Best Dispersed Camping near Cowiche, WA
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Best Dispersed Sites Near Cowiche, WA (35)
1. White River Dispersed Camping
Greenwater, Washington19 Reviews•58 Photos•726 SavesThe historic Mather Memorial Parkway (State Route 410) is the gateway to a recreational haven. On a clear day, enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Rainier. For more excitement, take a spin in the off-road vehicle area at Evans Creek, or zip down the slopes of Crystal Mountain Ski Area. Or if you prefer solitude, escape into the solace of the forest and leave the world behind.
Mather Memorial Parkway Created in 1931, this paved two-lane classic Cascades drive along Highway 410 from Enumclaw to the eastern edge of Mount Rainier National Park presents majestic views of Mount Rainier and surrounding peaks. More than 200 miles of trails accommodate hikers, horses and mountain bikes. Drive, hike or ride to the Suntop Lookout Cabin at the top of Forest Road 7315. Choose a primitive campsite along forest roads east and west of the parkway. In November buy a permit at the Enumclaw office and take the family out to the woods to cut your own Christmas tree. Most forest roads are unpaved and minimally maintained. Cell phones have limited coverage in the mountains.
Dispersed camping is the term used for camping in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Typically, it refers to roadside car camping, but also refers to backpacking in undeveloped sites. Dispersed camping means there are no services like trash removal, and amenities such as toilets, tables and fire pits, are not usually available.
It is your responsibility to plan ahead and learn the extra skills necessary for dispersed camping. Camping rules and regulations apply to make your experience safe, and to keep the natural resources scenic and unspoiled for other campers.
Dispersed camping along Forest Service roads is allowed where there is adequate space to safely park completely off the roadway and not on any vegetation. Whether car camping or backpacking, choose an existing campsite on bare or compacted soil. Unless signed as an area where a fee is required, dispersed camping is free. Dispersed camping is prohibited in developed campgrounds and areas posted closed or no camping. Some designated Wilderness areas have additional restrictions.
- Pets
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
2. L.T. Murray Wildlife Area
Thorp, Washington4 Reviews•29 Photos•259 SavesVisitors are asked to close gates behind them and avoid driving on roads when soft and wet.
Vehicle camping is prohibited beyond 100 feet of open roads. Campfires prohibited from Apr. 15 through Oct. 15. Woodcutting is not permitted without a landowner permit. Down wood less than 12 inches in diameter may be collected for onsite campwood. Permanent camps or structures are not permitted. All man-made materials must be removed.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
3. Rimrock - South Fork Bay Dispersed Camp
Tieton, Washington2 Reviews•7 Photos•99 SavesDispersed camping located near Rimrock Lake with RV and tent sites.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
4. Peninsula / Rimrock Boat Launch
Goose Prairie, Washington3 Reviews•12 Photos•113 SavesBoat launch located on Rimrock Peninsula, north shore of lake just above the dam.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Trash
- Picnic Table
5. Fish Creek Dispersed
Tieton, Washington1 Review•10 Photos•129 SavesThere are many undeveloped camping locations on the forest. Generally there are no amenities available, such as restrooms, water or garbage dumpsters. All trash and waste must be packed out. No toilet available? See How to Go in the Forest. Use existing sites and do not damage vegetation. Campfires are not allowed at these sites during high fire danger. Check Fire Restrictions page.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices/?cid=fsbdev3_053600
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
$8 / night
6. Clear Lake Campgrounds
Goose Prairie, Washington3 Reviews•10 Photos•86 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
7. South Fork Tieton Dispersed Camping
White Pass, Washington3 Reviews•10 Photos•75 SavesDispersed camping located along the South Fork Tieton River, near Rimrock Lake. RV and tent sites. Jay Hawk, Lower Bake Oven, Upper Bake Oven and Minnie Meadows
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
8. Granite Lake Dispersed Camping Area
Goose Prairie, Washington4 Reviews•9 Photos•131 SavesPrimitve area below Miner's Ridge outside of the Wilderness.Access by the extremely rough road is limited to hikers, stock and mountain bikes. __Pack It In -- Pack It Out Site.
