Moss Creek Campground

Star4.24
105 reviews
Moss Creek Campground

Quick Facts

1,400 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Check Site

Sites

16 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

RV Friendly

Opens Gifford-Pinchot National Forest (Mount Adams Ranger District) site

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Moss Creek Campground
No fees available
Campsite Fees
Cancellation and refund policies: Individual campsite cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee....
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Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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Recreation Dot Gov
Provider
(509) 538-2060

What Campers Say

4.24

Satisfactory

Based on 105 reviews

77 Google reviews

Most mentioned

quietpeacefulcleanfriendly

"Reviews for Moss Creek are overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing a quiet, peaceful, and well‑maintained forest campground with spacious, widely separated sites along a creek/river. Campers consistently praise the friendly, helpful hosts, clean toilets, and the fun, safe atmosphere, with many saying they plan to return or already have. Several note it’s a great base for nearby recreation and a favorite spot in the Gifford Pinchot area."

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Best Time to Camp at Moss Creek Campground

The dense forest canopy at Moss Creek creates a natural air conditioning system, making this 1,400-foot elevation campground a sought-after refuge when valley temperatures soar. The layered shade from towering conifers and maples keeps the riverside sites refreshingly cool throughout the summer months, though visitors should check with the Mount Adams Ranger District for current seasonal access as opening and closing dates vary with snowmelt and weather conditions.

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Best
Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Off-season, limited services. Check for closures before visiting.

Planning Tips

    About Moss Creek Campground

    Tucked into a cathedral of hemlock, cedar, fir and maple at 1,400 feet, Moss Creek Campground offers an intimate riverside retreat along the Little White Salmon River in the Mount Adams Ranger District. This small, forested gem provides the essentials—drinking water, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings—making it perfect for tent campers and those with smaller RVs seeking a cool summer sanctuary beneath the forest canopy.
    Small developed campground with 16 sites designed primarily for tent camping but usable by smaller RVs and trailers.
    Historical SignificanceMoss Creek sits within the storied 1.3 million acres of Gifford-Pinchot National Forest, a landscape shaped by both ancient volcanic forces and modern conservation efforts. The campground's home district takes its name from Mount Adams, the region's commanding volcanic sentinel, while the broader forest encompasses the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument—established by Congress in 1982 to preserve the dramatic aftermath of one of America's most significant geological events.
    Weather and SeasonsThe dense forest canopy at Moss Creek creates a natural air conditioning system, making this 1,400-foot elevation campground a sought-after refuge when valley temperatures soar. The layered shade from towering conifers and maples keeps the riverside sites refreshingly cool throughout the summer months, though visitors should check with the Mount Adams Ranger District for current seasonal access as opening and closing dates vary with snowmelt and weather conditions.
    ElevationPerched at approximately 1,400 feet above sea level, the campground nestles in the cool embrace of a mixed conifer forest where hemlock and cedar mingle with fir and the seasonal color of bigleaf maples.
    Natural Features and SceneryThe Little White Salmon River provides the soundtrack to your stay at Moss Creek, its waters threading through a forest tapestry of old-growth and second-growth stands. This corner of the Mount Adams Ranger District showcases the remarkable diversity of the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest—a landscape where ancient trees give way to alpine meadows, wetlands transition to glacier-carved valleys, and countless lakes mirror the sky. The same forest system that shelters this intimate campground also protects the raw, regenerating terrain of Mount St. Helens, offering visitors a window into the Pacific Northwest's dramatic natural heritage.
    Geological RegionSituated in the southeast corner of Gifford-Pinchot National Forest within the Mount Adams Ranger District, Moss Creek occupies a distinctive corner of southwest Washington where the Cascade Range's volcanic legacy remains written in stone, ash, and living forest—part of the same geological theater that includes the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
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    Campsite details

    Sites Size16 sites ideal for tents but usable by smaller RVs and trailers.
    Total Campsites16 campsites
    Recommended CampsitesSites are small and ideal for tents but usable by smaller RVs and trailers. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at sites; drinking water and vault toilets are available.

