Camping near Heisson, Washington offers year-round options with elevations ranging from 200-500 feet above sea level in Clark County. Winter temperatures typically stay above freezing, making this area popular for off-season camping when many mountain campgrounds are closed. Most campgrounds in this region receive approximately 50 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush forested settings.
What to do
Swimming in volcanic lakes: Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground features a small volcanic lake with designated swimming areas. "This makes a nice weekend or day trip from Portland. They have a cool volcanic lake with a swimming area and great fishing. Its like a mini crater lake. I mean mini like pond size," shares Ashley Y.
Winter fishing trips: Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground remains open during colder months. "Rolled in January 1st. Self pay. About 5 sites with power and water. We got a nice level one. There are only 5 other sites in the whole campground occupied. Short walk to the lake to fish. Beautiful and quiet... And 25 degrees," reports Chris J.
Disc golf course: Paradise Point State Park Campground offers a 9-hole course near the campground. "Cute little place, showers, potable water, toilets, buy wood, etc. Has two yurts also. A little steep at 30.00/nt to camp. You have to drive or walk a ways to the river which has a day use area with bbqs & picnic tables. The day use area also provides life jackets if you forget yours. The selling point for this camp ground was the disc golf course," notes Fatima H.
What campers like
Secluded campsites: Sunset Falls Campground provides walk-in sites that offer more privacy. "11 is a walk in site that offers the most seclusion in the campground. You are away from all other campers and surrounded by river and trees. The hike along the river and to the waterfalls is short and offers great swimming and relaxing," explains Josh W.
Waterfall swimming holes: At Sunset Falls Campground, families enjoy the natural water features. "The pools above the falls, jumps into the lower pool and the falls themselves are amazing, mostly after Noon when the sun comes onto the river," mentions Lucia J.
Camping with mountain views: Beaver Bay Campground provides access to mountain activities. "Spent a weekend in late fall camping. Great views and trails for days. Short ride to Mount Saint Helens and the Ape Caves as well as hiking the areas up the side of the mountain. Nice launch point to all kinds of fun," says Summer M.
What you should know
Campground crowding: Paradise Point State Park fills quickly during summer months. "We put the size of our RV in the state website and it gave us site 50. We arrived and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get our rig in that site due to the trees. We couldn't even continue out the secondary loop because it was so narrow and had trees on the inside of turns," warns Alex W.
Road noise: Some campgrounds are located near highways. "Freeway is really really close to the whole camp site. You can hear vehicles at night. If you're a light sleeper or need nature noises when camping - this is not the site for you," cautions Susan P. about Paradise Point.
Water quality concerns: Monitor campground water notices. "The location on the Columbia River is gorgeous, but the campground is run down and super basic anyway. Water has arsenic and is no good to drink or cook with. You have to bring your own water, or buy theirs, which they don't mention on their website," warns Z R. about Reeder Beach RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Easy nature trails for kids: Oxbow Regional Park offers family-friendly hiking options. "There are two hikes around the lake; an upper, and a lower one. Both are easy hikes, and are dog and kid friendly," shares Wendy C., describing similar trail options to those found at dog friendly campgrounds near Heisson.
Kid-friendly playground areas: Oxbow Regional Park provides upgraded play areas. "The recent upgrades to playgrounds are awesome for the kids and the new welcome center makes check in a breeze," reports Finn M.
Swimming options for different ages: Beaver Bay Campground offers swimming areas with varying depths. "Water was cool, but great to swim in, waves were almost non existant. you can just float on a tube and chill. the lake is filled with a lot of rocks, definitely need to bring water shoes or it hurts," recommends Terrie M.
Tips from RVers
RV park with city access: Bayport RV Park and Campground offers proximity to urban amenities. "The campground is small but it's very clean, quiet and very nice. There are bathrooms and showers, and a marina on site. They also have WiFi, water and electric hook up's. I really enjoyed this campground and the location is wonderful also," notes Nicole S.
Site selection for large rigs: Check site dimensions carefully when booking pet-friendly campgrounds near Heisson. "Most sites had good trees for hammocking! I also saw some sites designated for campers with disabilities," reports Stephanie Z. about Oxbow Regional Park.
Winter RV camping options: Several campgrounds in the Heisson area remain open year-round with limited services. "We stayed 2 days. Good for a quick overnight stay in a pinch. Quite a few better parks along the Gorge. 80% are full timers and their spots are not well maintained. Lots of airport noise overhead. Train goes through but didnt blow horn. Did have full hookups," comments Paula about Jantzen Beach RV Park.
Legend