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
9. Ranger Creek Airstrip Dispersed
Greenwater, Washington9 Reviews•33 Photos•277 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
- Alcohol
10. Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping
Vantage, Washington5 Reviews•31 Photos•114 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Cowiche
82 Reviews of 35 Cowiche Campgrounds
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Garrett B.
Guide
Ranger Creek Airstrip Dispersed
Great spot, plenty of room for Big Rigs
This is my favorite dispersed site so far. Plenty of room for larger rigs, very close to a river and lots of woods to explore nearby. Close enough to Mt. Rainier NP and nearby towns for supplies. Vault toilets if needed, and the airstrip was only used twice in the 4 nights we stayed, i think (heard one mid-day, and saw another late morning).
There is a single-lane bridge when turning in that could be tricky for a motorhome that is towing, but not enough traffic to cause us any issues getting in. For larger rigs - take the second left (at a Y-intersection, and then keep to the left and you won't have any trouble getting in. Going to the right at the Y takes you to an area that big rigs might have trouble finding spots or turning around, but still doable.
James B.
Ranger
Meadow Landing on Forest Road 7200
Beautiful morning view of Mount Rainier
Our daughter told us about this place. You have to climb up a narrow gravel road to get here. A drive leads out to a flat area with a fire pit It was raining when we pulled in, so views were limited. In the clear morning, we got a beautiful view of Mount Rainier. We got decent Starlink signal with a bar of Verizon. Spot would be perfect except prior campers left toilet paper around a bush.
- bbillie J.
Traveler
Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping
My home away from home
I travel for work and I stay here almost every week to save money on hotels. I’ve also taken my family here over the summer for camping and hiking. We all love it. Very quiet. Weekends can get kinda busy due to hikers and rock climbing enthusiasts. I suggest coming up early if you plan to stay the weekend. Many beautiful views. There is even a waterfall I sleep across from. On clear nights you can see all the stars. Which is my favorite! There are lots of sites to camp. In car/tent/RV it’s pretty accessible. There are some rougher spots where you probably should have four-wheel-drive or at least a higher stance vehicle.
Josh S.Traveler
White River Dispersed Camping
Could be beautiful
We intended to stay a week, left after 4 days. Could be a beautiful place if not for people.
Pros:
Open space, plenty of room Beautiful View Near the parkCons:
Crowded, even mid week we had close neighbors
Party spot, loud people with loud music
Dirty, we picked up an entire garbage bag of trash just in the spot we were at. Much more in the rest of the area.
Road noise, you're literally right off the road
River is nice, but it's a glacial run off so it's definitely not a swimming area (dirty)
Road in is super rough
Again, overall it could be a nice place. We stayed Wednesday through Saturday after labor day. So not "peak" season and the place was absolutely trashed. Feces, TP, beer cans and bottles, food trash, even car parts litter the area. We did a clean up but barely made a dent.
The first night was quiet and then some locals came and you could tell it was a party area. Loud music, dogs off leash, close neighbors.
We ended up leaving Saturday because it just wasn't enjoyable.
- MMichalyn M.Traveler
White River Dispersed Camping
Amazing
Right off the main road, but several sweet camping spots more tucked away and along the river. I’d definitely recommend a higher clearance vehicle if you want to camp deeper near the river due to rocks and tree roots. People need to clean up after themselves though. We pulled up to a spot that was thrashed. That is how free things get shut down.
- BBella M.Traveler
FS Road 44 Dispersed
Secluded
Could not find the spot in the previous review. They must have parked off the highway. Multiple spots to camp. We went a little further in for a more secluded area and barely had any traffic. Would stay here again.
- BBella M.Traveler
White River Dispersed Camping
Beautiful spot!
This place was gorgeous. Right off a busy road but with being right by the water it tunes out the noise of the traffic. Plenty of spots and can drive in further to be more secluded if needed.
- AAutumn B.Traveler
White River Dispersed Camping
Fantastic camping spot
We had a bit of trouble finding it at first (came from the south of white river), but the little shop down the street has WiFi and we weren’t too far from the entrance. Lots of places to camp, friendly visitors, and overall pretty quiet even with the road right there. The river is so peaceful! Bring a ground sheet for your tents, lots of twigs and foliage.
- Angela A.Traveler
Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping
Beautiful
Great location so close to 90 but tucked away - will be staying here often
Shalena U.
