Backcountry Trails and Camp Reports
A Wilderness Camping Permit is required year round for camping or climbing in the park. Car camping does not require a wilderness permit. Please Note: Due to rapidly changing winter conditions and staff limitations, trail conditions are not updated during the winter season. Always check with Park Rangers for trail conditions before heading out into the backcountry. Food storage poles are down at camps for the season. Either use rope or bear canisters for food storage. General Conditions Update: Be prepared... mountain weather is good one minute, daunting the next. Always check with rangers before heading into the back country. Please Note: Do not leave valuables in your car. While break-ins are infrequent, they do occur.
Trails in the Carbon River Area
The Carbon River Road to Ipsut Creek Campground is CLOSED at the park entrance because of 2006 flood damage. It is now a five mile hike into Ipsut Creek Campground. Bikes are permitted ONLY as far as Ipsut Creek Campground. All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain backcountry camping permits at the Carbon River Ranger Station.
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Trail Name
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% Snow Cover
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Trail Conditions
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Update
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| Summary |
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Ipsut Creek Campground is being managed as a backcountry camp. A wilderness permit will be required to camp at Ipsut Creek. Fires and pets are not permitted beyond the point where public vehicles can legally park at the park entrance.
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| Carbon Glacier Trail |
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| Chenuis Fall |
0 |
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5/16/13 |
| Green Lake |
1 |
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5/16/13 |
| Ipsut Falls |
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| Northern Loop: Carbon River- Windy Gap |
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| Paul Peak Trail |
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| Rain Forest Loop |
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| Spray Park |
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| Seattle Park |
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| Tolmie Peak |
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Trails in the Longmire Area
The main road to Longmire is OPEN year round. All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain backcountry camping permit daily at the Longmire Wilderness Information Center or the Paradise Visitor Center.
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Trail Name
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% Snow Cover
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Trail Conditions
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Update
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| Summary |
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| Carter Falls (from Cougar Rock Campground) |
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| Comet Falls Trail (Van Trump Park Trail) |
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| Denman Falls Trail |
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| Eagle Peak Trail |
80 |
Snow-free the first 1.5 miles. |
5/16/13 |
| Goat Lake Trail |
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| Kautz Creek Trail |
60 |
Snow-free the first 2 miles. |
5/16/13 |
| Lake George & Gobblers Knob Trail |
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| Mildred Point Trail |
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| Narada Falls Trail (Paradise to viewpoint below Narada Falls) |
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| North Puyallup River Trail |
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| Rampart Ridge Trail |
30 |
Snow along the top of the ridge. |
5/16/13 |
| Rampart Ridge Trail (Upper section from Wonderland Trail to Van Trump Park and Comet Falls) |
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| Round Pass Trail |
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| Saint Andrews Creek Trail |
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South Puyallup River Trail
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| Trail of the Shadows |
0 |
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5/16/13 |
| Twin Firs Trail |
0 |
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5/16/13 |
Trails in the Ohanapecosh Area
All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain permits at the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center.
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Trail Name
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% Snow Cover
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Trail Conditions
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Update
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| Summary |
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| Cowlitz Divide Trail (Olallie Creek Trail) |
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| Eastside Trail |
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| Grove of the Patriarchs Trail |
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| Laughingwater Creek Trail |
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| Pacific Crest Trail |
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| Shriner Peak Trail |
50 |
First 2 miles are snow-free. Navigation afterward is very difficult. |
5/16/13 |
| Silver Falls Trail |
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Trails in the Paradise Area
The main road to Longmire is OPEN year round. During winter months, the road from Longmire to Paradise closes nightly at the gate at Longmire. Check for daily road status updates. All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtaining backcountry camping permits daily at the Longmire Information Center.
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Trail Name
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% Snow Cover
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Trail Conditions
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Update
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| Summary |
All trails in the Paradise area are snow-covered. |
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5/16/13 |
| Alta Vista Trail |
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| Dead Horse Creek Trail |
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| Fourth Crossing Trail |
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| Glacier Vista Trail |
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| Golden Gate Trail |
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| High Lakes Loop Trail |
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| Lakes Trail (Mazama Ridge) |
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| Moraine Trail |
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| Nisqually Vista Trail |
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| Paradise Glacier Trail |
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| Pebble Creek Trail (to the base of the Muir Snowfield) |
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| Pinnacle Peak Trail |
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| Skyline Trail |
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| Snow Lake/Bench Lake Trail |
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| Stevens Creek Trail |
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Trails in the White River Area
All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain permits at the White River Ranger Station, located at the entrance.
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Trail Name
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% Snow Cover
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Trail Conditions
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Update
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| Summary |
All trails in the Sunrise area are snow-covered. |
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5/16/13 |
| Burroughs Mountain Trail |
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| Burroughs Mountain to Glacier Basin Trail |
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| Crystal Lakes Trail |
70 |
Snow-free the first 3/4 mile. |
5/16/13 |
Crystal Peak Trail
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100 |
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5/16/13 |
| Emmons Moraine Trail |
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| Glacier Basin Trail |
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| Grand Park Trail (via Northern Loop Trail) |
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| Huckleberry Creek Trail |
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| Lake Eleanor Trail |
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| Mt. Fremont Trail |
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| Naches Peak Trail |
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| Northern Loop Trail: Berkeley Park to Windy Gap |
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| Owyhigh Lakes Trail (from White River Road) |
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| Pacific Crest Trail |
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| Palisades Lakes Trail |
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| Silver Forest Trail |
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| Sourdough Ridge Trail |
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| Sunrise Rim Trail |
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| Tipsoo Lake Trail |
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Wonderland Trail
All backcountry camping requires a permit.
