Iron Creek Campground

July 2-5, 2011 IRON CREEK CAMPGROUND
Off Hwy 131 (Forest Road 25) 10 miles south of Randle, WA
***** 5 stars
98 campsites in 4 loops well spaced
Pit Toilets, potable water, firewood for sale at camp host (overpriced)
$20/night for single site. $10/night per extra vehicle $38/night double site
Sites can be reserved ahead of time
nearest services in Randle, or 15 miles east/west in Morton or Packwood

Campsites have great privacy and there are multiple pit toilets and water spouts in each loop. All parking pads are spacious and paved and could easily fit 2 or 3 cars. However, the tent spaces were very small at most sites, and rather lumpy. Even many of the double sites didn't have room for more than 1 or 2 tents. Loop A is close enough to the road to hear most traffic. Parts of loops B-D have quick access to the river. We stayed in B40 which had room for 3 tents right next to each other on lumpy ground. The pit toilets really started to stink towards the end of the weekend, but the accessible ones were more bearable, being more spacious.

The 1 ½ mile loop trail around the campground is beautiful. There were view points and small access “beaches” to the Cispus River as well as markers for two 600 year old fir trees which were 8 feet in diameter. Along the river the trail is well maintained but other points required scrambling over fallen branches or entire trees obstructing the path. There was also a foot bridge that was out during our stay. Seeing the river at sunset was spectacular, and sitting on the beach during the sunny afternoon was a perfect escape to the mosquitoes hovering in our campsite.

There was a nearby hike to Covell Creek Falls and Angel Falls off of FS road 28. The hike is supposedly a 2.75 mile loop, but we weren't prepared for creek crossing and turned around before we got to Angel Falls. The trail is “moderately difficult” being steep, narrow and rocky. There were several downed trees to scramble over or under as well. The trail leads behind Covell Creek Falls (which is the downhill right fork). To get there, just past the Cispus Learning Center on Rd 23, turn right onto FS 28 (dirt road). The trailhead is 2 miles further, just past a school crossing sign. It is also a trail head for Burley Mountain. There is a small parking area (one or two vehicles). FS 28 had a road closed sign, and some hikers started at the Cispus Learning Center below.