Best Dispersed Camping near Grays River, WA

Dispersed camping near Grays River, Washington offers several free primitive sites for outdoor enthusiasts seeking solitude. Road to Snag Lake provides secluded forest camping with multiple sites along a dirt road. A Washington State Discovery Pass ($12 daily or annual option) is required for parking. The road is generally passable for standard vehicles despite occasional rough patches. According to reviews, "There are at least 4 other campsites off this road at different points if you keep driving. Some of them are more or less level and more or less muddy."

The Road to Snag Lake area features concrete pads at some sites near communication towers, providing excellent valley views and reliable cell service. Several campers noted strong T-Mobile reception, making this area suitable for remote work needs. The sites have no amenities; visitors must pack in all water and supplies. A small trail behind one campsite leads to a creek, but formal hiking trails are limited. Wildlife sightings, including porcupines, have been reported on side roads.

Visitors should prepare for variable conditions and practice Leave No Trace principles. Multiple reviewers mentioned trash issues at these sites, indicating the need for proper waste management. The area around Snag Lake and Western Lake offers additional options when primary sites are full. These lakes are stocked with trout each spring, providing recreational fishing opportunities. The surrounding forest consists primarily of new growth trees, creating excellent stargazing conditions due to minimal light pollution. Winter access may be limited by snow or mud, particularly for vehicles without adequate clearance or appropriate tires.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Grays River, Washington (8)

    1. Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    15 Reviews
    Naselle, WA
    11 miles
    Website

    "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."

    2. Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    8 Reviews
    Clatskanie, OR
    28 miles

    "Definitely best for car camping as the spots down by the river were pretty wet and muddy this time of year. The waterfall is amazing and only a 15 minute hike down!"

    "The river is a walk down a very steep hill behind the pullout. No place to pitch a tent, best for car camping."

    3. Cole Mt Ridge

    4 Reviews
    Tolovana Park, OR
    35 miles

    "The coordinates did not take us to the exact spot, but the pin on the map was the closest, it’s actually to the left on the dirt road. You’ll see a tiny dirt road going up hill and that’s the spot."

    "This spot has an almost 180 degree view around to the west! Could fit about 2-4 people comfortably. No amenities but such a good time!"

    4. Dispersed Camping Near Cannon Beach

    3 Reviews
    Tolovana Park, OR
    35 miles

    "Some paths are less driven on so maybe avoid with a big RV or van, can also get a little hilly and tight.

    I got in around 8:45pm and there were a good amount of spots left."

    5. soapstone lake trail dispersed camping

    1 Review
    Arch Cape, OR
    37 miles

    "Secluded yet close to Cannon Beach. Road was very accessible. Creek and trailhead nearby. Spot at the dead end is best."

    6. Scenic Overlook Dispersed Camp near Foley Creek

    3 Reviews
    Wheeler, OR
    48 miles

    "Definitely quite the long and slow drive up a narrow backcountry road - steep in sections but overall quite manageable."

    "It’s just past a river around a bend when heading east on the south side. You’ll see signs off the pavement for Cook Creek campground. Keep on driving up staying on the main road."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Grays River, WA

28 Reviews of 8 Grays River Campgrounds


  • Jeremy B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 10, 2022

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Great secluded spot in the woods

    Great 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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2023

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Amazing Hike!!

    This place was beautiful!! Definitely best for car camping as the spots down by the river were pretty wet and muddy this time of year. The waterfall is amazing and only a 15 minute hike down! The only reason this place got lower than a 5 star is because of all the trash near the parking lot. Too beautiful of a place to be used as a dump!! Definitely used as a party spot but aside from this it’s worth the visit!

  • EThe Dyrt ADMIN User
    May. 29, 2025

    Scenic Overlook Dispersed Camp near Foley Creek

    360 views!

    This was a really fantastic campsite! Definitely quite the long and slow drive up a narrow backcountry road - steep in sections but overall quite manageable. There are a few options up here but one really phenomenal site with wide ranging views. Be weary that it is a long drive to get here and no way to tell if there's sites available until you do the entire drive up. No water up here.

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2023

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Decent place for the night

    A big pavement pull off on the ride of the road. The river is a walk down a very steep hill behind the pullout. No place to pitch a tent, best for car camping. Had some issues with people stopping and playing loud music, seems to be a hangout spot.

  • Ryan S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 27, 2025

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Great view of the valley

    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. 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.

  • Jeremy B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 8, 2022

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Great pullout in the woods

    This is my first wildcamping/boondocking location, but I loved it. It feels like you're right in the middle of the forest! It's a wide dirt pullout with room for 7-10 cars. And although it's right alongside the road, it's not a super busy road like some highway spots, so it felt pretty secluded and quiet. Very few cars at night.

    No signs of any kind indicating "no parking." 1 bar of Verizon LTE.

    The dirt was solid -- I wasn't worried at all about getting stuck in the mud (and I'm here in the middle of winter with tons of recent rain). Plenty of room to turn around with ease.

    And you're right at a hiking trail that takes you to beautiful falls!! What more could you ask for? -- Don't make the mistake I did. The trail all the way on the left side of the parking lot takes you to the falls. The trails in the middle of the lot are super steep and muddy and don't lead to the falls.

    Only downside is it's not perfectly flat. It wasn't too bad though. I just parked with my head pointing uphill when I go to bed, of course.

    There is also another option down the road to the east about 500 feet. It's a paved pullout, but it is smaller so it doesn't have as much space to turnaround.

  • Daniel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 25, 2022

    Tillamook Forest Dispersed - Shots and Pecks

    Great views, but trashy

    This spot is pretty remote, so it was very quiet. There are a few downsides to this spot though: there appeared to be a few semi-permanent campers along the route, the actual gps spot has a bunch of trash and has been used as a drug-up spot (broken syringes and caps), and the route to this spot via Google Maps takes you down the wrong road at first. I can’t recommend this spot because of all these things, but it did have some pleasant views and was quiet.

  • C
    Aug. 9, 2025

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Beautiful camping spot!

    Amazing views and complete silence! Tons of rabbits and wildflowers.

    Can’t recommend this place enough for a dispersed site. Road is gravel but in great condition, even passenger cars will be totally fine.

    We stayed on a Friday night in August and were the only ones here.

  • Anna P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2025

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Far out there but decent site

    Very quiet. Spots for van or tent are between radio/cell towers, so doesn't feel like wilderness but there is the potential for spectacular views if the clouds clear. Site is up a decently maintained but long and steep gravel road, doable in a Prius but she was panting by the end. Only ones here on a Tuesday. Cement pad makes a flat tent site.


Guide to Grays River

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Grays River, Washington, where nature meets tranquility. This area offers a variety of spots for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle and immerse themselves in the great outdoors.

Scenic Views for Nature Lovers

Ideal Spots for Remote Work

Activities for Adventure Seekers

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Grays River, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Grays River, WA is Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed with a 4.4-star rating from 15 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Grays River, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Grays River, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.