Cabin camping near Kelso, Washington provides access to multiple volcanic lakes and views of Mount St. Helens. The region sits at elevations ranging from 45 to 300 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter temperatures often dropping to 30-40°F. Most cabins in this area don't require extensive hiking to access, making them suitable for campers seeking comfort without sacrificing forest immersion.
What to do
Lake activities at Silver Lake: Silver Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities with multiple species available. "Silver Lake is one of the best Large-mouth Bass fishing lakes in Washington State. We also have a lot of Crappie, Trout, Perch, Bluegill, Catfish, Warmouth, Pumpkin Seed, and two kinds of Carp," reports a camper at Silver Lake Resort. The lake also offers equipment rentals for water recreation.
Wildlife viewing from cabins: Many cabins provide opportunities to observe local wildlife from your doorstep. At Streeter's Resort, a camper noted, "Ospreys fished in front of us all day and the water was surprisingly warm." Some cabins are positioned specifically for bird watching or animal spotting.
Disc golf near cabin sites: Paradise Point State Park offers a disc golf course as part of its recreational options. "The disc golf course is entertaining, but not super challenging. Located on barely 10 acres the designers have done a good job using every bit of the land here," notes a visitor. Hole one plays under a freeway overpass for a unique experience.
What campers like
Cabin proximity to Mount St. Helens: Cabins near Kelso provide convenient access to volcanic attractions. "Just 1 mile from the Mount St Helens visitor center. Right on Silver Lake with a perfect view of Mount St Helens," writes a visitor to Silver Lake Resort. Many cabins serve as ideal base camps for exploring the volcanic region.
Proximity to Portland: Battle Ground Lake State Park cabins offer a convenient weekend escape from Portland. A camper mentions, "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." The park is approximately 30 miles from Portland.
Yurt options: Seaquest State Park Campground offers a dedicated yurt section for those seeking cabin-like accommodations. "Loved the yurt village, which is in its own area on the other side of the campground from the regular sites. Yurts and restrooms were clean," shares one visitor. The yurt village has its own dedicated camp host.
What you should know
Highway noise levels: Some cabin locations experience significant highway noise. A Paradise Point State Park Campground visitor warned, "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."
Internet connectivity varies: Cabin locations have inconsistent cell service and internet options. A Seaquest camper noted, "No cell (occasionally 1 bar LTE AT&T). Too heavily forested for Starlink. Had to leave early Monday morning since we were working and needed internet."
Fall season advantages: Some cabin areas are less crowded in autumn while still offering pleasant conditions. A Silver Lake Resort visitor shared, "It was great to go in the Fall as the summer rush is over, but there was still good weather. Place was clean and the staff was polite and helpful with our last minute reservation."
Tips for camping with families
Junior ranger programs: Seaquest State Park offers educational activities for children. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained. She was great at engaging all the kids and teaching them about the park, highly recommend this for anyone bringing kids," explains a visitor to Seaquest State Park Campground.
Playground access: Several cabin campgrounds include playground facilities. A Seaquest visitor reported, "My kids loved the addition of a playground. Many parks don't have this and it kept them entertained for hours. There is a bathroom and extra parking right next to the playground."
Trail difficulty levels: Evaluate trail systems before planning with children. At Camp Wilkerson, a visitor advised, "We did have a hell of a time figuring out the trail wayfinding! The Little Foot trail is overgrown and the wayfinding signs don't make any sense... stick to the Liahona trail, take a picture of the map and bring a compass."
Tips from RVers
Site size limitations: RV sites with cabins nearby often have strict size limitations. A Paradise Point camper warned, "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."
Food delivery options: Some resorts with cabins and RV sites offer convenient food service. At Streeter's Resort, a camper appreciated that the "general store has good beer selection, great food which they deliver to your site along with ice and firewood."
Water pressure considerations: RV sites near cabin areas may have inconsistent utilities. A visitor to L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park noted, "The water pressure was not very good at around 35 psi." Remember to bring a pressure regulator when staying at sites with cabin and RV mixed accommodations.
