Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Are all of the campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park full? Do you need a large campsite for a larger group? If you're in the Sunrise area and haven't explored availability at Silver Springs or The Dalles Campground, the Buck Creek Campsites may be your answer. Primarily clustered around the perimeter of the Ranger Creek Airstrip (still semi-actively used) and off of NF-7160, Buck Creek Campsites/Campground is a gathering of roughly 38 very spacious primitive campsites located just outside of the national park's northern boundary.

The campsites serve as an excellent rendezvous spot for large groups and as an overflow for the park's campgrounds, where campsites can be nearly impossible to claim during the busy summer season. Due to the fact that there's no camping fee or any on-site camp hosts, however, the campground tends to draw a younger and sometimes rowdier crowd.

ATTENTION: The Forest Service is considering closing all camping in this area due to excessive tree damage, trampled plants, and the high volume of garbage, human waste, and toilet paper left at the backcountry campsites. They simply do not have the budget to maintain the area given these challenges. If you want to continue to camp in the area, pack out all garbage and toilet paper and dispose of it properly, use the vault toilets provided, bring your own firewood, and stay on established paths. Using the area responsibly will increase the chances that visitors will be allowed to continue enjoying the land.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

NW Forest Pass

Pros

Countless dispersed campsites near Mount Rainier National Park.

Cons

Primitive campsites without picnic tables. Notoriously rowdy campers.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Features

Vault toilet

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Mount Rainier Area, Washington
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Comments

05/21/2016
My husband and I would hate to see this campground close. We are in our 60's and grew up and still live in Enumclaw. What we have noticed are many homeless that have taken up residence at Buck Creek, which is probably causing many of the problems listed above. It also does not make us happy. We would be happy to volunteer as camp hosts for periods of time if a volunteer program would help.
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