Map showing campground location near Beaver, Washington

Camper submitted image from Bear Creek Campground

Bear Creek Campground

Part of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources' management area, Bear Creek Campground sits just off Highway 101 near Sappho. This DNR-managed facility operates on a first-come, first-served basis and requires a Discover Pass for overnight stays. The campground features 14 established sites arranged along a one-way gravel loop road, with several pull-through spots that can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet.

Most sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with vault toilets scattered throughout the grounds. Site 8 draws particular attention from campers due to its Sol Duc River views and adjacent viewing deck. A steep trail provides direct water access to the river, where visitors report salmon runs during appropriate seasons. The campground sits close enough to Highway 101 that some road noise carries through, though traffic diminishes significantly at night.

Dense forest surrounds the sites, with Bethany W. noting "mossy green trees, ferns, and lots of other vegetation all over the area." Cell service reaches the campground, though tree cover can interfere with satellite internet connections. The Hungry Bear restaurant operates directly adjacent to the campground entrance.

Campers should bring toilet paper and prepare for basic vault toilet facilities. Sites fill up by evening during peak season, so afternoon arrival typically offers the best selection.

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Location

Public Campground

Bear Creek Campground is located in Washington

Directions

Directions: Located on the south side of US Highway 101 at milepost 206.

Coordinates

48.06563472 N
124.2429604 W

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Connectivity

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Market
ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Drinking Water
Toilets
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

2 hrs 27 min from Bremerton, WA
2 hrs 48 min from Seattle, WA
2 hrs 56 min from Mount Vernon, WA
3 hrs 13 min from Bellingham, WA

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5 Stars

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4.0

out of 5

9 Reviews

Campers regularly cited the secluded, tree-covered sites and excellent value with just a Discovery Pass required. Many visitors reported problematic vault toilets and some highway noise, though creek proximity helps mask traffic sounds.

Rob

Guide

Reviewed Mar. 19, 2026

Nice dry camp

WA DNR managed campgrounds. Requires discovery pass but can’t argue with free. Two pull thru sites and two pit toilets. Not able to get starlink to work with the tree cover but some cell service. Easy to access and gorgeous location.

Site8

Month of VisitMarch

(5) View All

Bethany W.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 27, 2025

Beautiful!

We were going to try to camp along Hwy 112 but the campgrounds along the road were full. So, we found this one being the first one when we turned back onto the 101 and we were very glad the other two along the 112 didn’t work out!

I believe there are 14 established campsites along a one way loop here. Very nice gravel road with 2-3 pull through spots and plenty of back in spots. All campsites have a picnic table and fire ring. Several vault toilets available and all campsites are fairly spaced out.

We arrived around 1 pm on a Friday and there were only 3 other campers here when we arrived. We chose spot #8 since it has views of the Sol Duc River. There’s a viewing deck right beside our campsite and a pretty steep trail that gives you water access.

Mossy green trees, ferns, and lots of other vegetation all over the area. Definitely mosquitoes out and about but, to be expected in such a wet climate.

Site8

Month of VisitJune

(5) View All

Amber S.

Traveler

Reviewed Dec. 28, 2023

Great discover pass campground

Stayed for 2 nights. Campground in just off highway 101, so there is a bit of road noise. We stayed in site 8, a pull through that could accommodate a much longer trailer than our 20 ft. Site 8 has a river view. We stayed at the end of December, midweek and there were only a couple of other campers. Nice fire pits and picnic tables. No water and pit toilets.

Site8

Month of VisitDecember

(4) View All

Heather

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 22, 2022

So quiet !

This is a DNR land campground that requires a Discover Pass to stay, but you can buy a day or year pass online and just post your info on a paper in your dash. The sites are decently secluded from one another, some more than others. We got there around 2:30pm and had a bunch to choose from but by 7:30 they seemed to be full. We stayed 2 nights and although it's close to the road, there isn't much traffic noise at night, which was nice. I didn't think there were toilets, so the vault toilets were a plus, but they were absolutely disgusting & without toilet paper. The stream was a short walk down a trail right next to our site and my husband almost caught a salmon with his bare hands, it was the highlight of his stay for sure ! Sites include a picnic table and fire ring. Everyone at this site was super quiet so probably not the right place for party campers. We did hear a lot of gunshots nearby which was a little concerning since we had our doggos with us but with the Olympic national forest right there, it wasn't super surprising. Overall great place to camp on a roadtrip!

