North Fork Campground (Wa)

Gifford Pinchot National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: Randle, WA, WA

Price: From $25 per night

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (54 reviews)

Season: May through October

North Fork Campground sits along the North fork of the Cispus River, shaded by a canopy of trees that include hemlock, maple and Douglas fir. This popular campground is typically open from mid-May through late September and offers standard sites in addition to the Bear, Beaver and Elk group sites. North Fork is situated between three of Washington’s most impressive mountains: Mount St.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Camp Host, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/north-fork-campground-wa to be notified when sites open up.

North Fork Campground offers a quiet, beautiful setting along the North Fork of the Cispus River with a diverse forest canopy and proximity to three of Washington's most impressive mountains: Mount St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Rainier. Campers praise the peaceful nature experience and knowledgeable camp host.

Wildlife alert: American Beaver, Mule Deer, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Barred Owl, Canada Jay, and Common Garter Snake verified in the area.

Insider tips for North Fork Campground (Wa): Book early — this is a popular federal campground with only 19 sites No cell service available, which reviewers appreciate for a true nature retreat Camp host on-site provides local knowledge about Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Skip North Fork Campground (Wa) if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You need shower facilities — none available. You plan to visit November-April — campground is closed seasonally.

Best time to visit North Fork Campground (Wa): May-October — Official operating season is mid-May through late September; campground is seasonal and typically closes after September..

Nearby campgrounds: North Fork Bear Group Camp (Randle, WA), Tower Rock Campground (Randle, WA), Blue Lake Creek Campground - Gifford Pinchot Nf (Wa) (Randle, WA), Iron Creek Campground (Randle, WA).

Cell Phone Coverage at North Fork Campground (Wa)

Cell signal at North Fork Campground (Wa) (Randle, WA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›WA›North Fork Campground (Wa)
North Fork Campground (Wa) — photo 1
North Fork Campground (Wa) — photo 2
North Fork Campground (Wa) — photo 3
See all photos
Gifford Pinchot National Forest — riverside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

North Fork Campground (Wa)

Share:
Randle, WA, WA★ 4.6 (54 reviews)From $25/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

North Fork Campground sits along the North fork of the Cispus River, shaded by a canopy of trees that include hemlock, maple and Douglas fir. This popular campground is typically open from mid-May through late September and offers standard sites in addition to the Bear, Beaver and Elk group sites. North Fork is situated between three of Washington’s most impressive mountains: Mount St.

Best for:AnglersHikersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV40 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsCamp Host
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Drinking WaterFirewood for Sale

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; only suitable for self-contained RVs✕ You need shower facilities — none available✕ You plan to visit November-April — campground is closed seasonally

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with only 19 sites

No cell service available, which reviewers appreciate for a true nature retreat

Camp host on-site provides local knowledge about Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Best: May-October

Official operating season is mid-May through late September; campground is seasonal and typically closes after September.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: American Beaver, Mule Deer, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Barred Owl, Canada Jay, and Common Garter Snake verified in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
541-338-7869· Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Getting there →

From I-5, take Highway 12 east to Randle, and from there go south on Road 25 and continue until you reach a fork in the road. Take the left fork onto Road 23 and travel for about 10 miles to North Fork Campground & Group Camps.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Gifford Pinchot National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Gifford Pinchot National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does North Fork Campground (Wa) cost per night?+
North Fork Campground (Wa) costs $25 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is North Fork Campground (Wa) open?+
North Fork Campground (Wa) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does North Fork Campground (Wa) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at North Fork Campground (Wa)?+
North Fork Campground (Wa) can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.
How do I make reservations at North Fork Campground (Wa)?+
North Fork Campground (Wa) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at North Fork Campground (Wa)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at North Fork Campground (Wa) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is North Fork Campground (Wa) open, and what are check-in times?+
North Fork Campground (Wa) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility Map
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$25 /night★ 4.6 (54)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does North Fork Campground (Wa) cost per night?+
What season is North Fork Campground (Wa) open?+
Does North Fork Campground (Wa) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

North Fork Bear Group Camp

Randle, WA

From $130/night

Tower Rock Campground

Randle, WA

From $25/night

Blue Lake Creek Campground - Gifford Pinchot Nf (Wa)

Randle, WA

From $20/night

Iron Creek Campground

Randle, WA

From $27/night

Own a campground nearby?

List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

List your campground →
$25 /nightNo booking fees
+TRIPCheck availability