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Peterson Prairie Campground in Washington
Moderate to BookNational Forest

Peterson Prairie Campground

Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington

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As of September 2026, Peterson Prairie Campground is a campground in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington with 21 campsites. Peterson Prairie Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Peterson Prairie Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Peterson Prairie Campground is located at 45.9694ยฐ N, 121.6608ยฐ W.
people allowed on 14 of 21 sites
8
people allowed on the largest site
50

Peterson Prairie Campground reservations and next available dates

September 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

  • Taxes apply

Published by Recreation.gov for Peterson Prairie Campground, read on September 29, 2026.

Campsites at Peterson Prairie Campground

  • Standard 20
  • Group 1

What an RV fits

  • 30 ft15 sites
  • 40 ft6 sites

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Forest ยท Access: Gravel road.

Things to do: fishing, hiking, wildlife, photography, stargazing.

All sites at Peterson Prairie Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the AREA PETERSON PRAIRIE loop.

SiteTypeSleepsMax RV
001Standard630 ft
002Standard830 ft
003Standard840 ft
004Standard840 ft
007Standard840 ft
008Standard840 ft
009Standard840 ft
010Standard830 ft
011Standard830 ft
012 MultiStandard1630 ft
013Standard830 ft
014 MultiStandard1630 ft
016Standard830 ft
017Standard830 ft
021 MultiStandard1630 ft
022Standard830 ft
023Standard630 ft
025 MultiStandard1630 ft
026Standard830 ft
027Standard840 ft
Group 1Group5030 ft

About Peterson Prairie Campground

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.

Rules and notices at Peterson Prairie Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 29, 2026. Check Peterson Prairie Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

Check in: 2 pm, Check out: 12 pm (noon)

ATV/OHV riding is not permitted within the campground; please limit use to transportation in and out of the facility.

Prevent the spread of invasive species by inscting and cleaning packs, equipment and tires before using lake or trails.

Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

Click here for more information about Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Extra vehicle fee of $8.00/night of stay.

Firewood is available for sale at host site for $10.00/bundle.

Peterson Prairie Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Peterson Prairie Campground?

Peterson Prairie Campground is rated "Moderate to Book" based on historical demand. With 21 sites available, you have good chances of finding availability, especially on weekdays.

How do I find last-minute availability at Peterson Prairie Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Peterson Prairie Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Peterson Prairie Campground have?

Peterson Prairie Campground has 21 campsites.

More campgrounds in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

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