Best Tent Camping near Cathlamet, WA

Dispersed tent camping options near Cathlamet, Washington include several primitive forest sites within driving distance. Road to Snag Lake offers secluded backcountry tent camping in Washington Department of Natural Resources land, while Clatsop State Forest Gnat Creek Campground provides walk-in tent sites just across the Columbia River in Oregon. Most tent campgrounds in this region require a Discover Pass for Washington sites or day-use fees for Oregon locations.

Tent campers should prepare for minimal facilities at most primitive sites. The Road to Snag Lake dispersed camping area features dirt clearings surrounded by second-growth forest with no developed amenities. According to reviews, "There are at least 4 other campsite off this road at different points if you keep driving. Some of them are more or less level and more or less muddy." Most tent sites near Cathlamet are accessible via dirt roads that may require moderate clearance during wet seasons. Fire restrictions typically apply during summer months, and campers need to pack out all trash as garbage service is unavailable.

Walk-in tent sites at Gnat Creek offer a more developed camping experience with picnic tables and access to vault toilets. The tent-only areas provide forest cover and creek access, creating natural sound barriers from nearby logging roads. Campers frequently use these areas as bases for exploring the surrounding forests and waterways. The terrain varies from flat clearings to slightly sloped sites nestled among trees. One visitor noted that "There is a small trail behind this spot that leads to the creek, which is nice." For backcountry tent camping with views, some visitors recommend dispersed sites near the cell towers at higher elevations, which provide both privacy and surprisingly good connectivity for those needing to stay in touch while enjoying primitive tent camping.

Best Tent Sites Near Cathlamet, Washington (29)

    1. Clatsop State Forest Gnat Creek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Cathlamet, OR
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 325-5451

    $10 - $15 / night

    "There was free firewood stacked nearby because of all the logging in the area. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. Walk in tent camping only, or you could park your van in the parking lot."

    "Drove past the paid camping and found many available areas to set up for the night. Couple areas had excessive amounts of trash."

    2. Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    15 Reviews
    Naselle, WA
    25 miles
    Website

    "There's basically zero traffic on the dirt road near the campsite. A lot of the trees around seem to be new growth. Great view of the stars at night!"

    "There are several spots off the road around these radio tower stations and it is quite secluded. We didn't see any other person the whole time we were there."

    3. Rose Creek Retreat

    1 Review
    Grays River, WA
    14 miles
    Website

    $33 - $55 / night

    "CAMPGROUND REVIEW

    The Rose Creek Retreat is located about 2 hours northwest of Portland in Washington across from Astoria."

    5. Four Directions Retreat

    2 Reviews
    Rainier, OR
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 957-3287

    $30 - $300 / night

    6. Western Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Naselle, WA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 577-2025

    "Easy to get to and a beautiful lake. When I was there, there were a couple of beaver working at the head of the lake."

    7. Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping

    15 Reviews
    Tillamook State Forest, OR
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 357-2191

    "These sites are beautiful and really meant for tent camping—but you can park an rv in most of the spots.

    There is a vault toilet closer to site 14 but no hookups."

    "Gorgeous spots all over that are accessible in most 4WD/off-road capable vehicles."

    8. Tillamook Forest Dispersed on the Nehalem River

    6 Reviews
    Tillamook State Forest, OR
    34 miles
    Website

    $5 / night

    "There is a narrow path towards the river, first we thought we might gonna get stuck, but it immediately opened up to a spacious big area where 2-3 cars/RVs could easily fit."

    "The drive through the forest is absolutely gorgeous. I didn’t camp at the River but I will be back. It’s a big area.I’m pretty sure Boondocking is allowed all around this area."

    9. Healing ponds farm retreat and healing center

    8 Reviews
    Buxton, OR
    36 miles
    +1 (503) 709-0706

    $45 / night

    "The RV toilet, hammock, fire pit, and picnic table were well maintained."

    "Our site was secluded and we had privacy. The pond area is beautiful with all the statues found around it. Highly recommend and we plan to visit again :)"

    10. Cook Creek

    11 Reviews
    Tillamook State Forest, OR
    39 miles
    Website

    "We spent only one night here (approx. 45°41'49.5"N 125°44'18.1"W) in a lovely clearing featuring a metal fire ring. Sites are designated, but free for use up to 14 days."

    "Camped out for a night in designated camp site #3. Lots of room for Cars and a couple spots to pitch a tent. A bit rocky, but we used shovel to dig out a more comfortable spot."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Cathlamet, WA

1135 Reviews of 29 Cathlamet Campgrounds


  • Nathan R.
    May. 28, 2018

    Dairy Creek West — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park

    Serenity in Fauna-Great for Groups too!

