Places To Go Camping In Washington State

You can go hiking along numerous trails in Monument Park and Lily Point Park. Point Roberts is an important nesting area for American Bald Eagles, and there are several easily observable nests dotted around Lily Point, which is a prime place to spend a few hours doing some bird watching. Art and shopping enthusiasts can have a great time exploring several arty attractions including the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, Waterworks Gallery and Island Studios Art Gallery and the Arctic Raven Gallery. There is more shopping available at Kings Market, Funk and Junk Antiques and Dan Levin Originals. A good way to round off a busy day is to visit one of several Day Spas for a relaxing massage, before you catch a show presented by Island Stage Left theater troupe.

The southern part of the state is known for beautiful scenery, snow-capped peaks, and excellent wine. On the Oregon border, the Columbia River Gorge is full of beautiful spots for hikers–come in the spring and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular flurries of wildflowers. The region also boasts a few world-class wineries of its own, with more to be found further north and east in Walla Walla and Yakima. The area is also home to Mount Adams, Mount Rainier and its surrounding national park, and Mount Saint Helens, which famously erupted back in 1980.

Why Youll Love North Whidbey Rv Park

WDFW manages more than 1 million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout the state. But the Fremont Troll is unlike any other, happily residing under the Aurora Bridge in north Seattle. Steve Badanes and his team created this sculpture to transform the area from an unruly wasteland to a must-see sight. Weighing 13,000lbs and measuring 18ft in height, the Fremont Toll has a steel eye and clutches a Volkswagen Beetle in its left hand.

Kirkland’s scenic position on the shores of Lake Washington ensures a great selection of activities for the whole family. Marina Park is situated close to downtown Kirkland and offers a beautiful environment for cycling, walking, jogging or fishing. The Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park has good facilities for children and is open all year round. For something really different you can head to the 132nd Square Park, take off your shoes and enjoy the soothing benefits of the reflexology trail.

On the southern flank of Mount Rainier, Cougar Rock Campground provides the closest access to the stunning Paradise area of the park. This area of Mount Rainier is nothing short of aptly named, and with a 10-mile scenic drive from the campground, visitors can experience up-close views of Rainier and its many glaciers. Here, the Skyline Trail traverses the mountain meadows, babbling brooks, and surreal alpine environment that defines this scenic region of the park. The park sits on the Olympic Peninsula in the northwest corner of the state, and among the most popular areas to explore is Hurricane Ridge.

If you’re lucky, you could even catch seals or whales in the distant salt waters. Spreading over 3,854 acres the park has 172 tent sites, 134 partial hookup sites and five bike sites. With mysterious coves and rugged cliffs, you would enjoy scenic sunsets on the beautiful landscapes of the state park. Hence without further adieu, let’s have a look at the 15 best campsites in Washington State.

Bridge Creek Group Site

There are 72 sites, including a group site and an ADA Accessible site. Blue Lake Resort was founded in 1938 and is nestled between canyon walls down the Coulee Corridor. The resort is located in central Washington, around 3 hours from Seattle and 2 hours from Spokane.

Diablo Lake, Colonial Creek Campground – Lakeside, creekside, and forestside sites are all available and are situated near to hiking trails, a fishing pier, docks, and a boat launch. Though it’s hard to be exact, it’s estimated that there’s over 70,439 miles of river that winds, tumbles, and careens its way though the state of Washington. Couple that with over 8,000 lakes, and the highest rainfall in the contiguous Unites States and you’ve got yourself an impressive number of waterside camping options to explore.

A full calendar of special events makes this a year-round destination for the whole family. The campground itself features numerous amenities, great for both family vacation as well as a romantic getaway for two. You can engage in fishing, tennis, mini-golf, basketball, or pickleball. Regardless of your location, you will be within walking distance of the beach. A highlight of a camping trip at Hobuck Beach Resort is a trip to the famous Shi Shi Beach.

