Openings · last 7 days
2
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-10277125
When Gotchen Guard Station reopens
Gotchen Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
4
Openings · last 90 days
4
Only 4 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 168 tracked site-nights (Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027): 5 open for online reservation · 2 reserved · 23 closed · 105 unavailable (cause unspecified) · 33 not yet released.
Where the open windows are
97% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 5 of 168 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027Not open online97%
Open site-nights5 / 168
Reserved (of online inventory)2 / 7
Weekday openings4
Weekend openings1
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 4 fall on weekdays and 1 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Nov 2026 – May 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
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. Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| Gotchen Guard Station | 5 |
This site currently has 5 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Nov 2, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Nov 2
December0 of 31 · no online availability
The next bookable night is Nov 2. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
5 open site-nights across 1 site at Gotchen Guard Station, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 1 2-night, 1 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Nov 2 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 | 5 | 4 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 8 |
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.
1 monitored siteNo hookupsSpringsMax party 6
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.
2455 Hwy 141, Trout Lake, WA 98650509-395-3400
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-10277125 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-10277125 · Gotchen Guard Station · Trout Lake WA9 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Gotchen Guard Station?
Reservations for Gotchen Guard Station are made through Recreation.gov. 97% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 5 of 168 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 4 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. 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 Nov 2, 2026 16:20 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.
How often do new openings appear at Gotchen Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site-date openings at Gotchen Guard Station in the last 7 days, 4 over 30 days and 4 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Gotchen Guard Station?
1 three-night opening is showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Nov 2 at site Gotchen Guard Station. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Gotchen Guard Station?
November 2026, with 5 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 29.
When is the next open date at Gotchen Guard Station?
As of the Nov 2, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Nov 2. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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