Ariel, WA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Washington camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Ariel, WA. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
"Pros: Good lake to swim in, smaller state park so not too busy, kayaks you can rent, small playground if you have kids, pet frIendly cabIn I stayed In was faIrly secluded Cons: because it’s smaller, kids"
"BGLSP is a really lovely park not too far from Portland with camping and rustin cabins."
"Cute little place, showers, potable water, toilets, buy wood, etc. Has two yurts also. A little steep at 30.00/nt to camp."
"Campgrounds: Some were very apparent that it was smaller than other sites, but I loved that each site came with picnic table."
"Lewis River Campground is right at the trail head and adjacent to the lower falls, so there's plenty to see and do right around the camping area. "
"Cabins, tipis, lodge, and RV park - all for groups such as churches, organizations, schools, etc. No individual camping."
"I love Seaquest for their beautiful campsites and the proximity to a wonderful forest to bathe in."
"The campground is huge but our site felt fairly private even though there were lots of campers around. Good, clean services (toilet, water, trash bins); it's very well maintained. "
"They are very strict about quiet hours. There is a pool, gameroom, restaurant and store. Easy access to Mt. St. Hellens, Ape cave and Yale lake. Very beautiful area!"
"Super clean and nice full hookups including cable (I didn’t get mine to work but I’ve never tried before so that’s probably my lack of knowledge) laundry pool table video games swimming pool full bar restaurant"
$25 - $125 / night
"We booked a site here as a last resort, because everything else in the area was full. It's an interesting mix of campground and kind of a trailer park, with the permanent RV residents."
"We are a professional late 50s / early 60s couple new to the van life, and not RV-oriented, so we are a little careful about choosing sites with adequate peacefulness, space and privacy. "
$27 - $41 / night
"Sunny during the day, highs around 50, close to freezing at night."
"We are from Portland and this is a short drive from home.
Sites here are spacious and have picnic tables and firepits."
$50 / night
"Stayed the night in one of thier small cabins, very nice sat outside by the fire and just watched the stars, this is a primary horse camp and is surrounded by trails, seen a heard of elk on one of my hikes"
"A great place to camp with the familyin tents or an rv, groups, rent a cabin or hold an event like a wedding. Bring your horses and ride the trails and stay at the horse camp."
$20 - $150 / night
"Silver lake has tent and RV sites as well as cabins to rent. Boat rentals available as well. Beautiful campground with great scenery all around. Hookups first RVers available. "
"Beautiful gem of a campground within the trees and you can drive to Mt St Helen’s from here. In the summer you can canoe and fish."
$25 / night
"The park just added two nature playgrounds that are pretty fantastic."
"They have hot showers, flushing toilets and every site has a fire pit. There is distance between you and other guests but if you want to meet your neighbors you can."
TravelerTent sites are large and spaced out so your not right next to your neighbors. It’s a little bit of a walk to the lake but enjoyable. We stayed in the A-frame cabin which is right off the parking lot so can be busy but is a generous size lot and has some shrubbery and trees for privacy. there’s a trail out right out the back of the lot. The cabin is small and rustic. Non motorized lake. Canoe, paddle board and boat rentals available and I highly recommend.
GuideWe picked this campsite as our last stop on a week long camping trip round Rainer and St. Helens area. Nice flat camping area, picnic bench fire pit, a bit of a mosquito challenge but not too bad. Lots of families, and maybe even groups. Has showers, which is what we mainly booked for. Small general store, basketball hoop, pizza shop, and some cabin rentals. Luckily the dance party ended just after dark, so we got plenty of sleep. Stayed only 1 night. Plus is ranger station 5 minutes from site, with maps, stickers, fridge magnets, etc. Ranger gave us detail on ape caves, and other are hikes for kids, AND ranger was cool enough to tell us all about his Bigfoot experience in the area, complete with mobile phone picture of footprint! Lots of kids and teens, but some fisherman too, who didn’t seem to mind the dance music and footballs flying around!
