Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Swimmers, kayakers, canoers and campers should be out in force on Labor Day weekend in popular spots such as Deep Lake in Millersylvania State Park. There are a number of outdoor recreation opportunities nearby, but expect crowds.

Camping information

Originally published August 28

For information on camping and other recreation facilities, contact individual parks. Information also is available at agency offices:

- Olympic National Forest: 360-956-2300.

- Gifford Pinchot National Forest: 360-497-1100.

- Mount Rainier National Park: 360-569-2211.

- Olympic National Park: 360-565-3130.

- State Parks and Recreation Commission: 360-902-8500.

- State DNR: 360-902-1000.

What's available

- State parks: 84 campgrounds -- about half require reservations. Fees from $13 to $19 for developed sites and $6 for primitive sites.

- State forests: 61 campgrounds in Western Washington. No reservations, simple toilets, no fees.

- Capitol Forest: 7 campgrounds, 90 campsites.

- Olympic National Forest: 20 campgrounds -- 7 full service, with 265 sites. Fees from $10 to $14; 10 intermediate, with 176 sites -- one with no fees, one at $5 and the rest $10; six rustic sites, 88 camp spots, no fees.

- Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Six campgrounds at lower elevations in Western Washington are expected to be open. La Wis Wis, 115; Iron Creek, 100, reservations required; Tower Rock, 25, reservations required; North Fork, 35, reservations required; Big Creek, 28 campsites; Blue Lake Creek, 10.

- Fees vary from $10 to $15 at most campgrounds. Other no-fee Forest Service facilities require Northwest Forest Pass at $5 per day or $30 per year per vehicle.

- Dispersed camping outside developed campgrounds does not require fees or passes.

- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument: No campsites inside monument.

- Mount Rainier National Park: Six campgrounds open. Two largest are Cougar Rock, 173 individual sites and five group sites, and Ohanapecosh, 188 individual sites and one group site. Fees $12 a night until reservations start, then go to $15. Reservations required through Labor Day. Reservations not required at the other sites. Fees vary from free to $10.

- Olympic National Park: 16 campgrounds with a total of 925 campsites -- all but three are open all year. No recreational vehicle hook-ups. No reservations accepted. Fees $8 to $12. No fees at North Fork Quinault campground.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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