Golden Lakes Backcountry Campsites are located in [Mount Rainier National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/washington/near/mount-rainier-national-park), surrounded by forested terrain and mountainous landscapes. Temperatures can range from 30°F to 70°F, depending on the season. Nearby attractions include the scenic trails of Mount Rainier and the picturesque views of the park's lakes and meadows.

Golden Lakes Backcountry Campsites — Mount Rainier National Park

Home to what is, by far, the tallest peak in Washington, Mt. Rainier National Park is a majestic sight to behold. Southeast of Seattle, WA, this is a respite for the city or a destination in and of itself.

Camping in Rainier National Park is straightforward, with one major campground in each section of the park. Ohanapecosh Campgrounds has the greatest number of individual campsites. Mowich Lake Campground in the northwest is the only tent-exclusive primitive camping option. The others offer RV camping, with Cougar Rock Campground having the largest length maximum at 35 feet (27 feet for trailers). The best camping near Mount Rainier National Park during the busy season is in any of the surrounding US Forest Service Land. With options in three directions, you won’t be short on places to camp. Tahoma State Forest near Ashford, WA, is a good option as well.

Mount Rainier National Park

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Mount Rainier National Park, WA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Mount Rainier National Park campgrounds just for you. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Mount Rainier National Park and user-submitted reviews.

The Best Camping Near Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Campground Review:

My partner and I were hiking the Wonderland Trail (93+ miles around the base of Mount Rainier) and this was our final site on our long trek. Since we got a walk-up permit, we didn't have much choice in what campsites we got, but really felt lucky to land the group site at Golden Lakes. It was sizeable, but not gigantic- could fit three medium sized tents comfortably. It overlooked the lake and had the best water access of the entire campground. There were logs to set things on as you cooked, a really nice outhouse, and lots of trees to give you some privacy from the other campsites. Unfortunately, there were some louder groups staying next to us, and there isn't much spacing between sites so it can get pretty noisy. Overall, we agreed it was one of our favorite sites on the trail (and we stayed at 8!). Pretty simple hike from Mowich Campground, too!

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Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I got an opportunity to try out MH [Mac and Cheese!](https://www.mountainhouse.com/m/product/macaroni-cheese.html) We saved this meal for last because we were SO. EXCITED. We literally couldn't stop talking about how excited we were to try it out- calorie rich, lightweight, and mac and cheese in the backcountry?! What's not to be excited about. Although it didn't FULLY live up to our expectations (I mean, we really talked it up in our mind), it was delicious and the perfect end to a long day of hiking- we definitely didn't go to bed hungry. The 3 servings is great after a 15+ mile day and was one of the few dinners that didn't leave us wanting. It was a little soupier than I expected, but tasted like homemade mac. Super easy to make, takes MUCH shorter time to cook than Backpackers Pantry meals, and is a perfect addition to any backpacking/camping trip. Will purchase again, just wish MH made more vegetarian options….

Photos of Golden Lakes Backcountry Campsites — Mount Rainier National Park

Real photos from real campers