Cabin camping options near Ariel, Washington range from basic to modern lodging within the dense forests of southwest Washington. The area sits at approximately 500-1,000 feet elevation with an annual rainfall of 50-60 inches, creating lush evergreen surroundings. Winter temperatures drop to the 30s while summer days typically reach the 70s and 80s, making seasonal preparation essential for cabin stays.
What to do
Disc golf course access: Paradise Point State Park features a 9-hole disc golf course with the first hole playing under a freeway overpass. "Hole one is a fun one that plays under a freeway overpass," notes a visitor to Paradise Point State Park Campground.
Hiking at Mount St. Helens: When staying at cabin accommodations near Cougar, you can access numerous hiking trails. A guest at Lone Fir Resort shared: "Easy access to Mount St Helens, Ape cave and Yale lake. Very beautiful area!"
Fishing opportunities: Silver Lake provides excellent fishing from cabin accommodations along the waterfront. "Silver Lake is one of the best Large-mouth Bass fishing lakes in Washington State. We also have a lot of Crappie, Trout, Perch, Bluegill, Catfish, Warmouth, Pumpkin Seed, and two kinds of Carp," reports a camper.
Waterfront recreation: Rental watercraft are available at some lake cabin locations. "The lake is clean and they offer paddle boards and peddle boats for rent," mentions a visitor to Silver Lake Resort.
What campers like
Volcanic landscapes: Battle Ground Lake State Park offers cabin stays near a small volcanic lake. "They have a cool volcanic lake with a swimming area and great fishing. Its like a mini crater lake. I mean mini like pond size," explains a visitor to Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground.
Multiple hiking trails: Some cabin locations offer varied trail options with different difficulty levels. "There are two hikes around the lake; an upper, and a lower one. Both are easy hikes, and are dog and kid friendly," notes a camper at Battle Ground Lake.
Proximity to visitor centers: Seaquest cabins provide convenient access to educational opportunities. "The visitor center was a short 1 mile walk from the campground that had an under road tunnel leading under the highway," shares a camper at Seaquest State Park Campground.
Winter camping options: Some cabin sites remain open year-round, offering off-season experiences. "Rolled in January 1st. Self pay. About 5 sites with power and water. We got a nice level one. There are only 5 other sites in the whole campground occupied. Short walk to the lake to fish. Beautiful and quiet... And 25 degrees," reports a visitor to Battle Ground Lake.
What you should know
Cabin reservation requirements: Some campgrounds only permit group cabin bookings. "A church camp near Moulton Falls near Washington. The camp has a few RV pull-though spots, but the main part of the campground involves a number of "cabins" that you can only use as part of a large group gathering," explains a visitor to Lewis River Campground Community of Christ.
Highway noise: Cabins at some locations may experience traffic sounds. "Freeway is really really close to the whole camp site. You can hear vehicles at night. If you're a light sleeper or need nature noises when camping - this is not the site for you," warns a Paradise Point visitor.
Pet policies vary: Not all cabin locations permit pets. Lewis River Campground Community of Christ has a documented "no-pets-allowed" policy that differs from most other cabin sites in the region.
Seasonal bathhouse closures: Winter cabin stays may have limited facilities. "Because of COVID, the facilities (e.g. Welcome Center, restrooms, showers) were all closed, but that was okay for us given the short weekend trip," notes a camper from a nearby area.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some cabin sites feature dedicated children's play areas. "My kids loved the addition of a playground. Many parks dont have this and it kept them entertained for hours," shares a visitor at Seaquest State Park.
Junior Ranger programs: Educational activities are available during summer months at certain parks. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained. She was great at engaging all the kids and teaching them about the park," explains another Seaquest visitor.
Swimming area selection: Cabin sites with designated swimming zones provide safer water recreation. "There's a swim area roped off, and a small sand area for the kids to play," notes a Battle Ground Lake camper.
Movie screenings: Some cabin locations offer evening entertainment. A visitor to Lone Fir Resort mentions: "They had a club house that had cames and TVs and at night they did a movie in the park."
Tips from RVers
Tight navigation in older parks: Some cabin and RV campgrounds have limited turning space. "We arrived and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get our rig in that site due to the trees. We couldn't even continue out the secondary loop because it was so narrow and had trees on the inside of turns," cautions a visitor to Paradise Point State Park.
Campsite delivery services: At some locations, cabin guests and RVers can order food delivered to their site. "Super clean and nice full hookups including cable... swimming pool full bar restaurant that will deliver to your campsite!" shares a Lone Fir Resort camper.
Site selection for privacy: Some cabin and RV areas offer more secluded options. "The tent loop was my favorite part about this campground. If you are camping with a large family this would be a perfect spot to try and rent all the spaces. You would essentially have your own bathroom, outdoor play area," suggests a visitor.
