Glamping near Index, Washington provides a mix of rustic comfort and forest serenity within 30-50 miles of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Located near the junction of Highway 2 and the Mountain Loop Highway, these accommodations sit at elevations ranging from 400-1,200 feet with typical summer temperatures between 70-85°F. Several sites offer direct river access and maintained trail connections for those wanting to explore without moving their vehicle.
What to Do
River access: Middle Fork Campground provides direct access to the Snoqualmie River. "We loved it here! Non of the sites are reservable, so it's great for last minute trips when everything else has been booked out. Just over an hr from the city," notes Gemma A. about this Middle Fork Campground.
Hiking trails: The Clear Creek Campground connects to the Old Sauk Trailhead about a mile away. A camper explains, "There are 2 vault toilets (one by the host area at Site 3 and one by campsite 10)... Site 13 has a trail leading to it but somewhat steep. I would say that it was very clean and well kept." The Clear Creek Campground trail system can accommodate different skill levels.
Swimming options: Lake Easton State Park offers a designated swimming area with a gradual entry point perfect for less experienced swimmers. "This park was awesome! We went for the 4th of July. The park offers hiking trails, lots of day use picinic areas, and of course the lake!" shares Lorinda D. about her experience at this family-friendly site.
Fishing spots: Bedal Campground provides fishing access along the Sauk River. "The Bedal Campground is off the mountain loop highway in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Settled in some old Growth forest it provides a good amount of shade to most sites," explains Douglas S., highlighting the campground's proximity to prime fishing areas.
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: At Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, campers appreciate the natural separation. "Quiet campground with decent privacy between sites. We stayed just one night at site 42, which was on a corner and offered a good amount of privacy and easy access to the clean bathrooms," notes Rachel.
Camp host support: Middle Fork Campground gets high marks for staff helpfulness. "The camp host was super friendly and knowledgeable, dog access is a plus, and a ton of trails nearby. Plus, the road itself on the way up is very well maintained," shares Sam B. about their experience with the on-site staff.
Rustic structures: Bedal Campground features a historic group shelter. "The Trees here are Amazing! 21 campsites to choose from, with some availability to reserve. The sites are large, and there is a large old growth shelter available as well," reports Andrea R., highlighting the campground's unique infrastructure.
Hot showers: Unlike many forest campgrounds, Kanaskat-Palmer offers individual bathroom/shower combinations. "It has 6 very clean individual (one person) bathrooms with a shower in each," explains Kelly P., noting the unusual privacy and cleanliness of these facilities compared to typical campground bathrooms.
What You Should Know
Reservation status: Some campgrounds like Middle Fork operate first-come, first-served. "We pulled up last minute and there were still campgrounds and most of the sites were pretty clean!" mentions Alexa T. This differs from Bedal Campground where "21 campsites to choose from, with some availability to reserve," according to Andrea R.
Water access: Several campgrounds lack water hookups. "BE AWARE THERE IS NO WATER HERE. Repeat, there is no water spouts here, so you'll have to bring all you need," warns Maria S. about Clear Creek Campground. This is common at more rustic glamping sites.
Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly in quality. For Middle Fork Campground, Jules R. notes, "The riads ads leading in from I90 were passable but confusing with 'Road Closed' signage when the road wasn't actually closed."
Weather considerations: During hot weather, electrical capacity matters. One camper at Tall Chief Campground warns: "We ended up here during a heat wave and an entire section of the park blew after having several days of power issues (one of which was our site)."
Tips for Camping with Families
Accessible swimming: Lake Easton State Park provides family-friendly water access. "We've been here a few times only because it has such a nice beach for little kids to swim and play in the sand. They also have a nice playground for kids there too," shares Beth E. about the Lake Easton State Park Campground.
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some sites. Kate I. warns: "Noisy, noisy, noisy, and noisy. From the sound of the highway to the insurmountable number of inconsiderate neighbors... forget getting any sleep." Consider sites further from roads when booking with children.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. Trevor M. reports, "Small playground with a basketball court by the bathrooms. Lovely river walk trail follows the Yakima River. Activities for children such as the Jr. Ranger program."
Berry picking: Some sites offer natural foraging opportunities. Dan P. shares: "We enjoyed our stay at the middle fork camp ground. We stayed there to be close to the mailbox trail head. There were so many berries around the camp and we could literally sit in camp and pick blue berries."
Tips from RVers
Leveling needs: Kanaskat-Palmer offers flat sites. "The only campground we've been to where we didn't need to level the trailer. RV sites are all pull through its fairly quiet," says Russ H. about Tall Chief Campground.
Dump station access: Several campgrounds offer dump stations or services. At Tall Chief, "We don't have room for one so we used a pumping service halfway through our time there. The park provided the information for the service. It was $60 though."
Limited 50-amp service: Most sites offer only 30-amp connections. "There are a few 50 amp sites but from what I saw they were all taken by RVers that are there on a more permanent basis. If you want/need one, you cannot get one," notes Derek & Alex W.
Cell service variability: Coverage changes dramatically between sites. Brodie D. explains: "Another thing that can be annoying is trying to find a site with good cell reception due to all the trees. They definitely have a few, but I would say arrive early so you can drive by all the sites while checking to make sure you have good reception if you need it. I'm getting 120+ mbs download on AT&T in my site right now, but several sites down from me, it can dwindle down to 5mbs!"
