Looking for an adventure where you can explore Darrington and then fall asleep in your tent? Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Darrington, including sites, reviews, and tips. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Darrington, Washington's most popular destinations.
WTA Pro Tip: This is a popular area for camping. On a sunny weekend, start early to allow plenty of time to find a site. Note that Gothic Basin is an extremely fragile area, so be sure that you're camping on an established site or sturdy surface, like rock or dirt, and avoid camping in meadows or grasses, as this can damage the landscape. You’ll also want a bear can, as there are no trees in Gothic Basin suitable for a bear line.
Close to Seattle but a world away, Camano Island Camping offers a mellow, less bustling, but equally friendly alternative to its busier neighbor, Cama Beach State Park.
Forest loop trails provide cool, tranquil hiking, while shoreline strolls offer birding, shell and rock exploration and sweeping views of Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier.
Are you happiest in or on the water? Go boating, crabbing, saltwater fishing and sailboarding in Saratoga Passage. Curious about the restored 1930's fishing resort at Cama Beach? Hike the 1-mile trail to check out this neighboring state park.
After a fun day exploring the trails or cavorting in the water, you will probably want to kick back in your forested cabin, pitch your tent or get cozy in your RV. There, you can cook up the delicious crab you have caught, or your dinner of choice, and enjoy a bit of sublime R and R before heading back to the world.
What is Dispersed Camping? 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. For the best information on dispersed camping opportunities and local restrictions, please contact the nearest ranger district office.
Rules for Dispersed Camping These rules apply to car camping and backpacking
You may camp in a dispersed area in an individual Ranger District for up to 14 days within a 30-day period. After 14 days, you must move to another Ranger District or off the National Forest until the 30 days has elapsed.
Do not blaze new roads to campsites, create new campsites, clear ground, cut or harm vegetation or construct a trail.
Do not drive beyond constructed physical barriers, such as berms or gates.
Do not drive through streams or wetlands to access a camp.
If campfires are legal in your location and you choose to have a campfire, pick a site with an existing fire pit. Do not create new fire pits. Make sure your campfire is always attended and is dead out and cold to the touch before you leave your site. Fires may be restricted or banned based on the fire danger rating.
Follow Leave No Trace principles and come prepared to “Pack it in. Pack it out.” Pack all trash home. Dispose of human waste in a sanitary manner. In high use locations, areas above tree line and snow-covered areas it is not possible to bury human waste in a sanitary manner. It will need to be packed out and disposed of at home using a wag bag, blue bag, portable toilet or another Leave No Trace approved method.
Do not block roads or gates.
Keep food and scented items secure from wildlife by keeping a clean camp and store items in your vehicle or use a wildlife resistant storage canister.
Failure to follow regulations can lead to legal consequences. Additional Forest rules and links to report crimes can be found on our Law Enforcement page.
$15 - $30 / night
A nice combination of sun and shade, this campground offers exploration of the North Fork of the Skykomish river when you're not sitting by the campfire roasting marshmallows.
Maple Grove Campsites are located on Baker Lake Trail. This is a wonderful family hike for all seasons with its low elevation and level grade. Stands of giant old growth trees draped in lichen and covered in moss are some of the highlights along this trail. Baker Lake Trail is the only trail on Mt. Baker Ranger District open for stock and llama use year round. It can also be accessed at the north via Baker River Trail 606. This trail leads into a majestic stand of Douglas fir that regrew after Mt. Baker erupted and started a forest fire in 1843. You can still see the burned snags of the cedar trees that once dominated the area. From south to north, the trail contours the eastern shoreline of Baker Lake, offering glimpses of Mt. Baker. All along the trail spot western trillium, twinflower, foamflower, coralroot and twisted stalk.
$20 - $60 / night
Sahale Glacier Camp is a collection of flat spots ringed with rocks piled up against the wind. Camping in the Sahale Glacier Camp requires a backcountry permit, available on a first-come, first-served basis at the ranger station in Marblemount.
Scout
There is a trail that leads down to the water or you can hop in your car for a short drive. We did a walk up site and checked in late, the bathrooms were locked due to it being the off season. We had to stop in at the park station and ask the person working for the bathroom code. Peaceful and very pretty trees.
Guide
Lovely treed campground. Large sites!