ScoutWhite River Dispersed Camping
Great views of the river
There are plenty of space and camping areas. Nice view of the river. A bot crowed around the weekend
Lets Go O.Traveler
Kachess Lake Lakebed
Land Destruction
Up to $5,000 fines for litter and $10,000 for illegal fire (plus up to a year jail time) now enforced!
People are destroying this lake. There is NO legal driving in the lake bed, even when the water is low. The lake bed is spawning grounds for the endangered Bull Trout. The lake nearby, Kacheless, is now closed due to people driving in the lake bed.
There are also burn bans July-September due to extremely high fire danger. Mountains of garbage around due to no garbage services, and human feces everywhere.
PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. Respect the land on which you travel, or this too will be closed down.
Courtney P.Traveler
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area
Private retreat
This was a great hidden spot and we did not see anyone else the whole time. After going through the gate (and closing it) we head down the gravel road directly in front of us (more to the right). We initially tried the road to the left but it ran into an overgrown area. We towed our 24 ft trailer up this road which turned out fine but definitely pushed the limits. We saw multiple places to pull into and drove about 10-15 minutes before pulling off into a nice private area with good enough cell signal. Roads were very rocky at times but tolerable.
- BBrynn P.Traveler
Clear Lake Campgrounds
Very loud neighbors!!
We camped specifically at the Indian Creek Dispersed sites. There is a collection of camp grounds in this surrounding area, so I wouldn’t be concerned about finding a spot.
The views are incredible, beautiful grounds. Sadly the sites were covered in trash, people were riding quads and chainsawing until 2am, as well as yelling and loud music.
We did come on a weekend so it got very busy.
Adam K.TravelerClear Lake Campgrounds
Depends on the day of the week
If you come during the week, you're going to enjoy quiet, gorgeous dispersed camping. Big spaces, big trees, big lake.
But if you come during the weekend, be prepared for the most inconsiderate, noisy, rude neighbors you've ever found. They leave trash everywhere, play music and shoot guns late into the night, and don't respect boundaries whatsoever. I had multiple people drive right into my campsite and park 10 feet from my rig, walk through camp yelling and playing music, you name it.
So, four stars because the place is amazing - but choose your timing wisely.
- BBre C.Traveler
Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping
Love this spot!
The views are amazing, plenty of open campsites and nobody was around us when we camped. A perfect quiet getaway.
samuel C.RangerFS Road 44 Dispersed
Awesome spots along the river!
The road goes awhile in both directions, there were a lot of pull offs and we just picked one. The one we picked had obvious fire rings and had been recently camped, there was also human feces not too far in the foods , GROSS. Other than that I loved this stay because of the beauty.
Jada P.GuideWhite River Dispersed Camping
Fantastic soundscapes
The first time I came here was solo camping. That was scary especially because there was a collapsed tree on top of a truck that was abandoned. The second time was with friends and there were other campers out. I love the view and the sound of the river! Each site is pretty small…maybe enough for 2-3 tents. Be careful of getting too close to the river because it looks like the earth can erode and break away into the river (why the trees collapse). I would definitely go again!!
Corbanzo B.ScoutWhite River Dispersed Camping
10/10 Site
I stayed here two nights while visiting MRNP. It was an absolutely beautiful location, about 10-15 minutes away from the Sunrise Entrance. The first night, I got there after 9pm and there were still plenty of spots available. I found a spot right next to the river. There were a few other people, but everyone was very quiet. You could see the lights and hear the cars driving on the main road, but they eventually stopped. The second night, I managed to find a spot tucked super far in that had a small private beach. It was farther from the road so you couldn't see or hear anything. I didn't see anyone else the whole afternoon/night. Highly recommend!!
Joshua C.GuideFrenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping
Nice Spot Mid Week to Beat the Crowds
Popular rock climbing area that gets many people through the day. Dispearsed camping in 2 areas. The first spot as you come from the road is much smaller and doesn't have any pit toilets. I prefer to park here when its not busy as the "Feathers" basalt columns are really pretty to camp up next to. The second open site down the road has pit toilets and is a much larger area. Both are nice but also there are many cars, campers, tents and becomes a much more lively area in the evening depending on the crowds.
