Wahtum Lake

Its 5 sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping costs Single Site: $30 per night; additional vehicle $10 per night. Wahtum Lake is a National Forest campground near Hood River, Oregon.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Hood River, Oregon

Wahtum Lake and Pacific Crest Trail junction sign

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Wahtum Lake Campground. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)

Managed by: National Forest
Shade: Some shade

Wahtum Lake sits inside Mt. Hood National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits right at the edge of Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness; its permit and camping rules and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness: The campground sits beside Wahtum Lake and its trailhead, just east of the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, where the lake trail meets the Pacific Crest Trail. (fs.usda.gov)

Getting a site

Managed by: National Forest
Reservations: None, first-come
Fee: Single Site: $30 per night; additional vehicle $10 per night

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Sites and hookups

Total sites: 5

✓ Toilets
✓ Fire rings
✕ Potable water

On site: Toilets and fire rings. No potable water.

Sources: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29; recreation.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Access and cell service

Shade: Some shade
Elevation: 3,953 ft

Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)

AT&T: 4G LTE; 5G mapped about 0.5 mi away
T-Mobile: No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE and 5G mapped about 0.3 mi away
Verizon: No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.3 mi away

Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, data as of December 31, 2025

Outdoor coverage each carrier reports to the FCC at this campground's map point, and the nearest mapped coverage within about half a mile. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it. These are carrier predictions, not measurements, and can be wrong either way: real service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle is often weaker. 5G speeds are the FCC's 7/1 and 35/3 Mbps tiers. This product uses the FCC Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

45.5775, -121.7919 in Hood River. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Wahtum Lake?

No. Wahtum Lake is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.

How much does it cost to camp at Wahtum Lake?

Camping at Wahtum Lake costs Single Site: $30 per night; additional vehicle $10 per night.

How many campsites does Wahtum Lake have?

Wahtum Lake has 5 campsites.

Is there drinking water at Wahtum Lake?

No. Wahtum Lake has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.

Is there cell service at Wahtum Lake?

Yes, outdoors: the FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows 4G LTE from AT&T at Wahtum Lake. It shows none at Wahtum Lake from T-Mobile or Verizon, though T-Mobile shows 4G LTE and 5G about 0.3 mi away and Verizon shows 4G LTE about 0.3 mi away. The map is carrier-reported and modeled for outdoors, so expect weaker service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle.

Who manages Wahtum Lake?

Wahtum Lake is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Wahtum Lake

fishypedia.com · 8.1 miles

The nearest lake with a fishing page is Ice House Lake, whose mapped center point is 8.1 miles away in a straight line. Stocking record and species: Ice House Lake fishing on fishypedia.com.

Public land · within 15 miles

Public land within 15 miles: Wyeth State Recreation Area (7.9 miles to its center) , Starvation Creek State Park (9.1 miles to its center) , Viento State Park (10 miles to its center) , Wygant State Natural Area (11 miles to its center) , and Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Natural Area (11 miles to its center) ; publiclandsdb.com has each unit's camping rules and boundary.

Hot springs and waterfalls nearby

swimholesmap.com · within 30 miles

Nearest to Wahtum Lake, in straight-line miles: Punch Bowl Falls (waterfall, 5.8 miles), Carson Hot Springs (hot spring, 10 miles), Oneonta Falls (waterfall, 14 miles), Multnomah Falls (waterfall, 16 miles), and Wahkeena Falls (waterfall, 16 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.

First-come Ottertail Lake Hood River · National Forest First-come Black Lake Hood River · National Forest First-come Rainy Lake Hood River · National Forest

Reservable Lost Lake Hood River · National Forest

More campgrounds: camping near Hood River and campgrounds in Hood River.

Sources

apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-28
epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-09-29
broadbandmap.fcc.gov (cellCoverage), accessed 2026-09-27
fs.usda.gov (sites, shade, fee, fireRings, toilets, water, notableFeature, reservationSystem), accessed 2026-09-29
recreation.gov (sites, fireRings, shade), accessed 2026-09-29

Photo credits

Photo 1: USDA Forest Service, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)
Photo 2: USDA Forest Service, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)
Photo 3: USDA Forest Service, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)

First-come, first-served Single Site: $30 per night; additional vehicle $10 per night

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