Best Dispersed Camping near Bothell, WA

Multiple dispersed camping areas dot the Snoqualmie and Skykomish River watersheds within an hour's drive of Bothell, Washington. The South Fork Snoqualmie River offers several free dispersed sites on Forest Service land, while additional options exist along Old Cascades Highway, Mountain Loop Highway, and near Keechelus Lake. These primitive camping locations typically feature existing fire rings and provide access to nearby water sources, though they lack formal facilities or designated boundaries.

Many access roads to these dispersed sites contain significant potholes and rough sections that may challenge standard passenger vehicles. A camper noted that South Fork Snoqualmie River's access road is "unpaved with a TON of holes," recommending "good ground clearance" for vehicles. Several camping areas require navigation of unpaved forest roads with varying seasonal closures. Most dispersed sites in the region permit fires when no burn bans are in effect, but campers must bring their own water as potable sources are unavailable. A Northwest Forest Pass or equivalent permit is required at many locations.

The natural setting provides the primary appeal of these areas, with riverside locations and mountain views common. Many sites offer seclusion despite proximity to highways. A visitor to Old Cascades Highway dispersed camping described it as having "gorgeous views of the water" with "the sound of the waterfalls drowns it all out" regarding nearby road noise. Cell service varies significantly between locations, with South Fork Snoqualmie providing good connectivity for remote workers, while other areas have limited or no service. Reviews consistently mention human impact concerns, with multiple campers noting trash and improper waste disposal at popular sites. Several reviewers emphasize the importance of following Leave No Trace principles, particularly regarding human waste management in these primitive areas.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Bothell, Washington (16)

    1. South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site

    18 Reviews
    Snoqualmie Pass, WA
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (425) 888-1421

    "Access road is right off the highway and unpaved, has a TON of holes so I wouldn’t recommend driving down it without good ground clearance."

    "PLEASE LEAVE NO TRACE! Other wise we really enjoyed a quick night away in our van."

    2. Mountain Loop Hway Dispersed Camp

    4 Reviews
    Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, WA
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 436-1155

    "the better spots were once the road turned to gravel, found a spot by the stream, parked the car to protect us. if staying longer i’d say it’s best to keep going to south fork sauk. but it was nice for"

    "Easy to find and peaceful next to the river. No noise from the road."

    3. Joemma Beach State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Lakebay, WA
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (253) 884-1944

    $12 / night

    "Simple, small, peaceful campground with pit toilets and potable water.

    Mid week after Labor Day, I had my choice of sites arriving in late afternoon."

    "We arrived little later around 6 p.m. And being such a nice day there were only few sites left."

    4. Old Cascades Highway Dispersed

    7 Reviews
    Skykomish, WA
    46 miles

    "Just a couple miles East of Skykomish, up a paved road, the campsite is just before you go over the bridge on your right and had enough room for high clearance vehicles to pull into it and smaller cars"

    "You could put 2 rigs down here if you’re friends, but plenty of turn offs for smaller vehicles"

    5. NF-27 Tunnel Creek

    1 Review
    Quilcene, WA
    35 miles

    "The drive up to this road is half paved and unpaved , not too bumpy. Big area for camp- dry camping. There was already a fire ring made, we opted out of having a fire."

    7. US Highway 2 - Skykomish Area east to Stevens Pass

    4 Reviews
    Baring, WA
    42 miles

    $50 / night

    "Skylomish is a fairly short drive away from the city but towards the mountains. You have a great view of the water in some places and it’s still pretty peaceful and quiet."

    "Our favorite camp spots are right on the water, and most spots you'll find here deliver - creeks run through the (what seems to be) endless forest, trees provide shade and lovely hammock set ups, and most"

    8. Lake Dorothy

    2 Reviews
    Skykomish, WA
    40 miles
    Website

    "The lake is ice cold, which is nice if you’re just finished a hot hike in. There are some areas sort of cleared for camping, that have clearly been used before."

    "Easy stair stopped trail; a bit harder with a 40# pack. Lots of camp sites to choose from, but the one on the far shore of the lake is my fav. Great for groups. Primitive toilets along the way."

    9. Keechelus Lake

    7 Reviews
    Snoqualmie Pass, WA
    47 miles

    "Great spot to land after long day of driving."

    "Super easy to drive up to the lake and camp, have a fire, hang out and explore!"

    10. Annette Lake

    3 Reviews
    Snoqualmie Pass, WA
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (425) 888-1421

    $5 / night

    "Hike was definitely challenging for middle aged man but I made it and my 10 year old did too (albeit after handing his backpack to dad to carry)."

    "We hiked in to Annette Lake to test out some new backpacking gear as we’re just getting into backpacking - it was great!"

