Cougar, WA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Cougar, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Cougar. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
"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."
"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 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. "
"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."
"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."
$10 - $70 / night
"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."
"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."
"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. "
"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."
$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."
$27 / night
"This camp has RV sites, tent sites and beautiful cabins with porch swings and is located close to the Columbia River waterfalls."
"We were late booking so had to camp in a 30 amp pull-thru site. The site we stayed in was not very level so be sure to bring your legos to assist in leveling. The park is older but is run very well."
"General: Medium-sized park (100 sites plus several cabins) located on Mayfield Lake with three loops: two with hookups and one without. We stayed in the loop without hookups."
"There is campfire wood available but no camp hosts during the off season so if you do not bring your own wood (like us), you’ll need to flag down a ranger who will grab some for you."
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.
GuideMy wife, son, and I stayed at The Klickitat Treehouse for two nights in early March 2022 and had an amazing experience! The treehouse is furnished with 3 queen-sized beds + a couch. It also contains most modern amenities that you would find in a hotel suite, including A/C, 2 heaters (bedroom & bathroom), a wood stove for heating the main area, an indoor shower, a stove, refrigerator, glasses + mugs, board games, plenty of firewood, and much more. In addition, there is an outdoor shower and fire pit available to guests during specific seasons (no outdoor shower in the winter and no fires during fire bans a.k.a. late summer in the PNW). Note, however, that there is no wifi or cell service (this was a plus for me, as I was looking for an "unplugged" experience).
The Treehouse is on private property off of a dirt/gravel road about 15 minutes from downtown White Salmon (AWD not required, but could be useful for rain/snow). We received specific directions ahead of our stay via email that took us directly to the house.
Some other miscellaneous things to note:
There is a tiny home that shares the property and accommodates overnight guests. It's not close to the treehouse, but expect to share some of the common amenities (e.g. deck, firewood, Mt. Adams bench, etc.) if somebody is staying there.
If you're coming from Oregon or want to spend some time in Hood River, there is a $4 toll to cross the bridge. So a round trip across the river will cost you $8 as of 2022.
Everything you need to make meals is in the treehouse, but we explored White Salmon and Hood River for some food. Highlights included White Salmon Baking Co., Everybody's Brewing, Pfriem, Ferment (though there are many more that we would still like to explore!)
The only thing I wish had been provided in advance was fire starters for the wood stove. There were matches, a hatchet, and an instruction manual, but I had to spent quite a bit of time chopping wood to make kindling and meet the wood size specifications of the stove itself.
While the cabin is certainly pricey, it is such a truly unique experience that I would highly recommend for any season. Looking forward to staying here again in the future!
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!
Cabin camping near Cougar, Washington offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, making it an ideal getaway for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Cougar, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Cougar, WA is Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 40 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 48 cabin camping locations near Cougar, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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