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Established Camping

Peterson Prairie Campground

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

ALERT: STAGE 2 FIRE BAN NOW IN EFFECT! Due to increased risk of wildfires, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire managers have issued restrictions on campfires, smoking, and other activities within the forest. These restrictions will begin July 17, 2025.Restrictions include:

  • Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including a charcoal fire and pellet fire on all National Forest System lands. Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are allowed as they can be switched off instantly.
  • Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
  • Possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device is prohibited year-round on national forest lands.
  • Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order.
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Peterson Prairie Campground, near Carson, Washington, is a charming spot tucked away in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This campground offers spacious sites surrounded by a beautiful forest, making it a great choice for families and groups looking to enjoy the great outdoors.

The campground features picnic tables and metal fire rings, perfect for evening campfires and cooking up some s'mores. Visitors have noted the abundance of wild huckleberries in the area, especially during late summer, which adds a fun foraging element to your stay. Clean pit toilets and drinking water are available, ensuring you have the essentials covered.

For those eager to explore, Peterson Prairie is close to the Guler Ice Caves and offers excellent hiking opportunities. The nearby Lost Creek, although often dry, provides a unique landscape for kids to explore and play. As one camper mentioned, “This would be a great place to visit in the spring when the creek is flowing.”

While the campground can get a bit dusty, especially during dry spells, the friendly atmosphere and the chance to spot deer wandering through the sites make it a memorable experience. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking your RV, Peterson Prairie Campground is a welcoming retreat for anyone looking to escape into nature.

Fee Info

Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00

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Location

Peterson Prairie Campground is located in Washington

Detail location of campground

Directions

From SR 14 follow SR 141 North to the town of Trout Lake, continue through town on SR 141 till the road ends and FS 24 begins(approximately 5 miles WSW of town). Continue west on FS 24 for another 2.25 miles to the entrance of Peterson Prairie.

Address

Gifford Pinchot NF Mt Adams Ranger District
Carson, WA 98610

Coordinates

45.9694444 N
121.6608333 W

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Drive Time

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Connectivity

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    Some Coverage

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Cabins

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


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Reviews

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out of 5

11 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 7, 2025

Beautiful campground!

Great camping place and we have already made reservations for another trip. Camp hosts are very helpful and keep everything nice and clean. Definitely one of the best campgrounds we have been to. We stayed in site 7 with a 23 foot trailer. Although it was big enough, I would not recommend that spot for a trailer. There are many other spots in the campground that are better for trailers

Site7
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 30, 2025

Well Maintained

Overall, wonderful campground. The camp hosts were fantastic, and the grounds and bathrooms were kept extremely clean. We stayed in site #11, which I would ONLY recommend if you are part of a group camping at group site#12. These two sites are way too close for comfort, especially when one is meant for a large group. We walked around the campground and found that most other sites were large and relatively private, so we were just unlucky with our selection. As others have stated, the bees can be pretty aggressive, but we had a canopy with a mesh screen, so we weren't bothered. Plenty of stuff to do in the area...ice caves, natural bridges, lakes for fishing, and just general exploring. We will be back!

SiteSite #11
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Aug. 6, 2020

Dusty but Beautiful

This is a really cool campground with many sites right next to the "creek".  The other sites are facing the woods.  Good sized campsites with plenty of room to spread out.  We booked a double site and we could have set up 6 tents!  This would be a great place to visit in the spring when the creek is flowing.  We visited in August and there was zero water flowing, but the kids enjoyed exploring the creek bed.

Site21
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Jeff K., August 6, 2020
  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Jeff K., August 6, 2020
  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Jeff K., August 6, 2020
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jul. 26, 2020

Beautiful but Dry Dusty Dirt no

Campground is amongst a beautiful forest, lots of shade and whimsy. Campsites are spacious and though close the highway, the noise is hardly noticeable. Downside, the campsite had an unusual amount of thick dirt ground causing an immense about of dust. It was really unpleasant especially with our 4 year old who was kicking it all over the place. Camp host said it was exceptionally dusty due to the creek being dried out. Not really a downside, but be wary of deer crossing the campsites if you have little kids or dogs, they are comfortable with humans. We saw a doe and her fawns and they were beautiful.

  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Annette S., July 26, 2020
  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Annette S., July 26, 2020
  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Annette S., July 26, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Oct. 7, 2019

Campground near Trout Lake/Guler Ice Caves

This campground boarders both sides of the Lost Creek (Dried up most of the time).  The sites are fairly large, but very open with little to no privacy.  I was in spot 10 and the entire spot was open up to the road, which is not my favorite.  Many of the other sites were open due to no small trees/brush.  There was also a very fine dust in the entire spot that can drive certain people nuts, especially ones with small dogs who turn into little clouds of dust!  

There were a couple deer that roamed the campground and wondered in and out of campsites.  I had to shoo away 1 so he wouldn't stomp on my little dog while walking through my site.  It was cool seeing them up close though.  Also it was the start of a very good huckleberry season and the entire campground was full of huckleberry bushes.  I was able to gather several cups just from my camp spot alone.

While this isn't my favorite campsite, it was overall a good campground and if you are in the area I would recommend it.

SiteSpot 10
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Ashley B., October 7, 2019
  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Ashley B., October 7, 2019
  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Ashley B., October 7, 2019
  • (18) View All
Reviewed Jul. 28, 2019

Solid Campground

Good sized spots with plenty of trees, picnic table, and metal fire rings with grill grates. Good feeling of privacy. Lots of wild huckleberries to pick when we visited in late July. Clean pit toilets. Drinking water available. Close to ice cave. Fishing at Goose Lake nearby.

  • Review photo of Peterson Prairie Campground by Steve F., July 28, 2019
Reviewed Jun. 28, 2019

Dried up Creek

This park has several double sites which gives lots of space. They also had a group site. The park was clean and typical but the creek was dryed up :(

Reviewed Apr. 16, 2019

Very nice campground

Had a great (very cold) time at this campground! Went in May and it was very quiet here. Had the campground almost to ourselves. The spots were big and mostly spread out. It is close to hiking spots and the cute little town of Troutdale.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Jul. 30, 2018

Quiet, dusty little gem

We reserved a multi-family (not group) site #14 for the weekend. There was ample parking for everyone. The hosts were super friendly and helpful. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked (hand sanitizer!). Site was large and clean with garbage can in the parking area, designated water spicket, mostly shaded during the day. Privacy was created by parking vehicles strategically. Deer came through our site regularly during the day. Nice breeze kept the temps down. Lots to do nearby. Our site was very dusty, but it's also been a dry summer.

Site14
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2017

Good place to get away

Campground was nice bathrooms weren't super clean but man is the area gorgeous! Its fairly remote so no cell service which i count as a plus. The camp sutes are on a big loop and have a decent amount of privacy exceot for the larger group sites just due to the size of the sites ...all in all it was a great week the rates weren't bad and the host was friendly

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2016

Lovely forest campground

Close to the incredible Guler Ice Caves. Simple campground in the national forest and not far from town. Excellent hiking nearby. Very private good-sized campsites, some close to a small creek. Campground has a few pit toilets, water provided, quite buggy (it’s the PNW, it’s always buggy). Our neighbors were serious mushroom hunters and they were kind enough to share a few---amazing and very memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Peterson Prairie Campground look like in photos?

Peterson Prairie Campground showcases a picturesque forest setting with plenty of shade trees and a whimsical woodland atmosphere. Photos typically highlight spacious campsites nestled among tall trees, metal fire rings with grill grates, and picnic tables at each site. Some sites border Lost Creek, though it's often dry depending on the season. The campground features a natural dirt ground surface and is surrounded by beautiful forest scenery, with wild huckleberries visible in summer months.

What are visitors saying in Peterson Prairie Campground reviews?

Visitors consistently praise Peterson Prairie Campground for its spacious sites, friendly camp hosts, and excellent maintenance. Many appreciate the good-sized campsites that offer a decent amount of privacy, especially in the double sites which provide ample room for multiple tents. Campers highlight the clean pit toilets with hand sanitizer and well-maintained grounds. The proximity to attractions like Guler Ice Caves, hiking trails, and Goose Lake for fishing is frequently mentioned as a major plus. Some note challenges with dust on the dirt ground and occasional creek dryness, but overall satisfaction remains high.

Where can I find a map of Peterson Prairie Campground?

Maps of Peterson Prairie Campground are available through the US Forest Service website or at the ranger station that manages the area. The campground features a loop design with numbered sites, including standard, double, and group options. Site #14 is a multi-family site with ample parking, while sites #11 and #12 are positioned close together. For detailed site layouts and campground facilities, check the official Forest Service recreation website or contact the ranger district office directly for the most current maps.

What cabin options are available at Peterson Prairie?

Peterson Prairie does not offer cabin accommodations. The campground provides traditional campsites for tents and some spaces suitable for trailers (site #7 can accommodate up to a 23-foot trailer, though it's somewhat tight). For those seeking cabin options, check other nearby forest service or private facilities in the greater Troutdale area. Peterson Prairie is primarily designed for tent camping with sites featuring picnic tables and fire rings with grill grates.

Where is Peterson Prairie Campground located in Washington?

Peterson Prairie Campground is located in southern Washington near the small town of Troutdale. It sits within a national forest setting, close to Guler Ice Caves and Goose Lake. While not far from town amenities, the campground maintains a remote forest feel with no cell service. The campground is situated alongside Lost Creek and provides convenient access to numerous hiking opportunities in the surrounding area.