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Bothell, WA

53 Reviews of 16 Bothell Campgrounds


  • Theresa K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2023

    Dispersed Camping Beckler Creek

    Repulsive

    Every dispersed campground we checked along this road (maybe five or so) was littered with human feces and toilet paper everywhere. We found a literal bucket of human waste beside the river with a soiled pool noodle nearby I can only assume was being used as a toilet seat. Please, if you care about keeping nature wild, carry out your toilet paper and dig a cathole or use the outhouse in the campground. If you don’t know what a cathole is, you should probably should not being using dispersed camping and try the campground down the road. We ended up staying at the campground because we couldn’t find dispersed camping where there wasn’t poop and had a positive experience there. Leave no trace!! 

    https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm

  • Parker C.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 24, 2025

    South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site

    Pretty neat spot

    Access road is right off the highway and unpaved, has a TON of holes so I wouldn’t recommend driving down it without good ground clearance. There are a number of established sites where you can pull off the road and drive back into the woods a bit. And I had cell service everywhere!

  • Sara J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 21, 2024

    Dispersed Camping Beckler Creek

    Beckler creek riverside

    Nice large campsite near the water. There were many campsites along the road. I had to clean up a lot of trash when it got here. Please pack out your own trash and follow other leave no trace rules. The campfire was awesome

  • Ginger M.
    Jul. 8, 2024

    South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site

    Quick easy getaway

    Went up at the end of 4th of July weekend. Found a great spot but it was apparent that the group before us used everywhere to go to the bathroom and covered it with paper towels. PRO TIP: make the hole first for when you need it and you want have any excuse not to use it! PLEASE LEAVE NO TRACE! Other wise we really enjoyed a quick night away in our van.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 17, 2025

    Old Cascades Highway Dispersed

    Roadside Oasis

    Just a couple miles East of Skykomish, up a paved road, the campsite is just before you go over the bridge on your right and had enough room for high clearance vehicles to pull into it and smaller cars have roadside space the road wasn’t too active when we camped overnight even so the sound of the waterfalls drowns it all out. It has Solid fire pit and very lush green forest surroundings.

  • T
    Oct. 27, 2021

    Dispersed Camping Beckler Creek

    Dispersed camping along Beckler Creek

    Found this sweet spot a little bit ago. Various dispersed camping spots along the road and up the forest service roads. There are some really sweet spots along the road with water access.

  • Philip D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2023

    Old Cascades Highway Dispersed

    Beautiful/ Dirty and noisy

    Some of you never learned proper etiquette and it shows! Beautiful spot. Toilet paper everywhere. Peaceful… except for the trucks air braking on Highway 2; and the train… which made me question if I was being visited by some alien beings for half a second. Beautiful spot, great access to the river, whose noise washes out the majority of the ambiance killers. Secluded, sadly too dry for a fire.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2024

    South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site

    Great Camping in the PNW!

    This spot was truly beautiful. Green as far as the eye can see, with a creek by that provides the perfect white noise to fall asleep to. The road is fairly accessible, though there are some fairly large potholes that could damage smaller vehicles, and the road could become muddy after raining. On weekends you might have to drive pretty far down the road to find an unclaimed spot, but I didn't have a hard time on a Tuesday night. There was some trash, including broken glass in firepits and a few beer cans spotted in the woods, but for the most part it was clean! The sites further down the road are definitely cleaner. No bathrooms, so plan on dropping the kids off at the pool before visiting. Seeing as there is water nearby, there are plenty of mosquitoes. Bring some bug spray! There are towns within 15 minutes of the road.

  • Bobby J.
    Jul. 21, 2024

    Mountain Loop Hway Dispersed Camp

    Coordinates off

    The directions had me believing that the dispersed camping was just various pull offs on the highway loop and that’s where I stayed. It was loud and it felt like the traffic was coming through my tent at times. After driving to North Cascades I discovered that there was real dispersed camping on that road but probably 45 minutes to an hour past where the coordinates took you. Once the highway turned into a gravel road is when I started seeing nice dispersed campsites


Guide to Bothell

Dispersed camping sites near Bothell, Washington offer primitive overnight stays in the Cascade foothills at elevations ranging from 900 to 3,500 feet. Most accessible sites are concentrated along river corridors in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, where campers can expect cool summer nights with temperatures averaging 45-55°F even during July and August. The region's heavy rainfall creates lush forests but contributes to challenging road conditions during spring months.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Keechelus Lake provides access for anglers with several spots directly on the water. A camper notes, "Lovely camping area. Easy to find, felt very comfortable. So many spots up on the water."

River exploration: At South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site, visitors can access water features via trails. One reviewer mentioned, "There was a nice long trail that took us to the river. That was nice."

Hiking to alpine lakes: For those willing to backpack, Lake Dorothy offers scenic camping 4 miles from the trailhead. A camper described it as having "a reasonable hike-in. The lake is ice cold, which is nice if you're just finished a hot hike in."

Wildlife viewing: Early mornings at Joemma Beach State Park provide opportunities to spot local wildlife. A visitor reported, "Beach is walking distance. And you can walk around if you want we did spot a bald eagle early in the morning."

