Free camping near Carson, WA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Carson, WA there are 49 camps: 21 free, 25 fee, 3 unpriced. The closest is Herman Creek Campground, 3.6 miles south of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Ottertail Lake, 11 miles out. The circle crosses a state line: OR and WA.
Who manages them: 49 on the Forest Service.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herman Creek Campground | 3.6 | Fee | — | 1.5 mi to Cascade Locks | — |
| Wyeth Campground | 4.0 | Fee | — | 4.0 mi to Carson | — |
| Panther Creek Cg | 6.5 | Fee | — | 6.5 mi to Carson | — |
| Eagle Creek Campground | 8.0 | Unpriced | Ruckel Creek (stream) | 1.5 mi to Bonneville | — |
| Rainy Lake | 8.2 | Fee | — | 6.3 mi to Cascade Locks | — |
| Eagle Creek Overlook | 8.2 | Fee | — | 2.0 mi to North Bonneville | — |
| Black Lake | 8.9 | Fee | — | 6.8 mi to Cascade Locks | — |
| Moss Creek Cg | 10 | Fee | — | 7.9 mi to Hood River | — |
| Beaver Cg | 11 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Carson | — |
| Ottertail Lake | 11 | Free | Wahtum Lake (water) | 7.3 mi to Dee | — |
| Wahtum Lake Campground | 11 | Unpriced | Wahtum Lake (water) | 7.9 mi to Cascade Locks | — |
| Mowich Camp | 11 | Free | Snag Creek (stream) | 5.4 mi to Hemlock | — |
| Indian Springs Campground (not maintained) | 12 | Unpriced | Nice Rock Creek (stream) | 8.2 mi to Bonneville | — |
| Camp Howe | 12 | Free | Trapper Creek (stream) | 5.9 mi to Hemlock | — |
| Government Mineral Springs Cg | 13 | Fee | — | 13 mi to Carson | — |
| Oklahoma Cg | 13 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Trout Lake | — |
| Spring Camp | 13 | Free | Rock Creek (stream) | 7.4 mi to Hemlock | — |
| Lookout Mountain Camp | 14 | Free | Rock Creek (stream) | 8.1 mi to Hemlock | — |
| Goose Lake Cg | 15 | Fee | — | 12 mi to Trout Lake | — |
| Fourth of July Camp | 15 | Free | — | — | — |
| Paradise Creek Cg | 16 | Fee | — | 16 mi to Carson | — |
| Forlorn Lakes Cg | 16 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Trout Lake | — |
| Falls Creek Hc | 16 | Free | Falls Creek (stream) | 11 mi to Northwoods | — |
| Lost Lake | 16 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Parkdale | — |
| Doughgob Camp | 16 | Free | Washougal River (river) | 11 mi to Hemlock | — |
| Peterson Prairie Group Gcg | 18 | Fee | — | 6.5 mi to Trout Lake | — |
| Peterson Prairie Cg | 18 | Fee | — | 6.6 mi to Trout Lake | — |
| Atkisson Group Cg | 19 | Fee | — | 4.9 mi to Trout Lake | — |
| Copper City Campsite | 20 | Free | Bolin Creek (stream) | 7.5 mi to Moulton | — |
| Kinnikinnick | 21 | Fee | — | 5.0 mi to Parkdale | — |
| Dispersed Camping | 21 | Free | Wildcat Creek (stream) | 8.3 mi to Northwoods | — |
| Sunset Falls Campground | 21 | Fee | Jack Mountain Creek (stream) | 6.4 mi to Moulton | — |
| Dispersed Camping | 21 | Free | Wildcat Creek (stream) | 8.7 mi to Northwoods | — |
| Mountain View Rec. Club | 21 | Free | Smoky Creek (stream) | 7.1 mi to Guler | — |
| Dispersed Camping | 22 | Free | Horseshoe Creek (stream) | 9.1 mi to Northwoods | — |
| Cultus Creek Cg | 22 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Trout Lake | — |
| Canyon Creek Cg | 22 | Free | Canyon Creek (river) | 8.6 mi to Chelatchie | — |
| Dispersed Camping | 22 | Free | Horseshoe Creek (stream) | 9.7 mi to Cougar | — |
| Dispersed Camping | 22 | Free | West Creek (stream) | 9.5 mi to Cougar | — |
| Dispersed Camping | 22 | Free | West Creek (stream) | 9.5 mi to Cougar | — |
| Dispersed Camping | 22 | Free | West Creek (stream) | 9.4 mi to Cougar | — |
| Gibson Prairie Horse Camp | 23 | Free | — | 3.8 mi to Mount Hood | — |
| Cold Spring Indian Cg | 24 | Free | North Fork Meadow Creek (stream) | 12 mi to Guler | — |
| Mcneil | 24 | Fee | — | 5.5 mi to Rhododendron | — |
| Lost Creek | 24 | Fee | — | 5.3 mi to Rhododendron | — |
| Riley Horse | 24 | Fee | Short Creek (stream) | 4.4 mi to Rhododendron | — |
| Tilly Jane | 24 | Fee | Polallie Canyon (stream) | 8.5 mi to Parkdale | — |
| Trout Lake Creek Cg | 24 | Fee | — | 5.7 mi to Trout Lake | — |
| Surprise Lakes | 25 | Free | Frog Lake (water) | 12 mi to Guler | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Carson, WA, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.