Best Tent Camping near Klickitat, WA
Tent campgrounds near Klickitat, Washington offer diverse options within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and along the Klickitat River. Leidl South Campground provides tent sites directly on the Klickitat River, while dispersed camping above Panther Creek Falls offers more primitive backcountry tent camping experiences. Several established campgrounds like Forlorn Lakes and Goose Lake accommodate tent campers with basic amenities during their summer operating seasons.
Most tent camping areas feature minimal improvements, with sites typically set on natural forest floors with scattered fire rings. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds like Trout Creek and Forlorn Lakes, but dispersed areas require campers to pack out waste or dig catholes. A camper noted that at Leidl South, "This is WA land, so all you need is a Discover Pass. There aren't any designated campsites, but there are a number of fire rings." High-clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing remote tent sites, particularly those near Twin Falls where the road becomes rough and rutted.
Tent campers in the Klickitat area experience exceptional privacy and natural settings compared to more developed camping areas. Many sites offer direct water access, with Forlorn Lakes providing lakeside tent camping where "the only way to gain access to the lakes is through the campsites." Sites near Twin Falls allow campers to sleep to the sound of waterfalls, which "drowns out so much, especially at night." During summer months, mosquitoes can be prevalent at many locations, particularly at higher elevation sites. Fall camping offers fewer insects and cooler temperatures, though some campgrounds close after the first snowfall. Most tent sites in the region accommodate standard tent footprints with adequate flat areas for comfortable setup.