I think this is a great spot but I move on during the day when the rock climbing crowds start to swarm and park near you. There are some nice trails that take you up above the climbing area and you can get to the backside to get some nice views and away from the crowds. Can get pretty hot here in the warmer months but a beautiful spot to camp if you can avoid the busy/peak times.
Flare9TravelerWhite River Dispersed Camping
White River/Buck Creek
Very quiet. Lots of spots available. Other campers and people using the trail came and went but no noise issues. (Visitor's Center about 2 miles up the road has wifi and coffee.) Will definetly camp here again.
- FFish ..Traveler
Frenchman Coulee Overland Overlook Dispersed Campsite
A good getaway from the crowd
This, like the other spots in Frenchman Coulee, is seldom empty, but it's much less packed than the areas closer to the climbing. This spot offers the best views, sunrises, and sunsets, at the cost of no shade and a healthy dose of wind. If you're going for the rugged feel, this'll do it. OF NOTE: The vault toilets are about a mile away from here.
Matt M.ScoutKachess Lake Lakebed
Kachess
Pretty good, many people riding atvs and dirtbike which kind of ruins the experience.
Boosa L.Traveler
Sluice Creek Dispersed Spot
Nice hidden gem
We are a 29ft, easy to get there but take it slow (take a right turn from the 48th first road). Good Verizon reception, Pretty level, there is a fire pit made by someone before us.
Tim H.TravelerFrenchman Coulee Overland Overlook Dispersed Campsite
Fantastic view of the Coulee falls
Beautiful overlook site. Perfect for Overland type vehicles. The entrance to the site is rough. Scouting is a good idea before attempting entry with a trailer.
- Michael F.Guide
White River Dispersed Camping
Fantastic Camping On The White River
Lots of campsites along the White River right outside of Rainier National Park. Lots of campsites throughout the area. We arrived mid afternoon on a Friday and there were plenty of options to pick from but it did fill up by around 9pm.
Sydney D.Guide
Goat Rock Wilderness
Goat Rock wilderness Rocks!
There are about 9 fire circles around the lake and there are planting of areas to camp without fire circles. It was raining all day Saturday but when we got there at 1 in the afternoon, there were already 7 groups there..that’s how awesome the site is! You have to hike out 5 miles but there is not too much up and down elevation change. The trailhead is about 5 miles up a National Park Service Road and was pretty well kept.. aka no huge rocks, no trees down, no potholes. I could easily get a mini bus up there.
- SSean N.Scout
Lenice Lake - Washington DNR
Bare Camp site
This is used by fly fishermen to access the near by lake.
Guide to Cowiche
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Cowiche, Washington, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations to choose from, you can enjoy the great outdoors while embracing the freedom of camping without the confines of traditional campgrounds.
Top Activities While Free Camping Near Cowiche
- Enjoy fishing and kayaking at the scenic Peninsula / Rimrock Boat Launch, where the views of Rimrock Lake are breathtaking.
- Explore hiking trails and take in the stunning landscapes at Fish Creek Dispersed, known for its peaceful environment and proximity to nature.
- Experience wildlife watching and photography opportunities at the secluded L.T. Murray Wildlife Area, where you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region.
Dispersed Campers Should Check Out South Fork Tieton
- The South Fork Tieton Dispersed Camping area offers a chance to find privacy among the trees, but be prepared to clean up after previous visitors to fully enjoy the experience.
- This location is perfect for those who appreciate a rugged camping experience, as it lacks amenities like drinking water and toilets, making it essential to pack in what you need.
- With its proximity to the river, South Fork Tieton is ideal for those looking to enjoy activities like swimming and fishing while surrounded by nature.
Tips for Free and Dispersed Camping Near Cowiche, Washington
- When visiting Granite Lake Dispersed Camping Area, be ready for a rough road and limited facilities, making it a true back-to-nature experience.
- Arrive early to secure a good spot, especially on weekends, as popular areas like Clear Lake Campgrounds can fill up quickly with fellow campers.
- Always practice Leave No Trace principles, as many sites, including Rimrock - South Fork Bay Dispersed Camp, require you to pack out what you pack in to keep these beautiful areas pristine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Cowiche, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Cowiche, WA is White River Dispersed Camping with a 4.5-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Cowiche, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 35 dispersed camping locations near Cowiche, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.