Sitting at the end of Carbon River Road inside Mount Rainier National Park, Ipsut Creek Backcountry Campground has been walk-in and bike-in only since the road washed out years ago. That means reaching camp requires a roughly 5-mile trip on foot or by bicycle from the trailhead, following a route that runs alongside the Carbon River and gains elevation gradually. No cars. No drive-up access. The approach filters out a significant share of casual visitors, though the campground can still fill during summer weekends.
The camp itself is sizable, with multiple tent sites, picnic tables, and bear boxes spread among trees that also work well for hammock setups. Two pit toilets are on-site; Shaelyn B. sums them up as "vaulted toilets, that were actually clean but still smelt." There is no treated water source at the campground. Campers need to bring a filter and collect water from the creek near the wooden bridge at the camp entrance. A wilderness permit is required before heading in.
Crowds concentrate here primarily because of access to tent camping sites near Mount Rainier National Park, and reviewers consistently note the campground reaches capacity on summer nights. Arriving early matters, as does planning around the permit system. Reservations are available. The campground operates year-round, though conditions on the approach trail vary considerably in winter and early spring.
Campers wanting a different setup with drive-in access can look at Carbon River Camp or Cataract Valley Backcountry Campsites a few miles to the south.
Description
Tents only. Backcountry camping permits are available from the Carbon River Ranger Station (360) 829-9639.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsIpsut Creek Backcountry Campground is located in Washington near Mount Rainier National Park
Coordinates
46.97800095 N
121.83 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Reservable
- Toilets
Drive Time
- 1 hr 27 min from Seattle, WA
- 1 hr 29 min from Olympia, WA
- 1 hr 35 min from Bremerton, WA
- 3 hrs 16 min from Yakima, WA























