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Established Camping

Walupt Lake Campground

Walupt Lake Campground, near Randle, Washington, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. With its beautiful lakeside setting, visitors can enjoy easy access to the water, making it perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, or just lounging by the shore.

The campground is surrounded by tall shade trees, providing a nice sense of privacy at each site. Many campers have praised the clean facilities, including vault toilets, and the overall spaciousness of the sites. One visitor noted, “Sites were super shaded. Lots of trees for some privacy,” which adds to the serene atmosphere.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Walupt Lake is a gateway to numerous hiking trails, including those leading to the stunning Goat Rocks Wilderness. Reviewers have highlighted the nearby trails, with one stating, “There were lots of smaller trails that went down to the lake,” making it easy to explore the area.

While the road to the campground is mostly gravel and can be a bit bumpy, the journey is worth it for the breathtaking views and peaceful surroundings. Just remember to pack some bug spray, especially in the warmer months, as the mosquitoes can be quite persistent. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, Walupt Lake Campground offers a beautiful escape into the heart of the Pacific Northwest.

Description

National Forest

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Overview

Walupt Lake Campground offers scenic views of Mt. Adams and the surrounding forest on the west end of Walupt Lake. The sites here provide plenty of privacy and ample shade form the surrounding hemlock, cedar and fir trees. Walupt Lake Campground is a great choice for visitors looking to fish, swim, boat or explore the numerous hiking, biking and horseback riding trails in the area.

Recreation

Anglers can fish for brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout in Walupt Lake. Swimming and the use of motorized and non-motorized boats is also permitted. Numerous trailheads can be accessed from this campground. Walupt Lake Trail, Nannie Ridge Trail and Coleman Weedpatch Trail are popular hiking and equestrian trails.

Natural Features

Walupt Lake spans 384 acres and is the second largest lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The clear mountain waters are popular with anglers who come here to cast for Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout. This campground is surrounded by the Goat Rocks Wilderness, named for the rugged peaks where numerous mountain goats are found. Scattered throughout the area are alpine meadows, lakes and ponds.

Nearby Attractions

Walupt Lake's location between Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier and Mount St. Helens makes it possible to explore any of these areas on a day trip.

Contact Info

This location has limited staffing. Please call (360) 686-3008 for general information.

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

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Location

Walupt Lake Campground is located in Washington

Detail location of campground

Directions

Take I-5 to Highway 12 towards Packwood, then take Highway 21 to FS Road 2160 to the campground.

Address

Gifford Pinchot NF Cowlitz Valley Ranger District
Randle, WA 98377

Coordinates

46.4230556 N
121.4736111 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Available
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Tent Cabin
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

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

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

11 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 29, 2024

Beautiful and serene

Sites were super shaded. Lots of trees for some privacy. Easy lake access close by. Only complaint is that it’s deeep in the woods and took a while on a gravel road to get there but that’s not a real problem is it. Lots of mosquitoes in July so bring your bug spray. Toilets are vault toilets I’d bring extra TP just in case. And bring your paddle board or kayak!

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Jenna B., July 29, 2024
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Jenna B., July 29, 2024
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Jenna B., July 29, 2024
Reviewed Sep. 16, 2020

Quiet lake side campground

Clean, spacious campground right on the lake. 21 miles up a forest service road that’s in mostly good condition. After the turn off, the remainder of the road is paved.

The spots along the lake (about 4-5 of them) looked pretty close together. We stayed in spot 36 - which looked like it was right in the middle of everything. It was super close to the bathroom and trailhead.

Trailhead for walupt and nanny ridge are on the campground. There was a steady stream of day hikers and backpackers. We only hiked parts of Walupt trail - it was easy one, in great shape. There were lots of smaller trails that went down to the lake. We carried things with us, hiked about a 1.5 mile in, and made an afternoon of hanging out on the lake.It was perfect!

Site36
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Cassandra C., September 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Cassandra C., September 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Cassandra C., September 16, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Aug. 24, 2020

will be back

nice tall shade trees and beautiful access to the lake. trails are around and a large beach to relax on. sites are large and trees are close enough to hang a hammock. note: road to get here is entirely dirt; bring mosquito repellent

  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Noelle K., August 24, 2020
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Noelle K., August 24, 2020
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Noelle K., August 24, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Aug. 5, 2020

New favorite

Lake is pristine, calm and gorgeous. Easy to kayak. Easy trail access to hikes. Cold in the morning (Aug) but warms up quickly.

  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Peter J., August 5, 2020
Reviewed Jul. 18, 2020

Beautiful area

I’d give this campground four stars but we battled mosquitoes constantly. There are some great hikes close by and the lake is gorgeous. One hike left us awestruck with the gorgeous water falls. We had site 16 which offered great privacy and close to a bathroom. We were there in the middle of the week and the camp was busy but quiet which was great. If you’re up for the drive, head out to Tahklakh Lake for the absolute vision of the Pacific Northwest, or head to Council Bluff to hike up for a view of Rainier, Adams, St. Helens and Mt. Hood.

