Best Tent Camping near Darrington, WA

We stayed here on a Thursday through Sunday and enjoyed every day. Important to note there is no running water and no electricity and smaller RVs and smaller trailers will fit and that's it. It's really more of a tent camping place. There are 23 sites about three-quarters are reservable the rest first come first served $14 a night $7 for extra cars. Fire Rings picnic tables and nice pads for your tent in every site. The best ones of course are on the river side with number 9 and 12 being the prime reservable spots. There are two sets of bathrooms for the entire Loop so depending where you stay it can be quite a walk in the night! They are pit Vault toilets and original out houses complete with natural smell. The campground host keeps everything nice and clean. Firewood is sold in the camp ($6) but several places on the way in sell it for less from local people.

Campground Review: Colonial Creek Campground

https://thedyrt.com/camping/washington/washington-colonial-creek

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/255201

Colonial Creek Campground, Diablo Lake Washington, is the prettiest place I've been to in Washington! Half the campground is reservation only, the other half is walk in. There is something like 176 total campsites, if I remember correctly. Each campsite is equipped with a large bear box, fire pit, picnic table and tent pad. The restrooms are large with flush toilets and sinks. There are no showers. Large bear proof trashcans, and water spigots are spread through each side of the campground. Thunder knob Trail starts on the south Campground and Thunder Creek trail is on the North campground. There is a fishing dock and a boat launch on the North campground. We stayed in site #15 which was great during the week. I felt this site offered zero privacy, the fire ring was positioned so you had to watch the road, the rest of the large site had a creek, but the trail went past our campsite, so a ton of people, familes, dogs, would all walk past our site. There is parking for the walk in sites right next to you, but those also take the trail. There is also nobody on the other side of you. So it gave a sense of privacy on a Wednesday, but not Friday-Sunday. At $16 a night, I felt it was great compared to other campsites. The beauty of this Campground and surrounding area is unparalleled. Would defiantly be back, but I would probably try for a more secluded site.

Ranger review: Icemule Cooler

https://icemulecoolers.com/collections/pro-coolers/products/the-icemule-pro-large

As a ranger for the Dyrt, I sometimes get products in exchange for an honest review. Icemule coolers are perfection! This is the Large and it is huge! I was very surprised at the quality and size for the price. I love this cooler because it is super easy and comfortable to carry. No more big, heavy, bulky coolers to cart around. On this trip I used it as my main cooler. I froze 14 bottles of water to use as ice. I kept bacon, sausage, chicken, ground beef, hotdogs, butter, syrup and coffee creamer plus all the water bottles and soda in this bag. It was heavy, but held up to the challenge! It kept those bottles of water for 3 days before I had to buy ice. There is a compartment on the front for picnic supplies. I have also used this just as a dry bag. It's got great versatility and it even floats. I am 100% an Icemule cooler fan and recommend to anyone, whether a car camper or hiker, you will enjoy this cooler.

The Red Bridge campground is on the very scenic Mountain loop Rd in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It's a very beautiful drive. Nestled in some great trees, there are 13 sites with shade, right along the river. The camp host was very nice and sold firewood on site. There are no hook ups, and no water spigots so be sure to plan accordingly. There are bear proof trash cans and vault toilets available. Each site has a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring. This campground provides ample hiking, fishing and I saw people kayaking plus its not far to a hike to some glacier caves! Also check out the old red trestle bridge just outside of the campground. At $15 a night you have to see this place. 
I highly recommend Red Bridge campground.

General: Camping in three loops plus walk-in tent sites and a group site (closed when we were there). No hookups of any kind. I was surprised that we had such good cell coverage (Verizon) but am guessing the proximity to the town of Newhalem is why. 

Site Quality: Nicely wooded with decent separation. Some were back in, and some were pull-through. All were level with a paved camper pad. The sites in Loops A and B have tent platforms (didn’t see them in Loop C); all have a fire pit (but there was a burn ban), a large picnic table, and a bear box. 

Bathhouse: The one in the A loop was very clean. There are no showers. No paper towels or air dryer so make sure to bring your towel. 

Activities: Daily programs at Visitor Center 12:30 and 4:00 pm. It is about a half-mile walk via the River Loop to get to the Visitor Center (farther from Loop C) where you can get information on hikes and there is a small store and interpretive center. The proximity of the Visitor Center was appreciated due to the recent fires and not knowing what was open and what was not. The River Loop is approximately 2 miles and is accessed between the A and B Loops. You can also hike to Ladder Creek Falls. The gardens have been neglected for some time, but the falls are worth it. (You can also drive to the town of Newhalem to get to the falls). 

We have been in many National Park campgrounds that have been outsourced and have been disappointed, so we were very glad to find this one still maintained by the NPS and at a very reasonable rate ($12 with senior pass).

The recreation area has a number of backcountry camping options and at times, sites can get busy in the peak season but the permitting system will provide peace of mind that you'll have a spot for the night. Some sites are right on the lake while others are a bit tucked in. Most sites have fire rings, picnic tables and a few have grills. There's plenty of space to pitch a tent at each spot.

As for all waste, pack it in and pack it out. There are a lot of mice roaming around these campsites so be sure to secure your food appropriately as well as any overly salty clothing (turns out mice really love salt soaked fabric). Some sites have heavy duty bear boxes for food storage.

The great thing about these sites is that you can get to them by foot or by boat. We spent several days traveling along the lake, ending in Hozameen and taking a boat ride the length of Ross Lake back to our vehicle at the end.

There are also several day hike options if you are canoeing/boating to your site or from site to site. Desolation Peak is one of my favorites and has some cool ties to Jack Kerouac. This spot is a gem and totally worth spending a few days here.

Great place to bring your LQ (any size rig) and camp with your horses. There are a few non-equestrians, but we need to keep this a place for equestrians because we are losing more and more campsites.  Trails are well maintained and extensive.

No water or electric at the camp, but you can drive down to a creek and pump or collect water for your horses. You will be boondocking.

High-line poles are available to high-tie your horses. We set up a portable corral and were fine. Picnic tables and fire rings are also available.

No manure pile or wheel barrow. There is a vault toilet and I got cell service on my phone.

These campgrounds are about a 4 mile hike in from the trailhead. Plenty of wild berries, flowers, and ferns along the way. We had fun just relaxing under the Big Leaf Maple trees. Each campground has a flat tent site. Some also have fire pits with grills and picnic tables, but not all. There is a pit toilet and urine diverter on site. There are also a couple bear boxes to share, as bear (and deer!) roam this area. The lake is lovely, though it was a bit too cold in June to swim. There is a small floating dock on the lake. Spectacular views of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan - be sure to watch the sunset. Boaters frequent this lake so there is a bit of motor noise, but this doesn't bother me. Dog-friendly campsite. This made for a very relaxing overnight backpacking trip!