Traveler
Definitely a nice area to Visit for our first time. Quite and the ferry comes right past the camp ground. Ferry doesn’t blast its horn unless there is a boat in the ferry path. Definitely worth to check out and check out the fort. Showers and nice very clean park.
Traveler
Glad they reopened this campground - it’s a nice quick escape from the city with plenty of accessible / semi accessible trails nearby. Sites are pretty basic, but have a bear locker.
Scout
Our camp spots were close to the lake. The cedar trees gave great cover from the rain. The trails around camp were well maintained.
Scout
Came in mid October on a Saturday. First come first serve and no fee in the off season, despite being October, it was busy. Got a spot after driving a few loops around the campground and asked someone if they were leaving. Was able to put chairs in the site before they left to secure the spot. Nice picnic area along the river we hung out at while waiting for the site to open up. Safe enough to dip in the river. Very close to multiple hikes in North Cascades National Park. Pit toilets, picnic tables and fire rings available. No water in the off season. Had 3 bars of Verizon service. Lots of options for tents, trailers, or vans. Would definitely come back for off season camping.
Scout
Arrived around 4pm on a Friday and there were a few spots left. Pit toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables available. No water. Got a spot with lake and Mountain View’s. Very small, quiet, stunning campground. Felt safe. We have a rooftop tent, not many sites with large enough spots to park trailers or vans. Mostly tent sites that are walk in. Mostly open, some sites in the forest. Had one bar of Verizon service. Would stay again!
Scoutתלאביב,העירשלאעוצרת,מציעההכולמהכול.ביןאםזהחיילילהמסחרריםאואווירהתוססת,תמידאפשרלמצואמשהוחדשומפתיע.אבלבואונדבררגעעלהחשפניות–נושאשמעלהחיוכיםאצלחלקמאיתנו,ומעוררויכוחאצלאחרים.ביןכלהמסעדותהטרנדיותוהבריםשמלאיםעדאפסמקום,ישעודעולםשהואפחותמדובר,אךלאפחותחשוב–החשפניות.למהפחותמדובר?אוליבגללשבמבטראשון,זהנראהפשוט–ריקוד,מוזיקה,כסף.אבלמישצוללעמוקיותרמביןשמדוברבתעשייההרבהיותרמורכבת.ישפהנשיםשעובדותקשהומביאותהופעהשדורשתכישרון,ביטחוןעצמיויכולתלהתמודדעםקהללאפשוטבכלל.מועדוניהחשפנותבעירהלבנההםחלקבלתינפרדמהנוף,גםאםלאכולםמרוציםמהנוכחותשלהם.כמוכלמקצוע,גםכאןישצדדיםשוניםשלהמטבע.עבורחלקמהנשים,זודרךלהרוויחהרבהכסףבפרקזמןקצר.עבוראחרות,זובמהלביטויאישיוכוחנשי.אבלתמידישאתאלושיעלואתהשאלההמוסרית–האםזהנכון?האםזהמנצלאומעצים?כשמדבריםעלהחשפניותבתלאביב,זהבעצםמשקףדיוןרחביותרעלחירותאישיתמולנורמותחברתיות.מצדאחד,כלאחתואחדזכאיםלבחוראיךלנהלאתהחייםשלהם.מצדשני,ישאתהחברהשמציבהגבולותומסגרתלמהמקובלומהלא.אבלכמושכולנויודעים–תלאביבאוהבתלפרוץאתהגבולותהאלו,ותמידישמקוםלדיוןמחודש.בקיצור,אםישמשהושאפשרללמודמתלאביבוהחשפניותשלה,זהשהחייםמלאיםניגודים.כלאחדואחתבוחריםאתהדרךשלהם,ואיןכאןתשובהחד-משמעית.
Traveler
Have been camping here for years and the camp ground has had things added to it over the years as well. Quite and always a laid back atmosphere. Miss the camp sites that where on the west end of the park that where really close to the river. But still a great place to camp.
Traveler
I just can’t say enough about this campsite. I wound up staying here 4 to 5 days at a time over the course of two months because I loved it so much. It’s private. The spaces allow you to have a certain level of intimacy. They have bathrooms, water, and gray water dump, the host Marissa is just a complete awesome doll. It’s convenient to drive into because it’s right off the highway and about five minutes or so is the town of Skykomish with an incredible deli library a laundromat and a coffee shop I hope to visit here many more times, but I absolutely love it. Oh and cell reception is pretty good. Best we stayed at. For both Google Fi and, Verizon.
Traveler
We love this campground our kids love it too. The kiddos always want to go camping here when we ask them!! Great staff really nice campsites. Beautiful beach bring the kites
Guide
Lots of flat, wooded sites are a short level walk to the beach on a really beautiful lake. Across the main road from the campground is a 3+ mile trail to popular hot springs.
The best sites for view are 34, 37, 38, 39. We stayed in 46, and loved it because it is very close to the beach. 47 and 44 are also very nice and close to the beach.
The campground reservation site did not have a good map of the campground. I finally found one on the forest service site https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5308652.pdf
The reservation site said site 46 could only accommodate a vehicle up to 15 feet in length, but there was plenty of room.
Scout
This is a beautiful campground with plenty of hiking opportunities and gorgeous views. It’s close to a highway so you can hear the road but not a ton of traffic through the campground. We stayed on the Quarry Pond side which seems a bit smaller and more private. Nice wide open campsites with a power hookup and clean water. Plenty of amenities nearby as well, the 76 gas station on the edge of the campground is full of supplies; food wise and gear wise. Doesn’t feel so isolated and in the middle of nowhere but still plenty out of the city.
TravelerBeautiful, excellently maintained campground with clean bathrooms and free showers. Setting is really beautiful and there are many things to see and do that are close by. Campsite was immaculate and large with a fire pit and picnic table.
Scout
Scam
Guide
Super well maintained. Every site has a huge bear bin for storage, and they’re at a wonderful height to put a stove on top and stand cooking.
Traveler
This area was perfect! Took a nice stroll along the road after dinner. Didn’t really run into any other campers.
GuideReservable campsites, mature forest, 2 hours from Seattle, not full on Labor Day weekend! I didn’t know that existed. It’s a nice small campground on the Mountain Loop Highway. It has very dense trees and a small beach on a creek for wading. Hiking trails and a larger river are a short drive away.
Guide
Langley is a great little town. I don’t know why they haven’t done more to develop the campground- all sites are first-come-first served. They did repair the electrical system this year and just reopened. It’s at the fairgrounds on the edge of town, there’s a largely unlandscaped grass field with electrical boxes & (some) water connections. There is a dump out on site and potable water. There are accessible bathrooms and showers nearby. The campground is on a hill above the horse barn and arena, very convenient to the town of Langley, which is delightful. No camp host available, nobody you can call for assistance. Because the campground just reopened, we were the only ones camped most of the 6 days we were here. I love Langley but they are not as tourist-driven as many towns which have campgrounds like this.
ScoutWe found an amazing site right on the lake, with great views and it was fairly quiet. There were a couple people who decided to have campfires despite the statewide burn ban in effect, which was a bit of a bummer. Despite that, great campground with toilets, picnic table, fire ring (when allowed), and lots of trees for hammocking. Loved our weekend here!
Scout
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Scout
Really nice farm with a great mountain view. Quiet rural setting but close to town (Mt. Vernon) if you need anything or just want to explore the farmer's market, as we did. Woodland trail on the 10+ acres was a real plus for our two dogs. Hosts were helpful and responsive. All around a great weekend. Thank you.
Traveler
Great site, next to a river. Crystal clear water. No running water. Camp toilet. Clean. Great for families
Has Verizon LTE (5mbps), and T-Mobile LTE and 5G (20mbps).
Guide
If you need wifi to plan your next days this location is not for you. Wifi available at the lodge only and very slow. Except for that the site is big, nothing specific regarding amenities
Scout
If you think all the spots are taken, keep driving. So many spots along Baker Lake Road.
Late July, there’s a lot of partying on the lake. It’s not so bad but you’ll definitely hear people having fun.
Scout
Plenty of sites, good amount of privacy. Put toilets were clean. Potable water not available, there was a sign directing you to Verlot for water.
GuideWe had two beautiful days at Beckler River CG. Site 25 was very roomy and private yet had access to Site 24 via a little pathway so we were able to cross back and forth to see our friends camping next door. There’s lots of trails you can access via a short drive. We have AT&T which had great reception. The vault toilet was clean. There’s no water available in the CG so make sure you bring extra water.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Darrington, WA is Squire Creek Park & Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 8 reviews.
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