TravelerThe park just added two nature playgrounds that are pretty fantastic. One of the new playgrounds, right before the boat launch, features a trail with a mud kitchen, two a-frame tents and a big area where you can use fallen logs and branches to build shelters.
The other nature playground is right across from the old playground (still in use) and has a wooden water course with a hand pump and an elevated wooden plank course.
Camping can be a little loud since it's a popular spot and there are no pets allowed, but it's barely 30 minutes away from Portland and right on the Sandy River.
LegendLucked out with a last minute Father's Day weekend reservation at this great little campground located just at the junction of Mt St Helens and Gifford Pinchot. The campground is bookable online for only $15 a night which felt like a bargain for a private campground in the area.
There are only 10 camping sites - some are suitable for RVs. There are also very small cabins that can be rented. There is a well stocked camp store on the property which is staffed from 7am to 7pm. There is also a pizza place on the property which is visited by a lot of area day hikers, so if you want an all day quiet woodsy feel you might want a different location, but if you've been camping or hiking for days on end without any amenities, this place will feel like an oasis.
The campground was busy over the weekend, but was nearly empty and quiet by the time Sunday night rolled around. We were at campsite #9 which was right next to a basketball hoop which got plenty of use while people were waiting for pizza (and was a bit noisy). The Pizza Place is not open everyday.
Each site had a firepit with grill and a picnic table. The toilet in the camping area had cold running water and a flush toilet. The toilets closer to the camp store had hot water and an outlet. Showers are available for an additional $3 charge, and laundry facilities are available for $5 a load on certain days.
The Camp Store had lots of knowledge about local hikes and what roads were open around MSH. We used this campground as a base to hike Ape Caves, June Lake and Ape Canyon. It was about 30 minutes of forest road driving to the trail heads.
GuidePros: Good lake to swim in, smaller state park so not too busy, kayaks you can rent, small playground if you have kids, pet frIendly cabIn I stayed In was faIrly secluded Cons: because it’s smaller, kids on bikes were on the road often so you have to be aware, only one shower stall in the restrooms
GuideNot my normal camping scene, but decided to for an early summer ski session with the kids, we didn't want to completely rough it, but also didn't want to pay hotel prices. So, one of the standard cabins here was the perfect compromise. Roof over our heads, actual beds, room for three of us to be able to gear up for the day. But still had a fire pit outside, and picnic table for outdoor cooking. (Also the standard cabins don't have bathrooms, so you still need to go to the shared restrooms.)
The property overall was really nice, lots of amenities. We also took a walk through the RV/Tent camp sites. Its very similar to a KOA style of resort. We enjoyed it for what it was.
TravelerBGLSP is a really lovely park not too far from Portland with camping and rustin cabins. Most of the campsites are large enough for 2 tents, and there were many RVs and popups - good size driveways/parking areas. Cabins C17 and C21 were the most private, though C13 and C15 had a partial view of the lake. Campsites 19 and 20 were really tucked back and adjoined such that two groups could spread out. There is only one bathroom for the entire camping/cabin area, and it got pretty dirty/crowded at times, so that wasn't ideal. I would also recommend checking out the water quality information before going if you plan to do water sports or swimming. There was a high bacteria advisory when we went, so swimming was discouraged. We ended up going to nearby Klineline Pond to swim instead. There is a nice little concession stand, though, and they offer SUP and kayak rentals that looked nice.
LegendThe only thing missing from this amazing camping spot is electricity and running water. Otherwise, it’s perfect! Absolutely gorgeous view of Mt. Hood, tons of hiking, a beautiful lake and camping spots for everyone. They have walk-in spots, yurts, a-frames, RV spots, a horse camp and even a few rooms at the lodge. Make sure to spend at least 3-4 days!
TravelerGood sized spots with plenty of trees, picnic table, and metal fire rings with grill grates. Good feeling of privacy. Lots of wild huckleberries to pick when we visited in late July. Clean pit toilets. Drinking water available. Close to ice cave. Fishing at Goose Lake nearby.
Cabin camping near Ariel, Washington offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing the comforts of home.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Ariel, WA is Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 39 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 43 cabin camping locations near Ariel, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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