Cougar RV Park & Campground

Campground in Cougar, WA • 29 RV Sites

At the base of Mount St. Helens on the Lewis River's Yale Reservoir in the community of Cougar, Washington, Cougar RV Park and Campground occupies one of the Pacific Northwest's most geographically dramatic campground positions—directly on the south flank of the active stratovolcano that fundamentally altered the landscape of Southwest Washington on May 18, 1980, and has since become one of the most actively studied volcanic environments in the world. The park's full and partial hookup sites, cabin rentals, and tent camping positions serve the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument visitors, Ape Cave lava tube explorers, and Lewis River system anglers and water recreation enthusiasts who use Cougar as a base camp for the extraordinary volcanic landscape that begins nine miles up the mountain. Full and partial hookup RV sites, tent campsites, and cabin rentals provide the accommodation spectrum for the campground's outdoor recreation community, with fire pits and picnic tables at each position providing the outdoor living infrastructure. Water, flush toilets, showers, and laundry facilities serve the practical daily needs of multi-day stays at the base of the volcano, and firewood is available on-site. The Yale Reservoir's waterfront access adjacent to the campground provides swimming and the lake-based recreation that the Lewis River's reservoir system generates in one of the most scenically dramatic watershed systems in the Washington Cascades. Ape Cave, nine miles from the campground on the south flank of Mount St. Helens, is the third-longest lava tube in the United States—a 2.5-mile underground passage created by the basaltic lava flows that built the volcano long before the 1980 eruption. The cave's two passages offer a lower cave's gentle 1.5-mile walk and the upper cave's more challenging 1.5-mile scramble that requires good physical conditioning and headlamps, making Ape Cave one of the most legitimately adventurous geological features accessible without technical climbing equipment in the Pacific Northwest. The Climbers Bivouac Trailhead, also reached from the Cougar area, provides the starting point for the technical summit route that climbers use to reach the rim of the active crater. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument encompasses 110,000 acres of the blast zone, crater rim, Spirit Lake, and the Toutle River valley's slowly recovering forest that provides one of the most compelling ecological restoration case studies in modern conservation science. The Johnston Ridge Observatory on the north side of the mountain provides the most dramatic above-ground view of the crater and the dome-building activity that has continued intermittently since the 1980 eruption. Four lakes within 20 miles—Yale, Swift, Merwin, and Merrill—provide the broader recreation infrastructure for boating, fishing, and the swimming that the reservoir system's controlled environment enables for day trips from the Cougar base. The Lewis River valley's marine-influenced Pacific Northwest climate delivers the wet spring and fall that make the Mount St. Helens volcanic landscape most atmospherically dramatic, with clouds frequently obscuring the summit in a weather pattern that adds to the mountain's mystique during the gray seasons. Summer, from late June through September, provides the clearest summit views, the warmest temperatures for Ape Cave exploration, and the most reliable conditions for the Climbers Bivouac summit route. Winter activates the snowshoeing and snowmobiling culture that makes the Mount St. Helens area a four-season outdoor recreation destination, with the campground's south-flank position providing access to winter conditions that the lower-elevation Lewis River valley doesn't always experience.

