No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Gotchen Guard Station continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 180 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 16, 2027): 29 open for online reservation · 20 reserved · 26 closed · 105 unavailable (cause unspecified).
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 16, 2027Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 22 fall on weekdays and 7 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027December shows no online availability. 0 of 31 tracked site-nights are open there — 1 closed, 30 unavailable.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked night. New Year: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| Gotchen Guard Station | 29 |
This site currently has 29 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable night is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Nov 6. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
Multi-night stays. 6 2-night, 5 3-night, 1 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 29 at site Gotchen Guard Station.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gotchen Guard Station | Not recorded | None | 29 | 7 nights | Sep 21, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 15 +17 more |
About Gotchen Guard Station
Overview
Built in 1909, the Gotchen Creek Guard Station is the oldest historic structure on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and the only building constructed during the administration of Gifford Pinchot, first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and an early conservation leader. Within the state of Washington, only a few ranger stations of this age survive.
It is a small two-room cabin nestled in a grove of aspen trees at the edge of a meadow, just a few miles from the Mt. Adams Wilderness. The cabin served as the administrative headquarters for the Mt. Adams District from 1909 until 1916. The ranger station was built along the primary “sheep driveway” entering the Forest from the east, which tens of thousands of sheep passed through.
It was formally listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Gotchen Creek Guard Station ranked among those historic sites “recognized for their unique contributions to Washington’s heritage.” The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.
Recreation
Many recreational opportunities are within close proximity of the Guard Station, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, skiing, and snowshoeing. The cabin is at the base of Mt. Adams, and near Mt. Adams Wilderness. Gotchen Creek Trail #40 and Snipes Mountain Trail #11 are both within close proximity of the cabin.
Facilities
The cabin sleeps a maximum of 6 people in two areas. There is one double bunk bed in the main room of the cabin, and there is a second double bunk bed in a seperate bunkhouse near the cabin. The cabin has propane heat, propane stove, and a propane refrigerator. Pots, pans, dishes, and cooking utensils are provided. A vault toilet is located about 20 yards from the cabin. There are 2 battery operated lanterns, but it is suggested you bring additional non-flammable light sources, such as a headlamp.
There is no potable water at the cabin, and guests are strongly encouraged to bring plenty for drinking, cooking, and washing. Snow can be melted during the winter; however, the water must be treated or boiled before drinking.
Although the cabin has several amenities, guests need to provide their own sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper, and garbage bags. Please pack out what you pack in.
Access in winter months is dependent on snow levels. Access to Gotchen may require ski's, snowmobile or snowshoes.
Natural Features
The guard station is located near the base of Mt. Adams, which at 12,276 feet is the second highest peak in Washington. It is a few miles away from the Mt. Adams Wilderness area, a blend of dry east-side and moist west-side ecosystems, allowing diverse types of vegetation and wildlife to flourish. Multiple trails provide access to spectacular views of Mt. Adams, including its glaciers, mountain streams, meadows, open alpine forests and lava flows.
Forest Road 8225 served as a stock driveway for many years and was the main entry into the National Forest from the east. The 1910 Special Fire Report for the Columbia National Forest stated that more than half of the bands of sheep that used the Forest passed by the Gotchen Creek Ranger station. The area was burned over in the Cascade Fire of 2012. Fire scarred trees and post fire regrowth are part of the adjacent landscape.
Getting there
SUMMER ACCESS Automobile Access to the cabin is over snow in the winter. Guests will not be able to drive to the cabin after snow has fallen typically in November or December through April. The cabin is located about 20 minutes outside of Trout Lake, WA when road is not impassable by snow. From Trout Lake head towards Pineside Sno-Park on Mt. Adams Recreation Highway. Once you get to Pineside Sno-Park take Forest Road 8225 to the junction with Forest Road 8225060. Turn right and the cabin is 150 yards on the left. WINTER SNOWMOBILE OR SKI IN: • From Snow King Sno-park you can ski in on the Lava loop to the Pipeline loop and the top of the Pipeline loop. Grooming stops here. From here you head NW on FS 181 to FS 8225. Turn Right on FS8225 to the junction with the FS8225060 and then turn right. Cabin is on your left. Total miles: 3.5 • From Pineside Sno-park you just head straight up FS 8225 until you get to the junction with the 060 and then turn right. Cabin is on your left. Total miles 3.4 but all uphill. This route is not recommended for skiers.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Gotchen Guard Station?
Reservations for Gotchen Guard Station are made through Recreation.gov. 83.9% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 29 of 180 remain open. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Gotchen Guard Station?
5 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 29 at site Gotchen Guard Station. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Gotchen Guard Station?
October 2026, with 19 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Gotchen Guard Station?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Nov 6. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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