North Fork Elk Group Camp
Closed for the season. The campground typically operates mid-May through mid-September. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.
Alcohol Prohibitions
This Order describes acts that are prohibited upon lands, roads and trails within the National Forest System administered by the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region in regards to alcoholic beverages.
Aquatic Invasive Species
This Order prohibits 1) possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic invasive animal species AND 2) prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic or riparian invasive plant species - on National Forest System lands in the Pacific Northwest Region as specified in the Order.
Restrictions on Use of Forage and Mulch Products
This Order prohibits unloading, storing, or using any straw, hay, grain, seed, or other forage or mulch products that are not state-certified weed free on the National Forest System lands, roads or trails in any Closure Area as specific in the Order. Some examples of these include hay bales, hay…
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Forest Roads Closed Due to Rain Event
The past few days has shown heavy rainfall as an atmospheric river moved into the Northern Cascade Region bringing 16+ inches of rain to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This rapid increase in rainfall has resulted in localized flooding and has increased the risk of landslides, debris flows,…
Forest Service Road 6808 Emergency Closure
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest issued an emergency closure of Forest Service Road 6808 from mile marker 3.9 to mile marker 4.2 due to a sinkhole that has developed in the travel way. Closure timeframe is currently unknown, and travel will resume when roads are repaired.
Rd 2810-041 Yellowjacket Bridge Road Closure
Rd 2810-041 will close Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, and will remain closed until mid-November for redriving piles at Yellowjacket.
Spirit Lake Infrastructure Project Trail Closures
The replacement of the Spirit Lake Tunnel Intake Gate and Geotechnical Drilling project to support safe operations and maintenance of the Spirit Lake infrastructure will continue in 2025. Construction will require weekday recreation trail closures within the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic…
Winter Road Closures
The gates along the following roads are closed for the winter season. This annual seasonal gate closure is important for public safety as these roads are not maintained and become hazardous in the winter. Forest Road 99Forest Road 25Forest Road 26Forest Road 52 (Skate Creek Road)Get a free Motor…
Camping Restrictions
Camping in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is limited to no more than 14 consecutive days in one spot and no more than 28 total days per calendar year across all locations.
Washout on Forest Road 93
Forest Road 93 is closed at milepost 6.95 due to a severe washout. Road signs are posted at the beginning of each side of Forest Road 93 to alert drivers of the inability to drive the entire length of road. Barricades may be present for public safety and block the section of road located by the…
Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument Restrictions
This order outlines specific restrictions within Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
Upper State Route 504 closed at milepost 45.2 due to large slide
Closure Upper State Route 504/Spirit Lake Memorial Highway is closed between mileposts (MP) 45.2 and 51 until further notice with a possible re-opening date sometime in 2026. The road is blocked just outside the Hummocks Trailhead at the normal winter closure gate. *Johnston Ridge…
Drift Creek Cove Camping Restrictions
Camping is prohibited on National Forest Lands in Drift Creek Cove on the south side of Swift Reservoir as described in the Forest Order and shown in the map (Exhibit A below).
Drift Creek Cove Fire Restrictions
Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, is prohibited on National Forest System lands identified as Drift Creek Cove in Exhibit A.
Forest Road 2801 Closure
Forest Road 2801 is closed on both ends of the road due to a washout at milepost 0.25 and a large slide at milepost 7.
Adams Fork Bridge Closed (FR 5601)
The Adams Fork Bridge on Forest Road 5601 at MP 2.0 on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District is CLOSED. The bridge is beyond its service life, was damaged in flooding in 2015, and has suffered ongoing scouring of the foundation since that time. Recent inspections have shown that the bridge can only…
Packwood Lake Motor Restrictions
It is prohibited to land helicopters or other aircraft, or to use any motorized or mechanical devices to power a watercraft at Packwood Lake.
Tatoosh Lakes Basin Restrictions
Camping and bringing horses or other pack animals is not allowed in the Tatoosh Lakes Basin.
Blue Lake Vehicle Restrictions
Using or having a vehicle is not allowed in the area from the nearby parking lot near the junction of Trail #271 and Trail #271A to high waterline of Blue Lake and land surrounding the lake for a distance of 150 feet.
Wilderness Permit Requirements
Wilderness permits are required when entering Glacier View, Indian Heaven, Mt. Adams, Tatoosh, Trapper Creek, Goat Rocks, and William 0. Douglas Wildernesses. Required Wilderness permits are free and self issued at trailheads.
Prohibition: Entering areas closed for restoration & shortcutting trail switchbacks
Shortcutting trail switchbacks and entering areas closed for restoration are prohibited to protect natural resources.
Wilderness Restrictions
This forest order outlines restrictions in place in designated Wilderness areas to protect the vegetation around lakes, streams, and meadows, to reduce soil compaction and erosion in heavily used areas and to enhance the Wilderness character.
About
North Fork Elk Group Camp is located within the North Fork Campground along the North Fork of the Cispus River in the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District of Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The secluded group site features gated access and sits beneath a canopy of old-growth Douglas fir, hemlock and cedar trees. The Elk site can accommodate a maximum of 25 people with parking for 6 cars or 2 RVs, with a maximum vehicle length of 22 feet. The campground serves as an excellent base camp for various outdoor activities. Two trails are directly accessible from the campground: the River Trail #131, a relatively flat 0.6-mile trail behind the group sites, and the North Fork Trail #122, a 1.6-mile trail that climbs to a bluff with views of the Cispus River. The multi-use Valley Trail provides access to over 50 miles of OHV trails for riders. Anglers can fish the Cispus River for brook trout, steelhead and salmon. The campground is situated between three impressive peaks: Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Rainier, offering diverse natural beauty in this part of southwest Washington.
Directions
From Randle, Washington travel south on State Highway 131 (Forest Roads 23 and 25). Veer left in 1 mile at the Y of Forest Road 23 and Forest Road 25. Continue to follow Forest Road 23 for 10.6 miles to arrive at the group sites on your left.
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $130 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 22ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 22ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (661) 702-1420 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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