USDA Forest Service · Washington

Peterson Prairie Campground

USDA Forest Service · Washington, United States

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Directions
Sites
31
Hookups
1 with water, 30 no hookups
Season
May 28 to September 18
Cost
Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00
Max RV length
40 ft
Group sites
Yes
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Pets
Yes
Elevation
3,068 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 1
Cell coverage
AT&T weak · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Access road
PETERSON PRAIRIE CG LOOP (NFSR 2400069) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
Lake
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Nearest town
CARSON
Address
Gifford Pinchot NF Mt Adams Ranger District, CARSON, WA, 98610
Phone
541-338-7869
Activities
Camping, Wildlife Viewing

31 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

Overview

Peterson Prairie Campground offers shaded and secluded campsites nestled in a forest of large pine, spruce and fir trees. The campground tends is popular among huckleberry pickers.

At an elevation of 2,800 ft., Peterson Prairie offers a cool summertime climate during the hottest part of the season. Several kid-friendly attractions are a short distance away, making this campground a great choice for families.

Recreation

Seasonal harvesting of huckleberries and mushrooms is a popular pastime.

Natural Bridges and Ice Cave are scenic, family-friendly nature trails near Peterson Prairie Campground. A stairway leading into the Ice Cave allows convenient access to the cave's incredible ice formations. Please be prepared when visiting the caves. Information is avaialble at the campground and the Mt Adams Ranger Station.

Facilities

Drinking water and vault toilets are available. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. The sites are spacious with gravel parking spurs.

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.

Peterson Prairie is located in the Mt. Adams Ranger District. Nearest town is Trout Lake, WA.

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 (509) 427-3677 for general information.

Nearby Attractions

This campground is near Bird Creek Meadows, a trail that offers spectacular wildflower displays and opportunities to observe numerous birds.

Goose Lake is 8 miles west of the campground and offers excellent trout fishing.

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.

Group Sites

Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use 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.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January36°27°1°45°11 of 11
February36°27°6°50°11 of 11
March41°28°20°59°11 of 11
April46°31°21°74°11 of 11
May56°42°30°82°3 of 11
June64°44°35°85°0 of 11
July76°53°45°96°0 of 11
August78°55°44°97°0 of 11
September70°50°38°86°0 of 11
October54°40°33°75°0 of 10
November43°32°17°58°8 of 10
December36°27°15°57°9 of 10

Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.

Nearby campgrounds

All public campgrounds in Washington · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.