North Fork Elk Group Camp

Summary

North Fork Elk Group is situated between three of Washington's most impressive mountains, and is a great base camp for enjoying a variety of activities. It is typically open from mid-May through late September and offers six tent pads, picnic tables, grills, drinking water and a host on-site. Its secluded position in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest provides opportunities for fishing, hiking, OHV riding, and the chance to spot wildlife such as elk, deer and bears.

Overview

North Fork Elk Group sits alongside the Cispus River in the North Fork Campground, shaded by a dense canopy of pine, fir and cedar trees. The facility is typically open from mid-May through late September, and is one one of three group sites within the campground.

North Fork is situated between three of Washington's most impressive mountains: Mount St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier. The variety of recreational activities and the diverse natural beauty draws many visitors to this area.

Recreation

North Fork Elk Group makes a great base camp for a variety of activities. Hikers, mountain bikers and OHV riders can access the nearby multi-use Valley Trail. From this trail, OHV riders can enjoy a network of over 50 miles of OHV trails.

The North Fork Loop trail is open to foot traffic and can also be accessed in this area.

Anglers can fish the Cispus River for brook trout, steelhead and salmon.

Facilities

This tent-only site has six tent pads and will accommodate up to 30 people. It's secluded with gated access and offers picnic tables, grills and drinking water.

There is a host on-site and firewood is available for sale.

Natural Features

North Fork is part of the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, which is located in the northernmost portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

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.

This Ranger District manages four Wilderness Areas including the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Glacier View Wilderness, Tatoosh Wilderness and William O. Douglass Wilderness. Major River drainage includes the Cowlitz River, Clear Fork of the Cowlitz, and the Cispus River.

A variety of wildlife may be spotted in this area, including elk, deer and bears.

contact_info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (360) 686-3008.

Nearby Attractions

Randle is the closest town to North Fork, and it offers access to the Windy Ridge Lookout at Mount St. Helens.

Adventurous hikers who want to enjoy some spectacular views may be interested in the Tongue Mountain Trail, which climbs to an elevation of 4,838 feet.

Charges & Cancellations

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.