Blue Lake Creek Campground - Gifford Pinchot Nf (WA)

I made reservations at Blue Lake Campground in July for the Friday of Labor Day Weekend. We were coming on motorcycles and wanted to make absolutely sure we would have a place to stay that first night of our two-week vacation. On August 31, we received a confirmation, which affirmed that, to get to the campground from Randle, which is the direction we would be coming from, we should take Forest Road 23 to the North. So imagine our shock when, as night was falling, we got to Forest Road 23 and it was CLOSED, and the detour to get to the campground would take HOURS. With no choice, we had to camp rough, on the side of the road on Forest Road 29 - even rough camping was packed and our options were severely limited. I'm still so angry that we we won't notified of the closed road.

I made reservations at Blue Lake Campground in July for the Friday of Labor Day Weekend. We were coming on motorcycles and wanted to make absolutely sure we would have a place to stay that first night of our two-week vacation. On August 31, we received a confirmation, which affirmed that, to get to the campground from Randle, which is the direction we would be coming from, we should take Forest Road 23 to the North. So imagine our shock when, as night was falling, we got to Forest Road 23 and it was CLOSED, and the detour to get to the campground would take HOURS. With no choice, we had to camp rough, on the side of the road on Forest Road 29 - even rough camping was packed and our options were severely limited. I'm still so angry that we we won't notified of the closed road.

Very clean, nice spots to park.

Very clean, nice spots to park.

The area was fairly dispersed with a pretty creek nearby. There were bathrooms. We just slept here overnight and hit the road the next day.

The area was fairly dispersed with a pretty creek nearby. There were bathrooms. We just slept here overnight and hit the road the next day.

Very private and nearly empty when we went. Will camp here again 😊

Very private and nearly empty when we went. Will camp here again 😊

It was a beautiful campground. We stayed during the week so there were very few other campers around. The only drawback for me was no picnic table at our campsite. We drove out of Trout Lake. The road was awful, gravel and lots of pot holes. The drive from Randel's was great. I just wish I could have had time to explore that area more.

It was a beautiful campground. We stayed during the week so there were very few other campers around. The only drawback for me was no picnic table at our campsite. We drove out of Trout Lake. The road was awful, gravel and lots of pot holes. The drive from Randel's was great. I just wish I could have had time to explore that area more.