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Best Dispersed Camping near White Salmon, WA

116 Reviews

Dispersed camping areas near White Salmon, Washington are primarily located within Gifford Pinchot National Forest, with several primitive sites established along forest service roads and near natural features. Popular areas include the dispersed sites above Panther Creek Falls, along NF-65, and near Little Soda Springs Road. Most sites require no reservations or fees, though some locations like Panther Creek Creekside Camp may require permits. These primitive camping zones offer varying levels of seclusion, from roadside pull-offs to more remote locations accessible by short hikes.

Access roads to these boondocking sites typically consist of unpaved forest roads with varying conditions. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for reaching more remote camping areas, particularly after rain or during shoulder seasons. Most dispersed sites lack amenities such as drinking water, toilets, or trash service. Fire restrictions may apply seasonally, especially during summer months. Camping duration is typically limited to 14 days within a 30-day period on national forest land. Cell service is limited or non-existent in many areas, with several reviews noting complete lack of coverage at sites like Panther Creek.

The area's dispersed camping experience is characterized by proximity to natural features, particularly waterways and mountain views. Campsites near Panther Creek Falls provide easy access to the waterfall trail while offering a secluded forest setting. The dispersed camping above Panther Creek Falls provides unique elevated perspectives. A camper noted, "This area of Gifford Pinchot National Forest has lots of dispersed camping spots but this area was a gem." Sites along creeks and rivers are particularly valued, with one visitor commenting, "Always love spots by the river. There are several sights that get secluded from others with a very short drive off the main road." Wildlife viewing opportunities and dark night skies are additional highlights for backcountry campers in this region.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near White Salmon, Washington (56)

    1. Panther Creek Creekside Camp

    5 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    20 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!!"

    2. Avery Rec Area- Columbia River Gorge

    10 Reviews
    Wishram, WA
    22 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."

    3. Dog Creek Falls Camp

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

    4. Dispersed Camping above Panther Creek Falls

    4 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    19 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."

    5. Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed

    14 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    26 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."

    6. Top ‘O the Mountain

    2 Reviews
    Cascade Locks, OR
    17 miles

    7. Big Huckleberry Mountain Dispersed Campground

    1 Review
    Carson, WA
    16 miles
    Website

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

    8. Forest Rd 2730 - Mt Hood NF

    5 Reviews
    Government Camp, OR
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 668-1700

    "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."

    "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."

    9. White River West Sno-Park

    13 Reviews
    Government Camp, OR
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 668-1700

    "Incredible access to back country hiking at Mt. Hood!"

    "Tucked our trailers up in the far corner with a commanding view of Mt. Hood!  Well, not much view the first smokey day, but it cleared up nicely after a wind shift the following day. "

    10. NF-65 National Forest Dispersed Site

    2 Reviews
    Carson, WA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 891-5000
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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near White Salmon, WA

76 Photos of 56 White Salmon Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near White Salmon, WA

116 Reviews of 56 White Salmon 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 White Salmon

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near White Salmon, Washington, where nature meets tranquility. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, this area is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Scenic Views and Relaxation while Free Camping near White Salmon

Top Attractions for Dispersed Campers

Dispersed Campers Should Check Out the Avery Rec Area

  • The Avery Rec Area- Columbia River Gorge is a popular spot for those who enjoy fishing and swimming, with easy access to the Columbia River.
  • This area allows campfires, making it an ideal location for evening gatherings and storytelling under the stars.
  • With no permits required and free camping, the Avery Rec Area is a fantastic choice for spontaneous trips and outdoor adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What permits or regulations are required for dispersed camping in White Salmon?

Dispersed camping in national forests near White Salmon typically requires a Northwest Forest Pass for parking at most trailheads, though not for camping itself. When camping at sites like Forest Rd 2730 - Mt Hood NF, you must follow Leave No Trace principles and pack out all trash. Most areas restrict camping to existing sites with established fire rings. Camping is generally limited to 14 days within a 30-day period. During fire season (typically summer through early fall), fire restrictions may be in effect, potentially banning all open flames. Always check with the local ranger district office before your trip for current regulations, as rules can change seasonally.

What amenities or facilities are available at dispersed camping sites near White Salmon?

Dispersed camping sites near White Salmon are primitive with minimal to no amenities. At Trillium Lake Airstrip Dispersed, you'll find dry camping with no amenities—you must pack in water and pack out all waste. Similarly, Bonney Meadows offers six primitive sites with no running water or toilets. Most dispersed sites feature established fire rings, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. There are no trash services, dump stations, or hookups for RVs. Cell service is typically limited or nonexistent. Plan to be completely self-sufficient with your own water, toilet supplies, and waste disposal solutions. Some areas may have nearby creeks for water, but all water must be properly filtered or treated.

Where can I find dispersed camping near White Salmon, Washington?

Dispersed camping options near White Salmon include Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping, which is accessible from Hood River though navigation can be challenging on forest service roads. Little Soda Springs Rd Dispersed offers multiple sites with creek access and is another excellent option in the area. You'll also find dispersed camping opportunities along various forest roads in Mount Hood National Forest to the south and throughout Gifford Pinchot National Forest to the north. Make sure you have adequate fuel when exploring these areas, as some forest roads can be remote with limited services. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing many of these dispersed sites.

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