Campground rules and policies

Check-In Procedure
- Check-in after 1 p.m. on the day of arrival.
- Check-out before 11 a.m. on the day of departure.
- Please let us know if you will be checking in after 7:00 pm.
- While each park attempts to accommodate your exact spot request, the on-site manager has the ultimate decision for spot placement.Arrival Times
- 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM.Office Hours
- 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (May-Oct).
- 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (Nov-Apr).Visitors
- Campground Staff reserves the right to limit additional vehicles per campsite.
- Day or night visitors must register at the Campground Office.Tables
- Limit of one (1) picnic table per campsite.Vehicles
- Campground Staff reserves the right to limit additional vehicles per campsite.
- All vehicles must display a valid Campground parking permit.
- A vehicle without a proper parking permit is subject to tow at the owner's expense.
- Vehicles must not block the road or adjacent campsite(s).Speed Limit
- The speed limit is 5 MPH.Pet Policy
- We are a pet-friendly RV Park, and to continue allowing pets, we enforce a strict pet policy.
- $5 per night, per pet
- Please always have your pet on a leash (no more than 8 feet) and pick up after them (even in the National Forest).
- We have pet waste bags available by the office door.
- If your dog is an excessive barker, please do not leave it unattended.
- Pets should never be left unattended outside.
- If your dog disturbs or threatens another guest or employee of the RV Park, the dog will be asked to leave.
- We only allow dogs inside our bunk cabins.
- Under no circumstances may any pet be left unattended in the cabin.
- We ask that no more than 2 pets at any one time be allowed inside the Cabins.
- Pet owners are responsible for any damage caused by their pets.
- These are basic requests of a responsible Pet owner and a well-behaved pet.
- Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
- We have the right to refuse any animal from being brought into the park.
- If you own a pet, keep it contained and clean up after it.
- All pets must be registered with the Campground Office.
- Animals must be kept on a leash at all times and may not be left unattended at the campsite.
- Animals may not be tethered to utility fixtures, picnic tables, trees, or fences.
- Animal waste must be picked up by the pet owner.
- Don't expect to tie your dog to a tree and leave him unattended.
- He will likely bark at strangers, dig holes, and annoy your fellow campers.Children Policy
- Children are welcome with an accompanying adult
- Parents are responsible at all times for their children’s safety and behavior.
- Please supervise small children in showers and restrooms, and do not allow children to play in the roadway.Wifi
- If your device recognizes the 5 GHz network, please use it; if not, then use the 2.4 GHz network.
- Do not connect to both networks.
- The Wi-Fi password can be obtained from the office upon check-in; please do not give the password out to anyone.
- This is a public network; you should configure your computer security appropriately.
- We are not responsible for any hacking that may occur while using the public Wi-Fi.
- We do not guarantee consistent internet access as usage may vary at times.Restrooms or Showers
- All restrooms, facilities, and showers are not continually sanitized; use at your own risk.
- They are available 24 hours a day, except during cleaning (they are cleaned a minimum of twice daily during low-use demand times - usually when most guests are adventuring out).
- However, please use safe discretion during late hours.
- Please do not dispose of household garbage in the restroom garbage cans.
- We have two full-service restrooms/showerhouses.
- These can accommodate wheelchairs and have showers available for guests.
- If you notice that the restrooms need additional attention (i.e., clogged toilet, out of toilet paper), please let management know as soon as possible.
- Restroom facilities with showers are available (showers are coin-operated, 25 cents for 5 minutes).
- Due to the Board of Health Regulations, animals and the washing of dishes are prohibited in the restrooms.
- A sink for washing dishes is available in front of Cabin #2.Sewer
- We are on septic.
- Please do not flush any diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons, disposable towelettes, cigarette butts, or razors into the sewer.Onsite Laundry
- The laundry room is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Memorial Day-Labor Day).
- Please do not hang clothes on lines or trees at the campsite.
- We have an onsite laundry room adjacent to the office.
- There are two coin washers and coin dryers, as well as a detergent dispenser.
- Quarters can be purchased from the office.Seasonal Stay Only (90 Days or Less)
- Please contact the office (via "Contact Us" reservation/inquiry or phone) for rates, availability, and application.
- Some restrictions may apply.Camping Etiquette
- Whether you’re an experienced camper or planning your first outing, be sure you are mindful and respectful of others within the Campground!
- Camping etiquette is, for the most part, common courtesy.
- Here are a few suggestions for being a courteous camper:Neighbor
- Respect other's rights.
- Don't walk across another camper's site - walk around it.Quiet Hours
- Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Obey the campground's quiet hours.
- Voices, radios, and other noises carry further than you might think on a quiet summer night.Garbage
- Pack out what you pack in.
- A good rule is to leave your campsite cleaner than you found it.
- Recycle when possible.
- There are garbage cans throughout the campground and two dumpsters; please use them!
- Help us stay clean by depositing all garbage in the dumpsters located throughout the Campground.Firewood
- Don't cut any trees for firewood.
- Firewood can be purchased through the camp store.Campfires
- Campfires are allowed in fire pits (except during Red Flag warnings and when mandated).
- Firewood must be wood intended for campfires (no construction materials!) or purchased onsite.
- Personal charcoal and propane grills are also permitted.
- Do not put hot coals in garbage containers.
- Fireworks are prohibited on the Campground premises and on the property.Campground Facilities
- Campground facilities exist for the benefit of all campers.
- Help keep them clean!After-Hours Assistance Security
- Please knock on the office door (someone will assist you).Initial Deposit
- At the time of booking, 100% of the reservation balance will be collected.
- Payment for all retail items and gift certificates will also be collected.Credit Card Security
- Your credit card information is stored and processed securely.Campground Disclaimer
- Know and respect the campground's rules.
- If you don't understand them, feel free to ask for an explanation or example.
- The rules have been established to protect and respect the rights of campers, the campground, and the environment.
- We want to make your stay both pleasant and comfortable.
- If you need any information, please feel free to inquire at the Campground Office.
- Please help us make your stay here more enjoyable through your cooperation with the following simple rules.