    I love this campground.

    Specifically, I love site number 10.

    There are 23 sites at this campground, though sites 10-23 are reservable, leaving sites 1-9 ‘first come, first served’. To get to the campground, you’re going to be working on the far left side of the Welcome Center parking lot. They have allotted several parking spots there, as well as a huge parking area for other cars and trailers. Once you park, grab your gear and hike on down that path straight ahead! If you have. A lot of gear they have three carts available to haul everything out in one go.

    The trail to the camp is about 1/4 mile, it’s dirt in some places and gravel in others. The trail is very easy, you go down a ways, and then hit a gradual short climb to the few station. If you haven’t paid online (reserved spot), you will need to fill in the information on one of the provided permits, write down your car infix, put the fee in, and drop it in the box. (Right now the sites are $11/night). Place the white top copy on your dashboard (yes, you have to hike back out there. I know, I know.) OR: You can skip all of that, set up camp in your chosen (non-reserved) spot, and go pay at the welcome center drop box. Saves you a trip.

    When you’re done with all of that and want to find your spot, there are two trails; one on each side of the fee board. The left goes through sites 23 and up. The right side starts with site 1. It's just one gigantic loop so whichever way you choose will lead you to the right spot.

    I was in site 10, and took the left: this ended up being the long yet scenic choice.

    There are communal fire rings in the back section (which is great for groups!). There are no trash cans: pack it in, pack it out. There are pit toilets available: aka, outhouses. The doors lock, there's hand sanitizer provided. Going into the pit toilets, and then coming out really makes you appreciate the fresh air of the great outdoors.

    The tent pads are a typical woodsy mix of pine straw, leaves, and loose gravel. Sleeping pads are a blessing, but so are nicely stacked lead piles in a pinch. Tent stakes require a little oomph, I just use the ball of my shoe to push it into the ground.

    If there's one thing you want to pack, it's bug spray. It's not overly buggy, but the mosquitoes are there, and you don't want them to dampen your experience! Be on the safe side.

    There are no food storage lockers, you cannot leave food out on the tables. You are still in the wilderness, and you are in bear/cougar territory. Hang your bags, or go throw your food back in trunk of your car. Best case scenario is you wake up to some trash pandas ransacking your site if you leave food out.

    Overall, this has become one of my favorite spur-of-the-moment camping spots and I come back twice a week.

  • Pinkie K.
    Jul. 21, 2021

    Snag Lake Campground

    Small, cute and quiet.

    Being a new visitor to WA, we wanted to spend our first night in the middle of nowhere and this did it.

    A bit of a climb for our truck camper so 4x4 was handy. There were some lower tree branches but easy to (delicately) pull to the side to get by. The road is 1 lane, gravel but nicely maintained. Not many areas to pull over so go slow and prepare to back up if necessary.

    It's first come, first serve with no hookups or trash service but there is a bathroom. There's a couple spots for a bigger truck camper like ours and a handful of secluded tent sites you can walk to from the parking area. The tent sites we saw had a fire ring (fire ban in place right now) and a picnic table all nestled in the trees and ferns. There's 1 main place to fish from and several little nooks as well. There's a LOT of old, picturesque trees/ stumps in the lake, hence the name. A gentleman we met said the lake is stocked and our son caught some rainbow trout (approx 8 inches) so we put them back to get bigger for the next person.

    There's also paths to enjoy a walk through the trees.

    As far as cell service, we had great Verizon signal and there's a cell tower over the top of the trees so that explains that. 🙂

    You need a Discovery Pass to camp here but it's either $10 a night at various campgrounds around WA (so I read) or $30 for the annual pass.

    Enjoy and please pack it in, pack it out. It was a really nice campsite so let's keep it that way. Thanks!

    Snag Lake Campground (360) 577-2025 https://maps.app.goo.gl/VmQbRypN42ciJemCA

  • Stephanie Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 3, 2019

    Dairy Creek West — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park

    Ranger Review: PRIMUS LITE+ Backpacking Stove at Brooke Creek Hike-in

    Campground Review: Brooke Creek Hike-in Camp

    Brooke Creek Hike-in Camp is one of 3 campgrounds within Stub Stewart State Park, and the only one that really feels like you’re actually camping out in the woods – because you are.

