Description: There is no free camping inside Mount Rainier National Park, but there is plenty on surrounding Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Free camping is allowed on Forest Service land in certain areas. It is called "dispersed camping" and basically means that you can camp almost anywhere you want to along unpaved Forest Service Roads. I usually find these "free areas" by driving down various Forest Service roads and looking for spots where you can tell people have camped before (no vegetation where they park and usually a rock fire ring –sometimes they even leave firewood!). There can be numerous of these "campsites" grouped together, which means less privacy, or you may find a solitary sight in the middle of the glorious woods! Camping in this fashion requires peeing in the woods, and bringing your own water. Now that you know how it works, you can use the camping areas that I will list, or you can be adventurous and try to find your own!
"Little Tijuana" – from Packwood, go 7 or 8 miles (or so) east on Highway 12, then turn left on Hwy 123 as if you are going into the Park. Turn left about ¼ mile before the Mount Rainier National Park border arch. If you get to the log arch, you’ve gone too far. The little dirt road is easy to miss. Follow this little rough road down a short ways and you will start to see campsites. This area is nice because you camp next to the awesome Ohanapecosh River, and also due to it’s proximity to the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center. Low clearance vehicles may not do too well on this road…maybe walk down the first stretch to determine how you think your vehicle will do.
"Forest Road 1270" – from Packwood, go about 5 miles east on Highway 12, then turn left on Forest Road 1270. After you cross the bridge over the Cowlitz River you will find some campsites on the north bank of the river.
"Skate Creek Road" - from Packwood, take Forest Road 52 (Skate Creek Road) north for a few miles, and you will start to see campsites on the right side along Skate Creek. This road is about 20 miles long, so if you don’t find anything right away, keep going and you eventually will find a camp spot. Forest Road 52 is paved and starts at the only obvious intersection in Packwood right next to the Texaco.
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