Big Creek Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Wa

Instead of making it a quick stop, bring a tent to stay overnight and you’ll find plenty of great hikes early in the morning, many of which are also wheelchair accessible. The park is limited to only 10 sites , so you’ll want to show up and get your spot as early as possible. Boardman Group Campground is located about 8 miles east of the Verlot Public Service Center along scenic Mountain Loop Scenic Byway through Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Lakedale Resort on San Juan Island is a paradise for canoeing, fishing, hiking—all the basics for a weekend outside via three spring-fed lakes and wooded terrain. While well-equipped cabins can be booked, the canvas tents, also referred to as canvas cabins, with wood flooring and comfy beds still offer practicality, in addition to extra nature immersion. Be sure to taste the local wine, along with the lodge breakfast of eggs, signature granola, pancakes and multitudes of other treats to start an adventuresome day.

Free Camping In The Cascades

Bonaparte Lake Campground is located on the southern edge of Bonaparte Lake east of Tonasket, WA, in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The setting of the campground is in a mixed ponderosa pine and Douglas fir conifer forest at the base of Bonaparte Mountain. This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within designated areas of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest! Lifelong memories are built during these special times and we are happy to help with any information gathering you’ll need to make this trip a safe and enjoyable one. Thirty minutes east of Ellensburg, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park presents a dense collection of fossils on display. The state park overlooks the Columbia River and Wanapum Reservoir and is considered one of the most diverse fossil forests in the country.

This geologic concentration provides a landscape found nowhere else in the state. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are extremely popular in the winter at Lake Wenatchee State Park. The campground operates during this blustery time, with heated restrooms and warming shelters aiding in this cold-weather endeavor. Colonial Creek Campground is one of the most popular bases to explore the rugged North Cascades of Washington. It’s next to the aquamarine waters of Diablo Lake and accessible via the seasonal North Cascades Highway.

Summer is upon us, and that means getting outside and into nature for us Northwesterners. There’s nothing quite like getting outdoors when the weather is nice, and a great way to experience it is through the rip-roaring excitement of an all-terrain vehicle. If you want to fly through some beautiful trails, here are five cool spots for ATV off-roading in the Evergreen State. The park also includes Lake Spokane for boating and fishing enthusiasts and is close to restaurants and shops in Spokane. The campgrounds offer tenting areas, restrooms, and picnic shelters. This campground is also distinguished by its dog-friendly policies, allowing you to bring along your favorite pooch on your camping adventure.

The north and south campground loops at Lake Wenatchee offer over 150 campsites in total, accommodating both tents and RVs. All the sites are within a short walk to the beach, as well as flushing restroom facilities with showers. On Fidalgo Island, Bowman Bay also hosts campsites and offers easy access to the Civilian Conservation Corps Interpretive Center where visitors can learn more about the park.

Here you’ll find Olympic National Forest and its ancient Hoh Rainforest, plus plenty of small coastal towns, such as charming Port Angeles and Port Townsend. Stradling the Puget Sound, this region includes Washington’s biggest city–Seattle–and the area around it. With plenty of places to choose from, we hope reading this word to word has helped to slim down your list to include the must-visit places. If you still have a list and not one place where you would want to go, then close your eyes and take a random pick from our list. In fact, you are sure to have an amazing time in nature, finding a true connection with Mother Earth, enjoying all the fun that comes along with camping in the woods. Located in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and WDNR Striped Peak, the recreation area is 196- acres, offering 92 scenic campsites.

Columbia River Gorge

Walupt Lake Campground – Private, spacious camping with good amenities and excellent access to the lake and an impressive network of trails. Alder Lake Park Campground- A well-equipped large campground that’s able to handle huge summertime crows that are eager to recreate on and nearby the lake. Hoh Oxbow Campground – Riverside camping with immediate access to excellent fishing and an expansive network of trails. Washington’s lovely Skagit Valley is situated in a wonderfully scenic area between Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains.

The now-partially imploded volcano has trails open for hiking as well as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. The Learning Center shows how the surrounding ecosystem has reacted over time. Marcus Island Campground is hidden in the trees in the heart of the Lake Roosevelt Recreation Area. The campground is heavily shaded, so it makes a perfect summer escape.