A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service campground

La Wis Wis Campground

Forest Service campground in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Lewis County, Washington. 1,243 feet.

Managed by
Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Elevation
1,243 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
107 74 standard non-electric, 28 tent only non-electric, 4 walk to
Longest rig
60 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Lewis County

Overview

Situated at the confluence of three waterways near Mount Rainier, La Wis Wis is nestled under a canopy of towering Douglas firs and red cedars. The handful of sites that dot the riverbank enjoy the most sunshine.

With an abundance of activities nearby, La Wis Wis is a popular destination for long-stay camping. Its proximity to Mount Rainier National Park makes it an excellent base for exploring all of the area's natural wonders.

Recreation

Hikers can easily access the Blue Hole Trail and Purcell Falls Trail from La Wis Wis.

Anglers can fish for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and whitefish at either Butter Creek or Skate Creek.

Facilities

La Wis Wis is ideal for tents, car campers and truck campers with a slide-in. The Hatchery Loop sites can accommodate RVs, but navigation through other parts of the campground may be difficult due to narrow roadways and large trees.

The campground features 122 sites, including walk-in tent camping. Only vault toilets are available here. Picnic tables, picnic shelters and grills are provided.

Drinking water is available on-site at the main part of the camp. Campers staying at the Hatchery Loop need to bring potable water or get water at the main site.

Natural Features

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.

La Wis Wis is located in the Tatoosh Wilderness area of the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. The campground sits where the Ohanapecosh River, Cowlitz River and Purcell Creek meet.

The campground features old-growth forest and opportunities to observe a variety of wildlife.

Nearby Attractions

La Wis Wis is located near the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. The popular Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise within Mount Rainier National Park is 28 miles away.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • interpretive programs
  • wildlife viewing

The land around La Wis Wis Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.