With direct access to Big Creek and three hiking trails radiating from the campground, this 29-site Forest Service facility serves as a convenient base for Mount Rainier National Park visitors. Located just outside the park's Nisqually entrance in Snoqualmie National Forest, the campground operates seasonally from mid-May through mid-September at elevations that keep it cooler than lower valley sites.
The campground arranges sites in a loop configuration, with some tucked among second-growth Douglas fir and vine maples while others sit directly along Big Creek. Sites 1-6 offer the closest creek access, and Audrey E. notes that "Site #6 was right on the creek." Several reviewers mention a small swimming hole near the bridge by site 1, providing relief on hot summer days. The terrain varies from forested spots with more privacy to open areas that accommodate RVs up to 20 feet, though the rough access road challenges larger rigs.
Anglers can try their luck in Big Creek, while the three trail system includes one flat 1.8-mile loop around the campground and two uphill routes with mountain views. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the area. The campground provides vault toilets, potable water spigots, picnic tables, and fire rings with grates at each site. Firewood is available for purchase on-site.
Kristyn E. describes it as a "decent, no-frills campground" that works well for Mount Rainier adventures. Reservations are accepted and recommended during peak summer months. The rough access road requires careful navigation but doesn't typically prevent standard passenger vehicles from reaching the campground.
For RV travelers needing full hookups, The Rainier Retreat provides additional amenities less than a mile away.
Description
Overview
Situated in the vicinity of majestic Mount Rainier, Big Creek is a family campground nestled among Douglas firs, hemlock, alders and maples. The lush vegetation offers plenty of privacy between sites. The sites at Big Creek form a loop, with only a handful of sites sitting along the banks of Big Creek. Open from mid-May through late September, Big Creek provides an alternative to the campgrounds at Mount Rainier National Park, which can get very crowded during the summer.
Recreation
Anglers can try their luck at catching brook trout in Big Creek or for those looking to explore the area, the Osborne Mountain Trail starts at the campground. The route is steep, but the scenery is amazing, and the trail can be traversed by foot, horse, mountain bike or dirt bike.
Facilities
The campground requires vehicles to have a relatively tight turning radius. Big Creek can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs, with a maximum vehicle length of 22 feet. Some parking spurs are paved; others are native moss and dirt. Some sites have rocks or heavy vegetation, which may make it difficult to pitch a tent. Drinking water is available, but there are no hot showers available onsite. Vault toilets are provided as well as a fire pit and picnic table at each site.
Natural Features
Located in southwest Washington State, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses over 1.3 million acres and includes the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument established by Congress in 1982. Big Creek is located in the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, the northernmost portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This Ranger District manages four Wilderness Areas including the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Glacier View Wilderness, Tatoosh Wilderness and William O' Douglass Wilderness. The Cowlitz Valley Ranger District is roughly located among three volcanic peaks: Mt. Rainier to the north, Mt. Adams to the east, and Mt. St. Helens to the west, providing visitors with a unique geological landscape.
Contact Info
This location has limited staffing. Please call (360) 686-3008 for general information.
Nearby Attractions
Big Creek is 6 miles from the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The popular Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise is 21 miles away, and the nearby town of Ashford offers restaurants, along with a few art galleries and shops.
Charges & Cancellations
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
Fee Info
Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundBig Creek Campground is located in Washington
Directions
From Ashford, WA, take Forest Road 52 approximately 5 miles to the campground.
Coordinates
46.7352778 N
121.9702778 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 4/14/26
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 4/14/26
AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 4/14/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 4/14/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 4/14/26
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 4/14/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
Drive Time
- 1 hr 17 min from Olympia, WA
- 1 hr 30 min from Bremerton, WA
- 1 hr 33 min from Longview, WA
- 1 hr 34 min from Seattle, WA