    Best Campsites

    Curated by campers, for campers
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    Reserving a campsite

    Tents
    Tents are allowed
    RV vehicles
    RV vehicles are allowed
    Primitive
    Primitive are not allowed
    Reservable
    Reservations are not allowed

    Site layoutSmall campground with 16 sites suitable primarily for tents; sites are usable by smaller RVs and trailers. Facilities include picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water and vault toilets.
    Reservation PlatformsRecreation.gov
    Cancellation PolicyIndividual campsite cancellations up to 2 days before start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. Cancelling the day before or on arrival incurs a $10.00 service fee and forfeiture of the first night's use fee. One-night reservation cancellations forfeit the entire amount paid. No-shows assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit first night's rate, taxes and add-ons. Refund requests must be submitted via Recreation.gov within 7 days of reservation end date.

    Amenities available

    Potable water
    Fire rings
    Picnic tables
    Firewood available
    Vault toilets

    Activities you can enjoy

    Located alongside the Little White Salmon River and positioned as a base for exploring Mount Adams and the Columbia River Gorge. The river and surrounding forested district offer outdoor recreation opportunities.
    Fishing
    The Little White Salmon River offers rainbow and brook trout for anglers; visitors can wade in the river.
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    Campground rules

    • Pets are not allowed
    • Fire rings are provided at sites and firewood can be purchased on-site. No additional fire restriction details are provided in the source material.

    Hazards


    Weather at Moss Creek Campground

    53
    °F
    Dec 11
    Thursday
    Light drizzle
    Precipitation: 0.4%
    Humidity: 95%
    Wind: 18.4 mph
    Light drizzle

    Weather History
    Weather data powered by Open-Meteo

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    Good to know

    Proximity to water featuresSits alongside the Little White Salmon River; visitors may fish (rainbow and brook trout) and wade in the river.
    HostThis location has limited staffing. For general information call (509) 538-2060.

    Campground Map

    Moss Creek Campground
    Driving directionsFrom I-5 at Vancouver, WA, turn east on Highway 14 for 56 miles to Cook. Turn north on Cook-Underwood Rd, drive 5 miles then turn left onto Willard Road, drive 2+ miles continue onto Oklahoma Rd, drive under 1 mile. Campground is on your right.
    Accessible from I-5 at Vancouver, WA via Highway 14 east for 56 miles to Cook, then north on Cook-Underwood Rd and local roads (Willard Road, Oklahoma Rd) to the campground.
    Nearby places
    Cook (reached after 56 miles east on Highway 14 from I-5 at Vancouver, WA).
    Nearby supplies
    Firewood can be purchased on-site.

    Reviews from booking and map sources

    4.2
    105 reviews
    Satisfactory
    Satisfactory
    Moss Creek Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews
    Reviews for Moss Creek are overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing a quiet, peaceful, and well‑maintained forest campground with spacious, widely separated sites along a creek/river. Campers consistently praise the friendly, helpful hosts, clean toilets, and the fun, safe atmosphere, with many saying they plan to return or already have. Several note it’s a great base for nearby recreation and a favorite spot in the Gifford Pinchot area.
    Review Summaries
    Based on 105 reviews

    What Campers Love

    Campers love the quiet, peaceful setting with large, well‑spaced sites, many right next to the creek/river, making it feel uncrowded and scenic. The campground is described as clean, tidy, and well...
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    Based on 105 reviews

    Common Concerns

    There are almost no actual complaints in these reviews. A couple of reviewers clarify that the creek is not deep enough for real swimming, and one notes that a riverside campsite was closed due to...
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    Based on 105 reviews

    Pro Tips & Recommendations

    Several reviewers recommend reading and following the posted rules and the fine print on Forest Service passes and working with, not arguing with, the hosts. One warns that the road in includes a...
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    Based on 105 reviews

    Camper Quotes

    "Most awesome place I've ever been in my life and I camp a lot. If you camp here, you'll never want to leave. The only place better was my mother's womb." "Quiet, peaceful campground. Right next to...
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    Based on 105 reviews

    Site-Specific Reviews

    Site 10 is called out as “best for kids,” with easy access to the creek and good swimming opportunities when warm. Site 8 is described as quiet, peaceful, and right next to the stream. Site 14 is...
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    Based on 105 reviews

    Pet-Friendly Features

    One reviewer notes explicitly that the campground is dog friendly, and mentions that the creek was “so much fun,” implying pets can enjoy the water and surroundings as well. No restrictions or issues...
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    Based on 105 reviews

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    Last updated December 10, 2025
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