Lower Falls Campground campground
National Park ~3 hr from Seattle

Lower Falls Campground

Premier Lewis River campground in Gifford Pinchot with 43 sites and direct access to three stunning waterfalls on a short trail.

RV Sites
43
total sites
Max Length
60 ft
dry camping
Hookups
None
dry camping
Surface
Paved
site surface
Dump Station
Not available
Nearest dump in town
Reservation
6 mo.
books out fast
Why Visit

Lower Falls Campground

Lower Falls Campground on the Lewis River is one of Gifford Pinchot National Forest's most scenic campgrounds, sitting steps from Lower Lewis River Falls. Pull-through sites accommodate rigs up to 60 feet on paved pads. A short 3-mile trail connects three major waterfalls — Lower Falls, Middle Falls, and Upper Falls — making this a spectacular base for waterfall exploration. Flush toilets and drinking water are available. The Lewis River offers steelhead and trout fishing, and the area is close to Mount St. Helens for day trips.

FR 90, Cougar, WA 98616
~3 hr from Seattle (180 mi)
Recreation.gov · Reserving 6 months in advance
NPS America the Beautiful pass accepted
Campground Specs

Details that matter for your rig

Maneuverability
Challenging
Tight loops — plan your approach
Cell Coverage
Spotty
Generators
Restricted
Designated hours only
Site Surface
Paved
Check conditions at check-in
Dump Station
Not available
Nearest dump station in town
Hookups
None
Bring full tanks
Things to Do

Activities at Lower Falls Campground

🥾 Hiking 🎣 Fishing 🏊 Swimming 🚣 Kayaking 🏖️ Beach ⛵ Boating 🛝 Playground

On-site & nearby activities

  • Lewis River waterfall trail (Lower, Middle, Upper Falls)
  • Lewis River fishing for steelhead and trout
  • Day trips to Mount St. Helens (40 mi)
  • Kayaking and swimming in the Lewis River
  • Wildlife watching in old-growth forest
  • Big trees and old-growth forest exploration
National Park

One of Washington's crown jewels

Lower Falls Campground sits at the base of a spectacular series of Lewis River waterfalls in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest — Lower, Middle, and Upper Falls cascade through ancient basalt canyon walls within a 3-mile trail connecting all three drops. The Lewis River watershed drains the southern flanks of Mount St. Helens and the northern approaches to Mount Adams, and the river corridor supports wild steelhead and coho salmon runs that still draw tribal and sport fishermen to the canyon's deep pools. The surrounding Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses over one million acres of Cascade landscape between Mount Rainier and the Columbia River, including remarkable post-eruption recovery forest and intact old-growth stands in the Dark Divide roadless area.

Facilities

What's on-site

🚻
Toilets
Flush toilets
🚿
Showers
Not available
💧
Drinking Water
Available
🔥
Fire Pits
Every site
Flush toilets and drinking water are available, but no showers on site. Every site includes a fire pit.
Insider Knowledge

Site recommendations from the field

Sourced from first-hand visits, park ranger notes, and RV community reports. Updated when conditions change.

🗺️

The namesake Lower Lewis River Falls is a short walk from camp — one of WA's most accessible beautiful waterfalls. Sites near the river (1–20) are the most popular. Loop B has fuller hookup sites for longer stays. Base camp for all three Lewis River Falls hikes (Lower, Middle, Upper) — doable in a single day. Book early for summer as this fills fast with waterfall seekers.

Logistics

Nearest services

📍 Nearest TownCougar, WA
⛽ Gas Station20 mi
🛒 Grocery Store20 mi
🏪 Costco65 mi
☕ Starbucks50 mi
🏕️ Nearest State Park35 mi

Stock up in Cougar, WA before heading out — services get limited near the campground.

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Ready to book?

Ready to book Lower Falls Campground?

Check availability online. Reserving 6 months in advance.

Reserve a Site
Information sourced from official park agencies and publicly available data. Conditions, fees, and availability change — verify details directly with the campground before your visit.