Cold Creek Campground

This is a beautiful place, the campground was closed with an impenetrable gate when we got there, but we looked around the day use area and it was beautiful. Tall pines and river sounds. I think it is closed because of the fires, luckily it is raining heavily today so perhaps they will open again soon. You need a discovery pass to camp here, so it is not exactly free. It’s a $100 fine if they catch you without one. Posting a photo of how to buy that, if you will be in Washington parks you need it most everywhere. Go in from the North roads for paved most of the way, direct South up from Portland is dirt and bumpy after the correctional facility.

We didn't actually stay here, but came up to check out the campground for future stays. It is about 30 minutes from Vancouver. The campground was closed for the season when we stopped by, so we walked up the trail from the Day Use area to check it out. The sites are fairly large and private and all have picnic tables. About half of them look like they would be suitable for 20-25' rigs. There is one pull-through site that is quite large (#7). The pads are gravel or dirt and look somewhat level. The water available is at a hand pump in the Day Use area, which also has a pit toilet and lots of picnic tables next to the creek.

The area is around the campground is very beautiful and the Day Use area has access to a couple of trails nearby. The last couple of miles into the campground do not have paved roads, but seemed in pretty good condition overall.

The campground is close to the Yacolt Burn Trailhead area, and it is about 2 or 3 miles to the minimum security Larch Correction Facility. We could also hear a lot of gunfire from people target practicing in the woods or nearby Rifle Range, but it didn't sound super-close.