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Trail Name
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% Snow Cover
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Trail Conditions
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Update
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| Summary |
The Wonderland Trail is snow-covered. |
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5/16/13 |
| Longmire to Indian Henry's |
90 |
Route-finding very difficult from the top of Rampart Ridge onward. The Kautz Creek crossing is in. The Pyramid Creek crossing is OUT. |
5/23/13 |
| Indian Henry's to South Puyallup River |
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| South Puyallup River to Klapatche Park |
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| Klapatche Park to North Puyallup River |
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| North Puyallup River to Golden Lakes |
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| Golden Lakes to South Mowich River |
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| South Mowich River to Mowich Lake |
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| Mowich Lake to Ipsut Creek Campground |
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| Ipsut Creek Campground to Carbon Glacier |
80 |
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5/16/13 |
| Carbon Glacier to Mystic Lake |
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| Mystic Lake to Sunrise |
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| Sunrise to White River Campground |
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| White River Campground to Summerland |
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| Summerland to Indian Bar |
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| Indian Bar to Box Canyon |
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| Box Canyon to Reflection Lakes |
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| Reflection Lakes to Narada Falls |
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| Narada Falls to Longmire |
60 |
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5/16/13 |
Carbon Area Backcountry Camps
The road to Ipsut Creek Campground is closed at the park entrance, secondary to flood damage in 2006. All backcounrty camping requires a permit. Obtain Wilderness Permits at Carbon River just inside the entrance to the park.
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Camp Name
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% Snow Cover
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Camp Conditions
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Update
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| # of Individual/Group sites are show as #I/G, (elevation) |
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| Summary |
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The road to Ipsut Creek is CLOSED. The hike is 5 miles from the Carbon River Entrance to Ipsut Creek Campground, which is now managed as a wilderness camp and requires a wilderness permit.
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Carbon River Camp #4/1 (3195')
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| Cataract Valley Camp #6/1 (4620') |
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| Dick Creek Camp #2/0 (4185') |
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| Eagle's Roost Camp #7/0 (4885') |
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| Ipsut Creek #12/1 (2400') |
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| Mowich Lake Walk-in Camp (4900') |
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| Mystic Camp #7/1 (5570') |
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| South Mowich River Camp #3/1 (2605') |
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Longmire/Paradise Area Backcountry Camps
All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain Wilderness Camping permits daily at the Longmire Wilderness Information Center, the Longmire Museum (open year-round) or The Paradise Visitor Center.
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Camp Name
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% Snow Cover
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Camp Conditions
|
Update
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| # of Individual/Group sites are show as #I/G, (elevation) |
Camps are snow-covered. |
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5/16/13 |
| Summary |
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| Devil's Dream Camp #7/1 (5060') |
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| Golden Lakes Camp #5/1 (5130') |
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| Klapatche Park Camp #4/0 (5515') |
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| Lake George Camp #5/1 (4320') |
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| Maple Creek Camp #4/1 (2815') |
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| Paradise River Camp #3/1 (3805') |
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| Pyramid Creek Camp #2/0 (3765') |
100 |
The toilet is open. The food storage pole is up. The camp is under at least two feet of snow. |
5/23/13 |
| North Puyallup River Camp #3/1 (3750') |
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| Snow Lake Camp #2/0 (4690') |
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| South Puyallup River Camp #4/1 (4000') |
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Eastside Backcountry Camps
All backcountry camps require a permit.
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Camp Name
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% Snow Cover
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Camp Conditions
|
Update
|
| # of Individual/Group sites are show as #I/G, (elevation) |
Camps are snow-covered. |
|
5/16/13 |
| Summary |
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| Berkeley Park Camp #2/1 (5375') |
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| Deer Creek Camp #2/0 (2950') |
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| Dick's Lake Camp #1/0 (5675') |
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| Fire Creek Camp #3/1 (4300') |
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| Forest Lake Camp #1/0 (5660') |
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| Glacier Basin Camp #5/1 (5965') |
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In summer months food storage at this camp is provided by two large barrels, located near the group site. The food storage poles are no longer in use at this camp because of steady bear activity. Please use these barrels for food storage ONLY and be sure to close the lids properly after you place or remove food from the barrels.
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| Indian Bar Camp #4/1 (5120') |
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| Granite Creek #3/1 (5765') |
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| James Camp (Formerly the Redstone Camp) #3/1 (4620') |
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| Lake Eleanor Camp #3/1 (5000') |
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| Lower Crystal Lake Camp #2/0 (5450') |
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| Nickel Creek Camp #3/1 (3385') |
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| Olallie Creek Camp #2/1 (3940') |
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| Shriner Peak Camp #2/0 (5355') |
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| Summerland Camp #5/1 (5940') |
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| Sunrise Walk-In Camp #8/2 (6245') |
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| Tamanos Creek Camp #4/2 (5270') |
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| Three Lakes Camp #2/1 (4680') |
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| Upper Crystal Lake Camp #2/0 (5825') |
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| Upper Palisades Lake Camp #2/0 (5835') |
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| White River Walk-in Camp #3/1 (4300') |
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| Yellowstone Cliffs Camp #2/0 (5180') |
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