Elma is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Elma camping trip.
$12 / night
"Simple, small, peaceful campground with pit toilets and potable water.
Mid week after Labor Day, I had my choice of sites arriving in late afternoon."
"We arrived little later around 6 p.m. And being such a nice day there were only few sites left."
"We camped near Vance Creek trailhead to do the Olympic Bridges bike ride the next morning. Since this is a national forest, dispersed camping is allowed."
"This is a gravel road through the National Forest with a bunch of pull-offs where you can camp. It was nothing special but very quiet and peaceful other than one or two cars that passed by."
"No signal and got a little snow on the roof in the morning but it was a good spot with a great view."
"Very far off the beaten path, every time I camp here I don’t run into anyone. You’re camping on the Ridgeline so it can be a bit windy."
"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."
"Great avenue to get out into nature with various streams crossing the path of the service road. Truly magical place."
"Not many other campers' sites are well dispersed . Got to feed 3 Bluejays by hand with my oldest one of our new favorite memories."
"Gorgeous little spot off a national forest road. Stunning views, no light pollution or car sounds at night."
"No water. First come first served and this one goes quickly!"
"It was quiet and easy accessible. Once you enter the road there are a few turn outs sprinkled on the side of the road that you can pull in. Please clean up after yourself!"
"Just stayed for one night in our camper van."
"Great spot on the NF-2419, about a mile before the Mt Elinor lower trailhead. Plenty of space for a large vehicle"
GuideSeveral campsites along the gravel road, we found the perfect secluded spot next to the Quinault River. Drove right into the hidden alcove in our stealth camper van.
ScoutRight off the highway. Pit toilet and wooded areas. Can still hear highway from this exact GPS location, so I went further on up the road for a quieter spot. A few trucks did speed by in the middle of the night, but it was a Saturday and July 4th weekend. 5 bars of cell service.
GuideWe camped near Vance Creek trailhead to do the Olympic Bridges bike ride the next morning. Since this is a national forest, dispersed camping is allowed. We picked the first spot we got to since it was getting kind of late. It wasn't the most ideal spot and I think further down the road has prettier and more remote options, but it made do. There were really huge flies but they did not bite. The only complaint was that there was more car traffic than I wanted very late at night into the early morning. One car even slowed down and yelled at our tent around 2am. We never felt unsafe but it was annoying. A lot of trash was left behind from previous camper. I would suggest finding alternative spots if you're looking for a more enjoyable night but if you are just there for an overnight, it is fine.
GuideGreat spot because it's so secluded in the forest. 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 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. This one was the best, but there are lots of options. All of them are commonly used because there are ashes from fires. There's a moderate amount of trash at most of them.
Requires a Discovery Pass. I bought a day pass for $12 online since I don't need the annual pass. They tell you to write the date and order number in large print on a piece of paper and put it on your dash. No one came to check my pass though (in January, so it's the off season)
You have to take a dirt road to reach the campsite, but it is pretty well maintained. The only difficulty I encountered were two points where a few inches of road were a bit washed out. They were small enough that I could manage them alright in a 2WD van that had normal clearance. So most cars could probably manage them.
There's a small trail behind this spot that that leads to the creek, which is nice. Other than that, you can hike along the dirt roads, but there aren't any actual hiking trails that I found. I saw a porcupine for the first time while wandering one of the side roads! I didn't drive up to Snag Lake.
RangerThere are about 5 sites hidden on the road. Please be careful the road is a mix of private land, national forest, national park. The sites can be easily found by their stone fire rings. The site that is directly on the river was very popular. I ended up staying 2 nights at one of the last sites before it turns to private land. It was tucked away, walk in site, had a nice fire ring, nice tent pad area. It has a large rope so you can access the river. The scenery is breath taking. Down the road there are at least 2 waterfalls on the right. In the town of quinault there is a laundry mat/shower facility!
TravelerThis is a gravel road through the National Forest with a bunch of pull-offs where you can camp. It was nothing special but very quiet and peaceful other than one or two cars that passed by. Felt safe as a single tent camper
GuideThere 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. The spot we chose was the best as it is away from the towers and buildings, plus has a great view overlooking the valley and bay, and you can see the ocean between the peaks in the distance. The road getting here is a bit rough with lots of washboard, steep grades and rocks. But it's fun. No amenities, obviously, but there is a concrete pad from an old structure you can park on. Other sites have solid pack gravel covered by grass.
GuideThe road was a little rough but my suv made it fine. No signal and got a little snow on the roof in the morning but it was a good spot with a great view.
TravelerGorgeous little spot off a national forest road. Stunning views, no light pollution or car sounds at night. It’s December so of course it’s a bit cold at night and I’d recommend at least AWD to get up here. Will be back.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Elma, Washington, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, campers can enjoy the great outdoors while embracing the freedom of camping without designated sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Elma, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Elma, WA is Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead with a 2.8-star rating from 5 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 17 dispersed camping locations near Elma, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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