Forlorn Lakes, one of the most popular campgrounds in the southern part of the forest, offers 25 campsites scattered around the wooded shores of small, picturesque lakes. Swimming and fishing are possible in the larger lakes. Huckleberry bushes grow in the campground and surrounding area making this site very popular during huckleberry season. The campsites at a maximum 18 feet long are suitable for tent camping and small campers or RV's. The day use area has lake views, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground is very popular, the camping spots fill early in the week. Forlorn Lakes offers nearby access to Indian Heaven via the East Crater Trailhead.
In Trout Lake, WA, at intersection of State Rt. 141 and Mt. Adams Rec Hwy, take Rt. 141 north 7.9 miles to Goose Lake/Forest Rt. 60 signs. Continue straight onto Rt. 60 and go 1.5 miles to "T" intersection. Turn right, staying on Rt. 60 (gravel) and go 0.1 miles to a "Y" intersection. Bear right, continuing on Rt. 60, and go 1.7 miles to an intersection and Forlorn Lakes sign. Turn left at sign onto Forest Rt. 6030 and go 2 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign onto Forest Rt. 6040 into the campground or continue straight for another 0.2 miles to sites 22 through 25. NOTE: Forest Rt. 6030 becomes Forest Rt 6035 and is a dirt, rough, narrow roadway for last 1.8 miles.
The beauty is insane! Would love to be able to give it 5 stars but safety on two different trips was not okay. We were harassed by one older guy with a bunch of young girls. You know when your instincts don’t settle right. Well, everything was okay until us girls decided to stay an extra night by ourselves and that guy tried scaring us off and prowling our camp. Then the second time, we had some of the squatters (ones down those long dirt roads and you find a random camper with full long term set up…) sneaking around our camp during the night. It’s getting reputation for party spots. Sad that people gotta ruin things for others
The forest is awesome during the month of July. There were loads of Huckleberries everywhere!
It is a part of the National Forest so you can camp wherever you can find a spot if the regular spots organized by the rangers are already taken.
Plenty of wildlife and spectacular views. We got a non pay for spot on the South side of the NF-6040 before the NF-040 split.
It was great! Nobody around us, not a far trek from the car, and we were able to bump our portable music as loud as we wanted.
Make sure to LEAVE NO TRACE!!! The only reason I give this a 4 star instead of 5 was because we were next to a swampy area that had tons of mosquitos.
Also, we got a flat in our Subaru coming up the NF-6040, changed the tire, and then I was dumb and went down the NF-040 path back home on the spare.
Haha, great times on the lakes though. A bit shallow, but fun.
Definitely packed this weekend, stayed at a spot down the road instead...picked up tons of trash out there for our annual Great Gifford Gambler run! It's beautiful!