Cougar Park & Campground - Tent Only

We were surprised there were any open campsites inside the state park but we snagged one. For $20 a night it was nice. Not too close to each other. No showers but running water bathrooms that were fairly clean. Best part was getting up early and being able to catch the top of Mnt Ranier before the clouds covered it.

We stay every year in May when when do our annual St. Helens climb. Nice bathrooms with wonderful shower, which we love after the climb. Close to a great restaurant, a bar, a gas station, trails, Yale lake, etc. The new owners are super friends and have done a lot of work on the property to add more sites. I always enjoy my stay there.

Be forewarned that this is a tent only campground. We showed up with our VW Eurovan (smaller than half the pickup trucks parked there) and were immediately lectured on not having a tent. I apologized for the misunderstanding and was allowed to stay, but made to feel very unwelcome. Patrol (Sheriff, private security, and camp hosts in golf carts) seemed to come around every 30 minutes or so. We had nothing to hide, but the feeling of constant surveillance detracts from the quiet relaxation we were seeking. With all of this surveillance you would think that getting a good night’s sleep would be easy, but the campsites are close together and there’s no real enforcement of quiet hours. All of that being said, the surrounding area is beautiful and the access to the lake is a nice plus. This place has great potential, but needs new management.