Camp Pinchot Guide
Welcome to Camp Pinchot. Here’s everything worth knowing before you arrive, once you’re settled, and when it’s time to head out. If you can’t find what you need here, shoot us a message and we’ll do our best to get back to you promptly.
01 Getting here
You’re heading to 105B Portal Street, Packwood, WA 98361. Camp Pinchot is one of two A-frames on the shared 105 lot, right next door to Camp Basecamp. Camp Gifford (105A) sits alongside, and Camp Commons is the small shared area between them.
Enter the property between the concrete pillars. You’ll park to the right — please stay off the planted areas.
02 Settling in
Your door code activates at 3:00 PM on arrival day. The code is the last 4 digits of the phone number on your reservation — you’ll also find it in your pre-arrival message.
The keypad is on the right side of the front door. Press the top button, then enter your 4-digit code, then the green check. That’s it. To lock on your way out, press the top button and then the green check (no need to enter your code to lock).
If the keypad gives you trouble, we have a backup lockbox — message us and we’ll walk you through it.
WiFi: Camp Pinchot
Password: WelcometoPackwood
The layout — worth knowing before you unpack
Camp Pinchot sleeps 5 across two bedrooms:
- Main floor bedroom (queen, private door)
- Loft bedroom (one queen, one twin, plus a half bath — accessed by stairs, see the note below)
Stair safety: The stairs to the loft are steep — A-frame style. Please take them slowly, use the handrail, and keep an eye on small kids. Overnight, we recommend leaving a small light on.
What we’ve stocked
- Coffee, sugar, salt, pepper, olive oil
- Coffee mugs — on the open shelving. They’re glass and a bit larger than standard, and they keep your coffee warm nicely
- Malin+Goetz shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion
- Makeup removal wipes — please use these instead of the towels
- Propane for the BBQ
- Pack-and-play
What to bring
- Sandals for the hot tub — the deck gets slippery
- Any specialty groceries — Packwood’s Blanton’s Market covers the basics but selection is limited
- Highchair if you need one
The induction cooktop
The stovetop is induction — it uses magnetism rather than direct flame. A magnetic pan (cast iron or steel) has to be sitting on the burner before it’ll turn on. If pressing the burner button does nothing, that’s usually why. A quick test: any pan a fridge magnet sticks to will work.
03 The hot tub
Camp Pinchot’s hot tub is private to your stay — no sharing with the neighbors — and lives just off the back deck. It runs quiet and keeps a steady 104°F. Please don’t change the settings on the hot tub.
Opening the cover
Fold the cover back, then with a friend, gently place it on its side on the ground.
Please don’t stand on the cover. They’re not designed for weight, and damage means a fee.
House rules for the tub
- Shower before you get in — lotions, creams, and sunscreen wreck the water chemistry
- No glass and no food around the tub (there’s a $125 cleaning fee if we find either)
- Kids under 5 shouldn’t use the tub — their systems are sensitive to the temp and chemicals
- Adults supervise kids at all times
- Quiet after 10 PM — the neighbors are close
- Hot tub use is at your own risk. There is a risk of drowning or injury.
A few hot tub notes: Please shower before getting in, and skip lotions, creams, or sunscreen right before — they mess with the water chemistry. Kids should always be supervised, and no one under 5 (their systems don’t handle the temp well). Don’t stand on the cover — it isn’t built for weight. And please keep glass and food away from the tub; spills mean a $125 cleaning fee.
04 The sauna
The shared cedar sauna is at Camp Commons, just steps from Camp Pinchot’s front door. You’ll see it as you walk out — follow the signs.
Heat-up time: 45 minutes. Head over early and turn it on before you’re ready to use it.
Reservation length: 90 minutes.
Session limit: please limit time in the sauna to around 15 minutes.
Water on the rocks: sprinkle some for steam if you like, but don’t overdo it — there’s no floor drain, so excess water pools.
Please only reserve slots that you will use — the sauna is shared with Camp Gifford next door and Camp Basecamp just over, and morning ski-day slots go fast.
The earliest available slot is 7:00 AM, which works well if you want a quick sauna before heading up to White Pass. Just remember: turn it on 45 minutes before your slot starts.
There’s a water dispenser in the entry room — stay hydrated! It’s ok to pour a small amount of water on the heater, but don’t dump more than a cup. There is no floor drain.
A few sauna notes: Stay hydrated, and please skip alcohol before or during. Swimsuits are required (it’s a shared space). There’s a sweat towel provided at the sauna itself, plus your grey towel from the cabin comes in handy. If you have any medical concerns, check with your doctor before using.
05 Around the property
What’s yours, what’s shared
Camp Pinchot itself — the A-frame and its private hot tub off the back deck — is entirely yours during your stay.
Camp Commons, right next to Camp Pinchot, is shared with Camp Gifford and Camp Basecamp. That’s where the sauna is, along with the concrete gas fire pit area and Camp Provisions — our little market for wine, snacks, and small camp goods. Please don’t wander into Camp Gifford or Camp Basecamp themselves; those are private cabins for their guests, like Camp Pinchot is for you.
Camp Provisions
Camp Provisions is the small building at the front of the Camp Commons area. It’s stocked with wine, snacks, and a few camp essentials. Everything’s honor-system — grab what you want, then submit payment using the button below.
