Best Camping in Southern Washington

With Portland knocking at its back door, the southern part of the state offers a ton of outdoor fun for campers looking for a quick trip from Stumptown or Mount Hood. Serious rafters can test their mettle in spring-fed White Salmon River, which offers heart-pumping Class III and IV rapids that culminate in a seriously steep 12-foot plunge at Husum Falls – or stay dry with the wave of spectators gathered along Highway 141, cheering the rafters on.

Springtime finds nearby Mossyrock under a colorful blanket of irises and tulips on more than 300 acres of land, and it’s free to tour; and come August, the town of Morton holds its annual Loggers’ Jubilee, a giddy mix of axe throwing, logrolling and pole bucking. Looking to do a bit of soul searching? Take a stroll among the enormous, 1,000-year old trees that pepper the Grove of the Patriarchs, some of which span 25 feet in circumference and soar 250 feet tall.