    The tent only hike in camp isn’t a long haul from the parking area at the welcome center – it’s about ¼ mile and the trail into the campground is mostly gravel. There are carts available for hike in campers to use at the campground trailhead if needed. Note that if you’re using a cart, that the walk in is uphill.

    The campground area is wooded and each site has a picnic table. There are pit toilets and a water point. There are not fire pits in the sites—the fire pit areas are shared in central places in the campground. Some of the sites have a lot more privacy than others. I was camping in an unusually warm mid-week in May so the campground was mostly empty.

    I chose Site 1 because it had a good place for my hammock. If the campground had been full, I’d have picked a site a lot further in since the first few sites are right along the single trail that all campers/hikers would be using.  Some of the sites can be reserved in advance, and some are always open for walk ups.

    The self-registration is at the campground, NOT at the trailhead, so you’ll have to hike in, register, and then return your camping receipt to your car. If you’re paying with cash, bring your money on the first hike in. You can also pay with your credit card number.

    There are lots of trails directly accessible from the campground including the Banks-Vernonia Bike Trail as well as other hiking, biking and equestrian trails. I had a nice run on the Bumping Knots Loop.

    Product Review: The PRIMUS LITE+ Backpacking Stove

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt I sometimes get to test and evaluate quality products from amazing sponsors. On this camping trip, I tested out the Primus LITE+ backpacking stove. https://primus.us/products/eta-lite-7?variant=38436885010

    I’ve been in the market for a backpacking stove for awhile, looking for a lightweight and simple to setup option, so I was excited to get to test out the Primus LITE+. I opted for the .5L pot because I often camp solo (there is also a PRIMUS LITE XL version with a 1L pot available), Also, you can purchase the XL pot separately as an accessory which will give me more options when camping with a partner.

    Here are my opinions on the PRIMUS LITE+ after using it for one camping trip to make dinner and breakfast:

    PROS:

    Boils Fast: The PRIMUS LITE+ stove is incredible at the most basic things it needs to be good for: boiling water fast! In under 2 minutes start to finish you can assemble the stove and bring your water to a boil. Plus, fast boiling means you aren’t using a lot of fuel.

    Size/Weight: The whole stove system packs into itself and is about the size of a large mug including the fuel canister. I can fit the entire thing into the side pocket of my backpack. With the canister it weighs about a pound.

    Pot Versatility: The pot that comes with the PRIMUS LITE+ locks to the stove giving it a good wind shield, and allowing you to hang the pot to boil if you don’t have even terrain. The XL pot which is sold separately also attached to the same setup.  If you aren’t backpacking and want to use another pan or pot, there are small pegs which screw into the stove top to allow you to use any cooking set up. The pegs are stored in the handle of the stove so you don’t lose them.

    Accessories: I haven’t gotten it yet, but the LITE+ has a coffee press attachment so you can brew a cup straight in the pot. Always a bonus when a simple attachment means one less thing to carry for your perfect camping setup.

    CONS:

    Fuel Canister:  The smaller canisters needed if you want to pack your fuel into the kit  aren’t as readily available at places like Target or Walmart where I can more easily pick up my camping fuel when I’m on the road to camp. If I want to pack it all in to the pot, I’ll need to shop in advance at REI or a specialty outdoor store that carries the smaller canisters.

    Insulation: The insulated sleeve on the pot makes it easy to hold and to drink from, but after just a couple of uses it was already getting pretty dirty with coffee and soup debris. It isn’t as easy to keep clean, and since the handle is actually part of the insulation sleeve, you can’t effectively use the pot without it.

    It’s Small: Being small is one of the benefits of the stove, but the .5L mug/pot is smaller than I anticipated. While it’s perfect for a solo trip, you’ll want the 1L pot if you’re cooking for more than one.

    Overall, Primus LITE+ is a great stove that’s efficient. I’d opt for the bigger size if I were to buy it again, since it would be more versatile with only a little added weight and easier to fit the more readily available fuel cartridge.

  • Stephanie Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2019

    Dairy Creek East — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park

    A Pretty Boring Campsite at a Great Park

    The Dairy Creek Campground at Stub Stewart is a two loop campground. The sites are spacious, but there isn't much character.  The East loop is pretty much an open field. The west loop has a few more trees but still not much privacy or space between sites. 

    Dairy Creek is clean and well maintained, and has great access to the trails and disc golf around the park. If you're in an RV this is a good set up. If you're camping with kids, there's a play area here.

    There are a few "walk in" sites where you don't park your car next to your tent, but rather in the parking lot next to the grassy area where the open tent sites are. If you're looking for a better tent camping experience that actually feels like it's in the woods, you're better off going to the hike in campground in the park.

