 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!!"

    3. Dispersed Camping above Panther Creek Falls

    4 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 395-3400

    "This area of Gifford Pinchot National Forest has lots of dispersed camping spots but this area was a gem."

    "We stayed in the large open area at the top of the rock outcrop above the trailhead parking area and it was perfect."

    4. Dog Creek Falls Camp

    1 Review
    Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, OR
    7 miles

    5. Top ‘O the Mountain

    2 Reviews
    Cascade Locks, OR
    16 miles

    6. Big Huckleberry Mountain Dispersed Campground

    1 Review
    Carson, WA
    15 miles
    Website

    "We met some PCT hikers along the way; some were heading towards the Crest Camp Trailhead."

    7. Avery Rec Area- Columbia River Gorge

    10 Reviews
    Wishram, WA
    24 miles
    Website

    "There’s a pit toilet, and a garbage dumpster on-site. Over half the “sites” are right on the water, while the others are less than 50 feet away."

    "This is Army Corps of Engineers recreation site with dispersed camping, vault toilets and a boat ramp. First come first served, $0 and you can stay up to seven days."

    9. Blue Lake Road by Bridge of the Gods

    4 Reviews
    Stevenson, WA
    20 miles

    "I only spent a night since it was close to a hike I was doing in the morning, but it was a solid spot. A bunch of spots in the woods, lots seem to have privacy."

    10. Snag Creek Trailhead Dispersed

    6 Reviews
    Stevenson, WA
    24 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)."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Underwood, WA

116 Reviews of 55 Underwood Campgrounds


  • bThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 29, 2025

    Trillium Lake Airstrip Dispersed

    Win for Memorial Day weekend!

    Surprised we were able to snag a spot here on Memorial Day weekend! Drove in Sunday evening. Quite a few dispersed spots, kinda close to one another- everyone was respectful. The road behind this gets a great view of Mt. Hood!!

    No amenities. Dry camping!

    PACK IT OUT

  • Mark F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2021

    Historic Clackamas Ranger Station - Dispersed Camping - Roadside

    Convenient, free roadside site near trails, lakes, & meadow in Mt Hood NF

    I was running in an ultramarathon race in September in the Mt Hood National Forest and all of the local campgrounds managed by PGE around Timothy Lake were closed due to the end of the season.  I was able to use map layers in The Dyrt PRO to identify where I was within National Forest boundaries and was able to confirm with local officials that I was in a free, dispersed camping zone. So, using the map layers and the search function on The Dyrt I looked for an area near the race start at the Historic Clackamas Ranger Station to park my RV for a 2 night off-grid stay.  The location was a wide gravel area on the side of the road that allowed for enough space to park, put out my awning, set up some chairs and a propane fire pit (no live campfires - propane only) while being within a few hundred yards of the Ranger Station.  There was room to walk along the road on the shoulder and you are very close walk to the Historic Clackamas Ranger Cabin with a beautiful meadow view, the Joe Graham Horse Camp, and just a couple of mile drive from Timothy Lake.  Clackamas Lake Campground was nearby as well with many accessible miles of hikable trails, including access to the Pacific Crest Trail, for hikers of all levels. There was some smoke from local wildfires but that went away as the fall rains arrived that weekend.  If you are looking for a place to park your RV near all of these amazing views and experiences this free, dispersed camping site worked great for me and my family for a couple of nights.

  • 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."

  • Jason B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2024

    Forest Rd 2730 - Mt Hood NF

    Great/Quiet Spot

    Took a while to discover this spot, but clearly seems well used for dispersed camping. I parked nearest the access road, as my van would have hit trees to go a little further in. For smaller vehicles (e.g. roof top tents), you can get in a little further and off the access road. There was actually someone else back there, and we can't hear nor see each other.

  • 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

  • Brendan R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 11, 2025

    Forest Rd 2730 - Mt Hood NF

    Great Area to Camp and Relax!

    There are several places along FR 2730 where you can pull off and camp. The road was very accessible, high clearance not required. We found a large pull off with several established fire pits. It's absolutely perfect for a group campsite. I imagine it will be a busier spot in the summer, but we couldn't find a single other person within miles of us in early May. To get up to the group camp site, you may need higher clearance (most SUVs should be fine) and 4wd/AWD, as there is a short rocky section that might cause some issues for FWD/RWD.

    Got a little chilly at night with winds whipping down through the area we were in, but overall very peaceful. You can see Mt Hood from the campsite through the trees, albeit it is decently far away and is subject to the visibility at the time you visit. We were able to see Mt Hood just before sunset, but couldn't see her at all the following morning.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Kevin L.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Aug. 9, 2020

    Kevin's Mt Hood OG

    Dispersed Camping - Get away from it all

    This is a dispersed camping spot in the Mt.Hood National Forest that is free --- from both campground payment and people. It's an old forest road off the main gravel road that has been blockaded and closed down, giving you a wide open area that gets sun, mixed with good tree coverage from the wind. 

