Paradise Creek Campground, near Carson, Washington, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. Set within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, this campground boasts large, shaded sites surrounded by breathtaking old-growth trees and the soothing sounds of nearby creeks.

Campers appreciate the spaciousness of the sites, which come equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for evening gatherings. The campground offers basic amenities like pit toilets and potable water, ensuring a comfortable stay without the frills. As one visitor noted, “The sites are large and include a nice level tent spot,” making it ideal for both tent and RV camping.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Paradise Creek serves as a great base for exploring the surrounding wilderness, including the Trapper Creek Wilderness. Hikers can enjoy nearby trails, such as the Observation Peak hike, which offers stunning views and a chance to connect with the area's natural beauty. Visitors have remarked on the peaceful atmosphere, with one camper describing it as “quiet and secluded,” making it a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 

While some campers have mentioned that the bathrooms could use a little more attention, the overall maintenance of the campground has received positive feedback. With its beautiful scenery and ample opportunities for adventure, Paradise Creek Campground is a solid choice for your next outdoor getaway.

## Overview

 Paradise Creek sits at the confluence of Paradise Creek and the Wind River, nestled under an old-growth forest of cedars, firs, alder and maples. The sites by the river enjoy privacy from an abundance of lush undergrowth, while the other sites have a more open and spacious feel. The campground's remote location is ideal for campers seeking a quiet and relaxed environment. 
## Recreation

 The Wind River provides excellent fishing, with a population of steelhead and Chinook salmon. Check state regulations for open season and boundries. Wading is permitted in Paradise Creek. Fishing is not permitted in the campground. Seasonal berry picking is a popular pastime and for visitors interested in hiking, there is access to the Lava Butte Trail 200 from the campground. 
## Natural Features

 Located in southwest Washington State, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses 1.3 million acres and includes the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument established by Congress in 1982. Paradise Creek Campground is located in the Mt. Adams Ranger District. Elevations here range between 1,200 feet at the Wind River Work Center, 12 miles north of Carson, WA and 12,276 feet at the summit of Mt. Adams. The Mount Adams Ranger District offers a large variety of habitats and natural features, from old growth to second growth forest, wetland areas, low and high elevation meadows, glaciers, and low and high elevation lakes. 
## Contact Info

 This location has limited staffing. Please call (360) 729-0018 for general information. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Paradise Creek is an ideal base for exploring the different viewpoints around Mount St. Helens and Mt Adams. The nearest town is Carson, WA. 
## 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.

Paradise Creek Campground

Join the fun near Carson. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Carson is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Carson

The Best Camping Near Carson, Washington

Paradise Creek is a forested campground next to 2 rivers. There is ample shade and vegetation between sites, and over all excellent maintenance and design. The rivers have massive cobbled beds but water flow was low, so we were able to explore the river quite a bit! And it provided good noise for the sites that border it. It felt like a quiet, secluded getaway.  

We stayed in site 22, and had a great stay next to the river bank. The sites not bordering the river, on the outer loop, are big and backed up into the forest. There is an inner loop and those sites seemed a bit more crowded. Sites 14D, 10, and 11 are very up close to each other and could be great if you had a big party! The worst sites seemed to be 1-3 and 17. Crowded, near the road (1-3), or very small (17).  All the sites have designated tent pads, but most sites have room for 1 or 2 other tents. All sites are back-in only. 

The weekend we were there was very rainy and cloudy. We never saw the sun. So everything was damp and chilly- we brought lots of tarps. Even though the weather didn't help, the level of mossage throughout the campground suggested it never really dries out... So I would be prepared for moisture, even in July. 

I recommend this place! The hosts were SO friendly, it was well maintained, and the wood for sale was generous bundles. We loved it.

Quiet Trip

1.  Couldn't be happier with the host. Extremely friendly, helpful, and informed. All sites have ample shade and moderate to limited privacy. The creeks in July didn't have much room for swimming however, there was plenty of water to cool off. Expect noisy kids on bikes throughout the campsite. Quiet curfew starts at 10 p.m. There are two pumps for potable water but only one was working. The pit toilets are well maintained however they are a bit dated. Firewood is available for six dollars a bundle. I highly recommend making a reservation for the outer loop (closest to the streams). Overall a beautiful campground!

Reservation Recommended 

The bathrooms can get stinky, so try not to be too close to them! The wind river becomes more like a creek, so no need for a fishing license! The campsites have lots of room, great picnic tables and great fire pits!

Beautiful trees! Well maintained campsites!

5-27-19

This campground is a great base for exploring the Gifford Pinchot Forest and Trapper Creek Wilderness in WA. About 90 minutes from Portland, it's in an easy to get to location, and Trapper Creek has a great 15 mile loop trail that's included in the 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Portland book. It's also great for some other non-maintained Mazama trails for the not-so-faint-at-heart hikers. 

  

The campground at Paradise Creek is well maintained, with decent sized sites including some double sites, and plenty of trees for hammocking. It feels like you're camping in the forest with all the growth around you.

  

Sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Bathrooms, water points, and trash and recycling facilities are basic, but clean.

Great Base for Trapper Creek Wilderness

This very quiet and peaceful campground is located in a beautiful old growth forest.  The sites are large and include a nice level tent spot.  Pump water, pit toilets, and firewood are available.

Old Growth Forest

Loved our site and all the sites are large. The old growth trees are breathtaking and the creek is accessible in many areas. We hiked the nearby Observation Peak which was amazing and Falls Creek as well which is beautiful. Will be back for sure!

Amazing trees and big sites

HooDoo used to manage this campground &amp; they did a fantastic job. It was our favorite campground for over 20 years. 

  

Until this past week, clearly new management. We drove in &amp; no host. We found a site that didn't appear to have a reservation &amp; proceeded to pay via the drop box. Within 20 minutes a group showed up that showed us they had reserved online so we moved to another spot. The "reserved" &amp; the walk in sites don't match up with what is on the website. Most of their sites in person are "reserved" but says FF on the site (first come first serve). It made it very hard to find a site &amp; yet there were only a handful of campers there - so many of those "reserved" were empty &amp; never were used the entire time we were there. It was really confusing. We spoke to another camper who had a similar experience. Only the doubles &amp; one or two singles were available. 

  

When we drive nearly 2 hours, we need to know we can find a spot &amp; this was on a Tuesday.

  

Aside from that, some of the bathrooms were a disaster. There is no maintenance. &amp; I would hate to have a problem with another camper - we camp in campgrounds for that added support. At this point we were just very lucky that everyone was nice. The sign said if we needed assistance to call a number &amp; there is no cell service within 20 min of here.  Bad news, we may never go back.

Photos of Paradise Creek Campground

Real photos from real campers