Panther Creek Campground

Gifford Pinchot National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: CARSON, WA, WA

Price: From $25 per night

Price range: $25–$45 per night

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (136 reviews)

Season: May through October

The Campground sits along Panther Creek at the intersection of the Pacific Crest Trail. Driving on FR65, 4.7 miles upstream from the campground, visitors can enjoy an easy hike to Panther Falls. Campers can enjoy the privacy provided by a variety of shade-loving plants and a thick forest of cedars, ash, firs and alder.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing

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

Panther Creek Campground sits along Panther Creek at the intersection of the Pacific Crest Trail with close access to hiking and a thick forest of cedars, ash, firs and alder providing privacy and shade. Google reviews rate it 4.6/5 stars with campers praising well-maintained vault toilets and plenty of nearby trails.

Wildlife alert: Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Wapiti, Douglas' Squirrel, Wild Turkey, Western Tanager, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, and Northern Alligator Lizard have been documented in the area.

Insider tips for Panther Creek Campground: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand Drive 4.7 miles upstream on FR65 for an easy hike to Panther Falls Paved campground with 33 sites nestled in thick forest for natural shade

Skip Panther Creek Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites, suitable for self-contained RVs only. You're traveling outside May-October — campground is seasonal. You're part of a large group — host indicates campground is meant for older individuals and single families.

Best time to visit Panther Creek Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Beaver Campground (Carson, WA), Govt Mineral Springs Guard Sta (TROUT LAKE, WA), Government Mineral Springs Campground (Trout Lake, WA), Paradise Creek Campground (CARSON, WA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Panther Creek Campground

Cell signal at Panther Creek Campground (CARSON, 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›WA›Panther Creek Campground
Panther Creek Campground — photo 1
Gifford Pinchot National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Panther Creek Campground

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CARSON, WA, WA★ 4.7 (136 reviews)From $25/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

The Campground sits along Panther Creek at the intersection of the Pacific Crest Trail. Driving on FR65, 4.7 miles upstream from the campground, visitors can enjoy an easy hike to Panther Falls. Campers can enjoy the privacy provided by a variety of shade-loving plants and a thick forest of cedars, ash, firs and alder.

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.
ADA sites1 sites
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

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, suitable for self-contained RVs only✕ You're traveling outside May-October — campground is seasonal✕ You're part of a large group — host indicates campground is meant for older individuals and single families

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with high demand

Drive 4.7 miles upstream on FR65 for an easy hike to Panther Falls

Paved campground with 33 sites nestled in thick forest for natural shade

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

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: Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Wapiti, Douglas' Squirrel, Wild Turkey, Western Tanager, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, and Northern Alligator Lizard have been documented in the area.

Location

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

From Carson, WA: Travel 6 miles north to Old State Highway, (follow signs) turn right and then take your first left on Panther Creek Road. Proceed on Panther Creek Road for 4 miles to the campground.

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.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Panther Creek Campground cost per night?+
Panther Creek Campground costs $25–$45 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Panther Creek Campground open?+
Panther Creek Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Panther Creek Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Panther Creek Campground?+
Panther Creek Campground can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.
How do I make reservations at Panther Creek Campground?+
Panther Creek Campground 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 Panther Creek Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Panther Creek Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Panther Creek Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Panther Creek Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility Map
●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★ 4.7 (136)
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 Panther Creek Campground cost per night?+
What season is Panther Creek Campground open?+
Does Panther Creek Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

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Panther Creek Campground — Gifford Pinchot | CamperWatch