What campers like

Water features: The natural sounds near Old Cascades Highway Dispersed camping create a peaceful atmosphere despite proximity to travel corridors. A reviewer mentioned, "Beautiful spot, great access to the river, whose noise washes out the majority of the ambiance killers."

Seclusion in specific sites: Many primitive camping areas near Bothell provide isolation despite relatively easy access. A visitor to US Highway 2 camping areas reported, "Most spots you'll find here deliver - creeks run through the (what seems to be) endless forest, trees provide shade and lovely hammock set ups, and most spots are separate from others giving you a private, relaxing experience."

Connectivity for remote work: Some dispersed sites maintain surprising cell coverage. A South Fork Snoqualmie River camper noted, "I travel and work remotely so I'm always looking for free places that have cell reception and this place hits the jackpot... I have Verizon and have 2-3 bars of service."

Established features: Many primitive sites include basic amenities created by previous campers. At Annette Lake, a backpacker found that "Fire pits are at every spot" despite the hike-in nature of the location.

What you should know

Seasonal closures: Water level fluctuations affect accessibility at some locations. A Keechelus Lake visitor warned, "Says when water gets below 2840 ft to protect the fish they close the road and no camping is permitted."

Safety concerns: Some plants in camping areas require caution. At South Fork Snoqualmie River, one camper cautioned, "Lovely area such beautiful surroundings. But be very cautious as near one of the camp sites are very dangerous plants that are fatal and they are lined all around the campground so not recommended if you have children."

Navigational challenges: Forest roads can lead to confusion when coordinates are imprecise. A Mountain Loop Hway Dispersed Camp visitor shared, "The directions had me believing that the dispersed camping was just various pull offs on the highway loop and that's where I stayed. It was loud and it felt like the traffic was coming through my tent at times."

Site availability timing: Popular primitive camping areas fill quickly on weekends. One South Fork Snoqualmie River camper advised, "There are a ton of really great sites along this road, although most of the drive-in sites will be taken if it's a busy weekend, so get there early!"

Tips for camping with families

Child safety near water: When camping with children near water features, establish clear boundaries. A reviewer at Joemma Beach State Park mentioned, "Great local spot for FAMILIES and a party. I honestly still have no idea what happened, but we were actually very quiet whispering walking back to our campsite."

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes affect comfort at many sites. One South Fork Snoqualmie River visitor observed, "Seeing as there is water nearby, there are plenty of mosquitoes. Bring some bug spray!"

Nighttime security: Solo campers with families should consider campsite selection carefully. A South Fork Snoqualmie camper warned, "Nice area by a creek, very peaceful and quiet during the day, a ton of people around and lots of passerby's. As soon as it got dark, someone decided to sneak around my campsite with a flashlight and stand outside my tent for some time."

Camping permit requirements: Joemma Beach State Park Campground requires specific paperwork. A visitor explained, "It is $12 per site per night. And discovery pass is required. (if you don't have one there is a slip there for you to pay for one as well)."

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most primitive camping spots near Bothell accommodate smaller recreational vehicles only. A South Fork Snoqualmie River camper noted, "A little pocket of peace. A lot of the spots are on the smaller side, so we had a bit of trouble finding one that could fit our motorhome, but it was worth it."

Road condition challenges: Access roads to primitive sites often pose difficulties. A visitor to South Fork Snoqualmie River observed, "The road is fairly accessible, though there are some fairly large potholes that could damage smaller vehicles, and the road could become muddy after raining."

Overnight temperature preparation: The mountain locations experience significant temperature drops. One camper at US Highway 2 - Skykomish Area mentioned, "Beat the crowd! Summer time, everyone's camping. Prepare yourself for biting flies that wont leave you alone."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bothell?

For free dispersed camping near Bothell, head east to the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site offers multiple established sites with pull-offs where you can drive back into the woods. Access is via an unpaved road with potholes, so vehicles with good clearance are recommended. You'll even find cell service throughout the area. Another option is Mountain Loop Hway Dispersed Camp, which provides various pull-offs along the highway loop. Remember to practice Leave No Trace principles at all sites.

Are there any dispersed camping areas within driving distance of Bothell?

Yes, several dispersed camping areas are within driving distance of Bothell. Dispersed Camping Beckler Creek offers various spots along forest service roads with some prime locations featuring water access. Old Cascades Highway Dispersed is located just a couple miles east of Skykomish up a paved road, with space for high-clearance vehicles and smaller cars. The spot is just before the bridge on your right. Both areas are approximately 1-1.5 hours from Bothell, making them suitable for weekend getaways.

What is boondocking and can I do it near Bothell?

Boondocking is camping without hookups (water, electric, sewer) in undeveloped areas, typically free and self-contained. Yes, you can boondock near Bothell. NF-27 Tunnel Creek offers a great boondocking experience with a mix of paved and unpaved access roads. The area provides ample dry camping space with existing fire rings. For a more unique boondocking adventure, Hope Island Marine State Park offers primitive camping on a small island with only a few sites, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings—though you'll need to paddle there. Remember to always pack out waste and practice Leave No Trace principles.