  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Kate G., July 18, 2020
Reviewed Oct. 9, 2019

Ranger Review: Gregory Pack Amber 28 at Walupt Lake Campground

I strongly think that Washington State has the best places to camp and hike. The Pacific Northwest has a large array of amazing camp grounds and hikes, and I love it!! I recently wanted to hike within the Goat Rock area, and decided to stay at the Walupt Lake Campground so I could be closer to the trailhead. I left Friday evening after work and headed to the campground. There wasn't as many people as I expected, but the weather forecast was calling for some rain. I went in the beginning of September, so was bummed that I wasn't going to see the fall colors (usually the end of September-beginning of October is when this happens). The campground was great, and I was glad that I stayed here. Because we got here around 7:00pm, we really only pitched our tent and grabbed a quick bite to eat. I didn't tour the campground because it was already getting dark. We woke up early in the morning and headed to the Goat Rock Wilderness. We spent the entire day hiking (13 miles to be exact!). From the top of the hike we were able to see Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier. It doesn't get any better than that!! I would highly recommend this campground if you are just looking to camp, but also if you have a hike you want to do in the area early in the morning. 

PRODUCT REVIEW: Amber 28 Gregory Pack

As a DYRT Ranger, I was able to test the Amber 28 Gregory Pack. I was pretty excited to get to test this pack, because I have a few other Gregory Packs and have been eyeing this pack for awhile. During my 13 mile hike I was able to test this pack. 

3 reasons why I love the Amber 28 Gregory Pack:

1. Comfortable- I love how comfortable and form fitting this pack is. I love packs that don't sit right on my shoulders. This pack gave a little room between by shoulder and the pack which is great! I like being able to carry the weight of the pack by my hips, and this pack allowed that.

2. The space and pockets- I appreciate a pack that allows me to pack multiple items (10 essentials!). The pack had plenty of room, and extra zipper pockets. I was able to utilize all the space in this pack, and it still didn't feel heavy.

3. Breath-ability- The back of this pack has a wire meshing and pads to help with the breath-ability. I do sweat a lot when I hike, so I like this component of the pack.

Overall, I would highly recommend this pack. It comes in a few colors as well which is always nice :) You can find the Amber 28 pack here:

https://www.gregorypacks.com/packs-bags/day-packs/amber-28-77831XXXX.html?dwvar\_77831XXXX\_color=778315590&cgidmaster=packs-day-packs#sz=18&start=37

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Sasha W., October 9, 2019
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Sasha W., October 9, 2019
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Sasha W., October 9, 2019
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2019

Stunning and remote lakeside camping at a remote location .

Amazing camp site with a good amount of lakeside camps. Staying in site 41 to 44 guarantees amazing sunrise and sunset views. The lake water is crystal clear. Excellent location if you enjoy hiking. Closest grocery store is in Randal about 2hrs away so plan accordingly.

  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Bobak K., July 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Bobak K., July 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Bobak K., July 25, 2019
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Aug. 15, 2018

Awesome place

My boyfriend and I had a great time here. Our camp site number was 38 and we had our own beach area. The campsite was close to 2 others on both sides, but it was the only one that had neighbors because it was a last minute reservation, but the beach made it worth it. I would recommend water shoes as there are rocks. Camp hosts were great. We hiked the walupt creek hike which is more like 3 miles and it was dried up. It was an easy hike, but there should have been a sign saying it was dry. They let us light a low fire even though there was a burn ban. Everyone around us was having a great time

Site038
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jun. 6, 2018

So beautiful!

Clear and cold water, good crawdad catching/eating.

However when making reservations I told the host that we had small kids, 1 large tent plus 1 small tent and we could not be in a walk in site. Mind you I called to speak to them personally before making the reservation on line to ensure my 4 hour drive would not be in vain. When we got there they had tried to have us in a small site barely big enough for a 2 person tent that you had to walk into. When I reminded them of our needs they had a very difficult time getting us a site. If I hadn't printed out a copy of our reservation with the details of needs then they would not have cooperated.

Once we were in a site the rest of our week was amazing! We went hiking, swimming, we played in the woods did normal camping stuff.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2016

Serene Spot

Absolutely love this campground! It tends to fill up during the summer weekends but we had no problem staying during the week unannounced. The mellow lake is perfect for floating or boating/fishing. Many trails nearby to marvel Goat Rocks

  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Rachel T., September 29, 2016
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Rachel T., September 29, 2016
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Rachel T., September 29, 2016
Reviewed Jun. 24, 2015

Car camping with wilderness feel

I don't car camp a whole lot, and usually prefer backcountry camping, but if you're looking for a spot that has the best of both worlds; I.e. Pit toilets, running water, and trail access to majorly awesome backcountry hiking the Walupt Lake is the place for you and your next adventure. The camp hosts were a friendly and knowledgable couple and we enjoyed camping by the lake at night and exploring high country hiking trails by day.

  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Jesselyn G., June 24, 2015
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Jesselyn G., June 24, 2015
  • Review photo of Walupt Lake Campground by Jesselyn G., June 24, 2015
  • (4) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Walupt Lake Campground?

    Walupt Lake Campground allows vehicles up to 30 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Walupt Lake Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Walupt Lake Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Walupt Lake Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Walupt Lake Campground does not have wifi.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Walupt Lake Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Walupt Lake Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Walupt Lake Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Walupt Lake Campground?

    There are 42 campsites at Walupt Lake Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts