Guler-Mt Adams County Park ~ Washington

In the northwestern states there are many rural communities that offer city or county campgrounds. These options are often overlooked by mainstream tourists that are lured to the national park campsites or the well known national forest developed campgrounds that are near primary attractions. The local campgrounds do not always readily appear on mapping systems, so a bit of web research is necessary to find these cozy spots. For folks like myself, meandering through the countryside is how these local camping opportunities are discovered and this is how I came across Mt Adams County Park.  

In Oregon and Washington, there are several recreation areas and campgrounds located in the national forests that are leased by local civic or county organizations. The income generated during the summer tourism season by these lesser known retreats does contribute to the local infrastructure, so the money spent does go to a good cause. As a plus, camping near a small town practically guarantees that there will be cel phone data communications and stocking up on supplies is easy to do. For those who do extended tours, camping local does present an opportunity to get some vehicular maintenance or repairs done, while lazing the day away in a hammock or fly fishing in a nearby stream.

Guler-Mt Adams County Park is located in the thick forests on the south side of the gigantic volcanic peak and this cozy spot is a good choice for setting up a basecamp. The community of Trout Lake, Washington is right next door and with a name like this, it is easy to figure out what the main sportsman's activity is. Dinner can definitely be caught daily in Trout Lake or Trout Creek, which runs near the campground. The Mt Adams County Park campground is nestled in the shade of the tall pines and the large pads can accommodate RV campers and trailers. Basic facilities, fire rings, picnic tables and drinking water are located onsite and there is a dump station. There are both hiking trails and dirt roads that head up the slopes from here, so this is a good place to start a Mt Adams excursion. The Guler-Mt Adams County Park Campground is only open during the warm weather seasons and the campsites are first come-first serve, so be sure to have a look when seeking a spot for an overnighter when passing through!  
​