Site14

Month of VisitSeptember

Jian H.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 11, 2022

The first time we came here

Under the guidance of The Dyrt, we came to this campground yesterday afternoon. It's almost full. Luckily we got the last one, site 14. Later the RV at site 9 left and we moved here. The environment is really nice , the trees are towering, and it is very hidden. Although it is close to us 101, the sound of traffic does not affect sleep. We were camping for the first time and still fell asleep. Left early the next morning

Site8

Month of VisitAugust

J. I.

Guide

Reviewed Apr. 20, 2021

Snow

I visited on a weekend in early April, and pulled into this camp just before sunset. I was lucky to have my pick of a few different sites. There is a little traffic noise from Hwy 101, but if you park near the creek, you notice the creek sounds more. It snowed a little overnight, and I woke up in a beautiful frosted scene from a postcard.

Site12

Month of VisitApril

(4) View All

Steve C.

Traveler

Reviewed Nov. 7, 2020

Decent “free” campsite

DNR managed campsite right off highway 101 about 20 minutes west of Sol Duc-Hot Springs Road. It has 9 campsites, first come first served (free with an Adventure Pass) with picnic tables, fire rings and a couple of fairly gross vault toilets. The sites can accommodate medium (~30ft) RVs but there aren’t any hookups. Primitive camping at it’s best. I stayed in site #8 which overlooks the Sol Duc River. There is a good bit of road noise being this close to the highway, but as a cheap spot to overnight close to Olympic NP it’s super convenient.

Zach A.

Ranger

Reviewed Jun. 20, 2020

Private Spot to Stop for the Night

This DNR managed land is the perfect stopping point for you if your looking for a cheap and easy spot directly off Highway 101 and don't mind staying too close to the highway. The 18 or so spots are pretty well hidden within the trees so you are not on top of your neighbor as well as being tucked back from the road through the campground.

As far as facilities go I only saw one vault toilet but there may be another somewhere within the park. There's a trail that takes you down to Bear Creek at the south end of the campground and a few spots that have a partial view of the ravine down below.

By far the biggest draw is the fact that you only really need a Discovery Pass to camp here, which is only $30 for the year and essentially pays for itself with two nights at any State-managed land. Beware though that this basically free camping can draw some sketchy people and if there isn't a camp host around I wouldn't leave any valuables out of your car (Iknow from experience) but most campgrounds do have host in the summer months. Added bonus here is the Hungry Bear restaurant is literally right next door so you can eat out if you get sick of camp cooking.

Month of VisitJune

(7) View All

Liz S.

Scout

Reviewed Feb. 1, 2020

Great Little Spot

Great spot, right on the river. Small (16 spots I believe), first come, no running water, discover pass required but free! Pros- right next to Hungry Bear Cafe if you don't want to cook, Cons- Bathrooms here are only for those with strong stomachs and lungs to hold your breath

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there free camping options near Bear Creek Campground?

Bear Creek Campground itself is essentially free camping, but requires a Washington Discover Pass for overnight stays. This DNR-managed land offers approximately 14-18 established sites at no additional cost beyond the Discover Pass requirement. The pass can be purchased as either a day or annual permit, and you'll need to display your pass information on your dashboard. This makes it one of the most affordable camping options in the Port Angeles region near Olympic National Park.

How do I make reservations for Bear Creek Campground?

Bear Creek Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. Campsites are allocated to whoever arrives first, so plan to arrive early, especially during peak seasons. Weekday arrivals generally have more site options than weekends. By mid-afternoon on busy days, the campground can fill up quickly, with most sites typically claimed by evening.

Where is Bear Creek Campground located in Washington?

Bear Creek Campground is located directly off Highway 101 in Washington, approximately 20 minutes west of Sol Duc Hot Springs Road in the Olympic Peninsula region. The campground is situated alongside Bear Creek, providing a peaceful riverside setting despite its proximity to the highway. Its convenient location makes it an excellent basecamp for exploring Olympic National Park attractions while being nestled among towering trees that provide good separation between sites.

Is Bear Creek Campground part of Olympic National Park?

No, Bear Creek Campground is not part of Olympic National Park. It's managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rather than the National Park Service. However, its strategic location about 20 minutes west of Sol Duc Hot Springs Road makes it a convenient gateway to Olympic National Park attractions. Visitors can use this campground as an affordable base for day trips into the national park.

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Are there free camping options near Bear Creek Campground?

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Where is Bear Creek Campground located in Washington?

Is Bear Creek Campground part of Olympic National Park?