Fire pit at Camp Commons
Camp Commons has a shared concrete gas fire pit. Here’s how to fire it up:
- Bring the lighter from your cabin.
- Check that the red button is extended — if it’s pushed in, a gentle twist will pop it back out.
- Turn the black timer dial — that starts the flow of gas.
- Leaning away from the pit, use the lighter to ignite the flame area.
- When you’re finished, press the red button in to shut off the flame.
Safety: Don’t lean over the pit while lighting. Never leave a lit fire unattended. Keep anything flammable — napkins, sleeves, or anything else that can burn — away from the flame area.
EV charging
There’s a J1772 Level 2 charger out on the street — look for the metal sign. Park parallel to the fence, not sticking out toward the street. Works with any J1772-compatible EV, including Kia EV6, Rivian, Ford, and Tesla with an adapter you’ll need to bring.
First 50 kWh: complimentary.
After that: $0.15/kWh, invoiced after your stay.
Parking
Please park in the designated area for Camp Pinchot — no street parking, and please stay off the planted areas.
Propane BBQ
The BBQ uses propane from a line connected to the house (there is no tank). To start the flow of gas, turn the yellow valve to the on position.
Trash & recycling
Both bins live at the street:
- Dumpster with black lid — trash
- Beige lid — recycling
During your stay, take excess trash out to the street. When you leave, if your kitchen bag isn’t full, leave it in the can inside — the cleaning crew will use it.
06 Bringing kids
Camp Pinchot works well for families — an A-frame layout kids tend to love and space to spread out. A few notes worth having in advance:
Stair safety: the loft stairs are steep. Little ones should take them with an adult, and we recommend leaving a small light on overnight.
- Pack-and-play is available
- No highchair yet — bring one if you need it
- The hot tub is not suitable for kids under 5, and older kids need an adult in there with them
07 Bringing dogs
Camp Pinchot is dog-friendly. Inside, you’ll find a basket with a dog blanket and towels. A quick wipe-down after outdoor time saves the floors and the bedding.
No pets upstairs, please. The loft stairs aren’t safe for most dogs, and we keep the upstairs pet-free for allergy-sensitive future guests.
- Dog basket: you’ll find a blanket and blue dog towels inside for wiping paws after outdoor time — please use them!
- Two-dog maximum, unless permission given beforehand
- Dogs off the furniture and beds, please
- Pick up in the yard — don’t leave anything for the cleaning crew to find
- Make sure your dogs are on the reservation before you arrive
08 Adventure awaits
Packwood’s small, but the surrounding area isn’t. Hikes, food, White Pass, Mount Rainier — we’ve put together a full guide of our favorite spots, with difficulty tiers, seasonal notes, and a map.
09 Before you head out
Checkout is 11:00 AM. Departing on time allows our cleaning crew to begin work so the following guests can enjoy their stay. You’ll get a message the day before checkout if a late checkout is available — just follow the instructions to confirm if it’s something you’d like to do.
A few things that help the cleaning crew turn the cabin around fast:
- Turn off lights and set the thermostat to a comfortable temp (not off — just reasonable)
- Fill and start the dishwasher; detergent is under the sink
- Take any excess trash to the street bins (black lid = trash, beige = recycling)
- Leave partial trash bags in the kitchen can — the crew will use them
- Do a quick sweep for anything left behind, especially up in the loft
And take the BACKTOCAMP card from the coffee bar — it’s a discount for your next stay, whether you book with us again through Airbnb or direct at staycampcabins.com.
10 Something come up?
For anything during your stay — questions, small issues, plumbing weirdness, a lightbulb out — message us through your booking platform or call us at 206-295-1567. We typically respond right away.
A few specific things worth flagging early rather than late:
- Water leak of any kind — call us right away. We’ll walk you to the emergency shutoff.
- Power outage: the generator kicks on automatically in about 20 seconds. Hot water isn’t available while on generator power. Flashlights are in the laundry area if you need one.
- Winter deck ice — salt mix and sand are on the deck. If it snows heavily, message us and we’ll arrange plowing.
- Fire, smoke, or anything smells burning — call 911 first, us second. During burn bans, no wood-fueled fires at all.
Small stuff worth knowing
- Fire extinguisher & first-aid kit: under the kitchen sink.
- Quiet hours: please, no exterior amplified music after 10 PM — keeps the neighbors on our good side.
- Septic system: no wipes, grease, or coffee grounds down the drain, and toilet paper only in the toilet. City sewers can handle almost anything; our septic can’t.
- Laundry: washer and dryer are here for you — but please limit to necessary loads and don’t overfill. They’re critical to running our business, and we’re on a delicate septic system.
- Wet floors: please wipe up spills promptly — the wood floors don’t love standing water.
Hi, we’re Joe & Conner.
Along with our pups, we built Camp Cabins because we wanted a place near Rainier that felt like an actual retreat — not just a bed to sleep in. So we obsess over the little things, from the coffee in the kitchen to the linen duvets on every bed. Together with our team, our aim is a stay you long to repeat.
If there’s anything we can do to make yours better, please reach out.
That’s the whole picture. Enjoy Camp Pinchot, enjoy Packwood, and reach out if we can make anything better.
— Joe & Conner