    The loops are big and there is parking near the bathroom. This is great if you don't want to walk a long way, but it's bad if you've got the campsite near the bathroom with all the cars coming and going.

  • Mary C.
    Jun. 25, 2018

    Cape Disappointment State Park Campground

    This place has it all

    Cape Disappointment is a great spot for campers of all kinds. There are RV hook ups, tent sites, hiker/ biker spots, cabins, and yurts. Very easy access to the water as well.

    The yurts are your basic state park round dome with sleeping arrangements for up to 5 people. It has a table, chairs, and indoor heat.

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There is a park store that has basic essentials and the ability to buy wood.

    During the spring, the wind can be pretty intense so beware if you are tent camping.

  • L
    Sep. 6, 2024

    Nehalem Falls Campground

    Group site rental mid week stay

    This small campground is very far off the 101 so if you are looking for a coastal vibe this is not it. Deeply wooded, green, and beautiful. One side of the campground sits alongside Nehalem river access, on hot days this is a popular hangout so expect to see a lot of people. Vault toilets after a busy summer season were ammonia rich and hard to handle. Trash receptacles and potable water available. (Old school pump) I’ve heard that it stays wet enough back there that this campsite never really has a fire ban, but always check with the camp host, they also sell fire wood. First come first serve campsites Using reserve America online. Do Not confuse this campsite with Nehalem Bay State park when reserving.

  • Steve H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2020

    Fort Stevens State Park Campground

    Nice park, great trails

    The park is large but there are only around 5 tent spots available.  The tent sites are nice size and level with a fire ring and picnic table.  There is lots of foliage around the site so you have some privacy.  The tent area is on the same loop as cabins so there isn't a lot of RV traffic.  There is lots to do at this park and wildlife to see. The only down side is the loop is close to the entrance so there is some traffic noise as campers come and go through the night.

  • M
    Dec. 12, 2019

    Fort Stevens State Park Campground

    Stumbled upon a yurt

    We didn’t have a reservation for the campground the afternoon we decided to stop in July. To reserve a yurt typically requires a minimum of two nights. We were fortunate to get a yurt (number 7) for one night in July as a walk in. The ranger was shocked as they are usually sold out months in advance. There is a fire pit and picnic table outside each yurt. The flaps on the windows can be rolled up and down to adjust the airflow. The bathhouse is within walking distance but showed full quickly in the morning. This was a nice park with several things to see and do. Would stay here again if in the area.

  • Greg S.
    Aug. 23, 2020

    Seaquest State Park Campground

    nice, but noisy

    I didn't have reservations.  Securing a spot was easy enough using the phone at the ranger station (it was after the rangers had gone home for the day).  Most of the sites had a level spot(s) for a tent.  There was a picnic table and I fire ring.  There was a. very clean bathroom with flush toilet and shower (shower operated on tokens; I didn't use it).  Near to the restrooms was a high flow potable water spigot (which I used to top off my water supply---tasted great). There were lots of families camping (August) and the expected noise that comes with kids playing.  The unexpected noise came from Hwy 504.  I was in the lower campground (closest to the highway) and the noise was omnipresent until about 1030pm and started up again around 530am.  If I were to return to Seaquest, I would make sure that I got a site further away from the highway.


Guide to Cathlamet

Tent camping near Cathlamet, Washington, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature enthusiasts can enjoy the great outdoors. From tranquil lakes to lush forests, there are plenty of options for a memorable camping experience.

Tent campers should check out Road to Snag Lake

  • The Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed site is known for its stunning views and peaceful atmosphere, perfect for a night under the stars.
  • This location provides a unique experience with a bumpy drive that adds to the adventure, making it ideal for those seeking a bit of thrill.
  • Campers can enjoy the beauty of nature while having access to cell service, making it easier to stay connected if needed.

Local activities to enjoy while camping

Tips for tent camping near Cathlamet

  • Be prepared for a primitive experience at the Western Lake Campground, where amenities are limited, but the natural beauty is abundant.
  • If you're looking for a more secluded experience, consider the Rose Creek Retreat, which features unique campsites nestled in a lush forest.
  • Always check for local regulations and permits, especially at sites like the Morrison Eddy, where specific rules may apply to ensure a safe and enjoyable camping experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cathlamet, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cathlamet, WA is Clatsop State Forest Gnat Creek Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 8 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Cathlamet, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Cathlamet, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.