U.S. Forest Service · Olympic National Forest · Washington

Big Creek Campground

Campsites will accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. The 64 camp units are spaced for privacy in a second-growth forested area. Big Creek, a small stream, is adjacent to the campground. Fires in developed campsites only. Three covered picnic shelters are available for group–day use only. Hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, swimming, and exceptional scenery can be enjoyed in the area. Lake Cushman and the Staircase entrance to Olympic National Park are nearby with a public boat ramp available in vicinity.

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-served64 sitesFrom $20 per nightTents only

More like this: first-come in Washington · tent only in Washington

Big Creek Campground
Photo from the area. Kollibri1969 (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
Fees$20/Night for single unit (50% reduced fee with Golden Age/Access & Interagency Senior/Access passes.). $5/Extra passenger vehicle (over 2). Boat and recreation trailers are not considered passenger vehicles.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
Seasonmid-May to 09/10
ForestOlympic National Forest
Fees$20/Night for single unit (50% reduced fee with Golden Age/Access & Interagency Senior/Access passes.). $5/Extra passenger vehicle (over 2). Boat and recreation trailers are not considered passenger vehicles.
RulesMaximum stay is 14 days. Pets must be leashed. No more than 8 people per campsite. Trailers and RVs 36' max.

Olympic National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Big Creek Campground30°40°50°60°70°January: 15.48 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowFebruary: 9.20 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowMarch: 9.89 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowApril: 6.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 3.03 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 1.91 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.87 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.40 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.02 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 9.10 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 15.72 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowDecember: 16.21 inches of precipitation, 1.7 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 40.5°F averageFebruary: 41.6°F averageMarch: 44.9°F averageApril: 48.9°F averageMay: 55.5°F averageJune: 59.9°F averageJuly: 64.8°F averageAugust: 64.8°F averageSeptember: 59.6°F averageOctober: 51.2°F averageNovember: 44.1°F averageDecember: 39.7°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Cushman Powerhouse #2, 9 miles from the campground at 21 feet, station USC00451939 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 92 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 4 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates47.4924° N, 123.2102° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗9.3 mi
Outdoor gearPickering Marine ↗21.3 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗27.2 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND REVIEW / SECLUDED NATIONAL FOREST CAMPING

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.3 mi
    Upper Big Creek Loop ↗
    4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Big Creek Campground ↗
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    Big Creek Confluence
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.3 mi
    Mt. Ellinor Connector
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.4 mi
    Mt. Ellinor
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.1 mi
    Mt. Ellinor Access
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Mount Skokomish Wilderness begins about 2.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Washington

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Washington
    Ellie Kozlowski, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Washington camping
    Tom Stienstra, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Waterfalls in Washington
    Sawyer Scheer, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Big Creek Campground?

No. Big Creek Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Big Creek Campground?

$20/Night for single unit (50% reduced fee with Golden Age/Access & Interagency Senior/Access passes.). $5/Extra passenger vehicle (over 2). Boat and recreation trailers are not considered passenger vehicles.

Source: Forest Service

Is Big Creek Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season mid-May to 09/10.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Big Creek Campground have?

64 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Big Creek Campground?

Big Creek Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Big Creek Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Staircase Campground (5.8 mi), Lebar Horse Camp (7 mi, first-come), and Brown Creek Campground (7.5 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby