The Ariel area of Washington sits at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, with most campgrounds positioned between 500-1,200 feet elevation. The region experiences moderate rainfall (around 50 inches annually) with summer temperatures typically ranging from 50-80°F. Many camping areas near Ariel provide direct access to volcanic landscapes formed during Mount St. Helens' 1980 eruption, creating unique geological features for visitors to explore.
What to do
Lava tube exploration: Cougar RV Park and Campground serves as an excellent base camp for exploring the south side of Mount St. Helens. "It only takes 10 minutes to get to Mount St. Helens Ape Cave, Trail of Two Forests and Lava Canyon area," notes a camper from Cougar RV Park.
Disc golf: Paradise Point offers a 9-hole disc golf course with creative design elements. "Hole one is a fun one that plays under a freeway overpass," mentions a visitor. "The disc golf course is entertaining, but not super challenging. Located on barely 10 acres the designers have done a good job using every bit of the land here."
Hiking networks: Multiple trail systems connect campgrounds to natural features. At Merrill Lake Campground, visitors appreciate the "short and beautiful nature trail through the Cedars" that loops around the Old Growth forest. One camper mentions, "A very nice 1 mile hike is adjacent to the day use area."
What campers like
Lake access: Many campgrounds offer direct water recreation. At Lake Merwin Camper's Hideaway, "There is lake access and a boat ramp, camp office, seasonal restaurant, indoor pool (extra fee), bathhouses with showers, laundry facilities, and a dump station for RVs," according to a member who visited.
Wildlife viewing: The forests around Ariel support diverse wildlife. "Lots of hiking including a nice trail between the campground and the day use area," notes a Paradise Point visitor. Another camper at Merrill Lake mentioned spending "3 nights midweek in early May and had the place to myself. Fisherman come and go during the day, but I never saw more than 3 vehicles at the boat launch."
Quiet forest camping: Several campgrounds provide secluded sites with natural surroundings. At Seaquest State Park, "Limited cell service with T-Mobile but it still works! Free WiFi in the day use area. Adequate bathrooms with mirrors, flushing toilets, hot shower! Peaceful yet can still hear the highway."
What you should know
Tent-only areas: Some campgrounds offer walk-in sites for tent campers seeking more privacy. At Merrill Lake, "This is a tents only campground. Boats and boat ramps are right there. All sights are walk in. They are leveled out in a crushed rock space so be sure to bring a tarp for under your tent."
Highway proximity: Several campgrounds sit near highways with associated noise. Paradise Point campers note: "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."
Water features: Many sites include access to rivers or lakes, but with seasonal limitations. "The river was shallow and dropped to the deep end. It was ideal for children because the shallow end stretched a bit and the deeper end was the other side," observes a Paradise Point visitor.
Limited services: Some campgrounds have minimal amenities. At Camp Kalama RV Park, visitors note "No real bathrooms close to us, just portables which were very clean so again no problem for us!" Another camper mentions it's "Not bad at all, just right off of the highway."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds include play structures. At Seaquest State Park, "My kids loved the addition of a playground. Many parks don't have this and it kept them entertained for hours. There is a bathroom and extra parking right next to the playground."
Junior ranger programs: Educational opportunities exist at select locations. Seaquest offers structured activities for children. "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."
Yurt options: For families seeking glamping near Ariel, Washington, Lone Fir Resort provides canvas tents and cabin alternatives. "We were tent campers in an RV spot. We have two large tents and plenty of room," notes one visitor. "They had a club house that had games and TVs and at night they did a movie in the park."
Tips from RVers
Tight turns: Some campgrounds have challenging navigation for larger vehicles. A Paradise Point visitor warns, "We couldn't even continue out the secondary loop because it was so narrow and had trees on the inside of turns. Not to mention cars sticking out into the roads. The site map is not accurate at all!"
River access campsites: Waterfront sites provide easy fishing and recreation access. At Camp Kalama, campers stayed "in a site along the Lewis River. Somewhat small sites, but not overly so. Restrooms were fairly clean, but some accumulation of leaves and dirt dragged in on shoes. Small showers available for a fee."
Resort-style amenities: For upscale glamping experiences near Ariel, Washington, several RV parks offer additional services. Lone Fir Resort includes "full hookups including cable," and a "restaurant that will deliver to your campsite." According to one visitor, the resort offers "a pool, gameroom, restaurant and store. Easy access to Mt. St. Hellens, Ape cave and Yale lake."