    The spot is flat and great for an RV, van or trailer. It's just a 100 meters off the main gravel road where the old forest road is dug out/blockaded from cars getting through. 

    We parked and camped right there. Or, if you want even more solitude, park at the blockade and walk 3/4 of a mile to the end of the forest road strip for some tent camping. Not sure if that is needed as I think we only heard/saw a few car drive by the entire time (on a beautiful August weekend). 

    Love this place. Happy to share it with others. If you are looking for some dispersed camping in the summer that's not a far drive from Portland, this spot is for you. If it's full, there are a half dozen to a dozen other dispersed camping spots along this gravel road between Frog Lake Campground and Clear Creek Crossing Campground. Enjoy.


Guide to Underwood

Primitive camping near Underwood, Washington extends across the western portion of Gifford Pinchot National Forest, where elevations range from 1,200 to 4,000 feet and summer temperatures typically fluctuate between 50-85°F. This region receives approximately 70 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush forest conditions and numerous small creeks throughout the dispersed camping areas. Most primitive sites require Northwest Forest Pass ($5 daily or $30 annual) displayed on vehicles.

What to do

Waterfall exploring: 1-2 miles round trip. At Panther Creek Creekside Camp, you can explore multiple water features within a short distance. One camper noted: "Not too far from the nearest town but you will feel totally immersed out here. Ice cold creek, towering trees. Seemed to be lots of sites off the road to pick from."

Mountain hiking: 4-8 miles. The area near Big Huckleberry Mountain Dispersed Campground offers hiking trails with elevation gains of 1,500-2,500 feet. A reviewer mentioned: "We met some PCT hikers along the way; some were heading towards the Crest Camp Trailhead... Bring your trowel and TP to stay at these dispersed sites."

Riverside relaxation: 0 miles. Primitive sites along Trapper Creek allow direct water access for cooling off during hot summer days. A camper at Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed shared: "A couple spots right off the road for car camping or small campers... 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."

What campers like

Isolation without remoteness: 30 minutes from towns. Many campers appreciate the balance of wilderness with reasonable proximity to services. A Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed camper noted: "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."

Nighttime experiences: clear skies. The distance from urban areas creates exceptional stargazing opportunities at Top 'O the Mountain primitive sites. One camper simply stated: "At the top of a mountain with gorgeous views of Mt. Hood and all the other mountains and valleys below."

Wildlife encounters: dawn/dusk best viewing. The forest setting provides opportunities to observe native species. At Panther Creek Creekside Camp, a camper observed: "This was an awesome stay right on the creek which was secluded and nice to hear the rushing water of the creek."

What you should know

Permit requirements: strictly enforced. Rangers regularly check Northwest Forest or America the Beautiful passes at all primitive camping locations. One camper at Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed confirmed: "Forest service does drive through there frequently to check."

Road conditions: variable by season. Forest Service roads deteriorate rapidly after rainfall, with potholes and washboards common. A camper at NF-65 National Forest Dispersed Site warned: "Plenty of spots available. At the bottom of road coming from Carson often crowded, but if you go further you are bound to find something."

Cell service: inconsistent coverage. Most primitive camping areas have no reliable signal. A Panther Creek Creekside camper confirmed: "My carrier is Verizon, I didn't have any service whatsoever. Ice cold creek, towering trees."

Noise factors: consider location carefully. While most forest sites are quiet, some areas experience unexpected noise. At Avery Rec Area, campers noted: "You don't just have trains passing, you have them blowing their horn multiple times a night, and they are close enough you can feel their vibration."

Tips for camping with families

Water safety: supervise creek access. Streams run cold and can have strong currents after rainfall. At Avery Rec Area, a camper shared: "We had a great spot on the River with beautiful views of Mt. Hood and the Gorge. Great little swimming spot steps from our spot."

Site selection: find flat areas. Most primitive sites have limited leveled tent spaces. At Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed, a camper mentioned: "This location has 2-3 free sites you can drive in and, 2 more walk-in sites near the bridge. It was so nice on a super hot day and there is a nearby latrine at the trailhead!"

Safety planning: download maps. No cell service means preparations matter. A reviewer advised: "Absolutely no cell service. You must have a Northwest Forest pass or America the beautiful pass."

Tips from RVers

Length limitations: under 24 feet recommended. Most forest roads have tight turns and limited pull-through spaces. At Blue Lake Road by Bridge of the Gods, one camper warned: "The drive on the road is pretty steep for a moment, but my vehicle did just fine!"

Leveling challenges: bring blocks. Primitive sites rarely offer level parking. A camper at Avery Rec Area noted: "Nice small first come first service sites along the Columbia and free. We had a great spot on the River with beautiful views of Mt. Hood and the Gorge."

Supply planning: no services for 20+ miles. RVers must arrive with all necessary water, power, and supplies. A Little Soda Springs Rd camper advised: "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."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Underwood, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Underwood, WA is Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Underwood, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 55 dispersed camping locations near Underwood, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.