The Lakebay area sits in the Puget Sound region of Washington state with extensive shoreline access and second-growth forest terrain. Most tent campsites near Lakebay, Washington require either hiking or boating to access, with typical summer temperatures ranging from 45-75°F. The majority of camping spots in this region don't accept reservations and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
What to do
Trail exploration: 2-3 mile hikes at Lena Lake Campground offer good day activities from tent sites. "Lena Lake campground offers a rewarding view after a steady climb up meandering switchbacks... We were pleased to be greeted by a couple of somewhat overly friendly mountain goats on the way, and saw fish surface for bugs on the lake as the sun went down," notes Lance R.
Wildlife watching: Dawn hours present the best opportunities for spotting native wildlife. "We got to feed 3 Bluejays by hand with my oldest one of our new favorite memories," reports Trevor M. from NF-2419 Dispersed Site. The area hosts numerous bird species and small mammals active in morning hours.
Waterfront activities: Swimming and shoreline exploration available at most island camping locations. "Camp Thunderbird is located at the base of Summit Lake, with a dock and great swimming spot. There are tent sites, adirondacks, and cabins. There is a great big field and lots of trails," explains Rich M.
What campers like
Island isolation: No road access to several Blake Island Marine State Park Campground sites creates true separation from mainland. Julia S. notes: "Getting here by boat is about an hour from Seattle and there are volunteers that help at the dock. In summer there is generally a burn ban and if you don't have a shaded spot, the heat can be pretty punishing but the temps go way down at night."
Dispersed camping: Forest setting with multiple stream crossings at NF-2419 Dispersed Site. Jason C. describes: "Great avenue to get out into nature with various streams crossing the path of the service road. Truly magical place. It is frequented by others so low privacy unless you camp away from the vehicle path."
Overnight backcountry access: 3.5 mile trail leads to tent sites at Lena Lake. "There are several campgrounds surrounding the lake, complete with locking bathrooms (no flush toilets or water). The only downside is that this lake can attract a lot of campers on weekends," shares Lance R.
What you should know
Limited amenities: Most sites lack potable water and require packing in essentials. "NF-2419 is a very busy road at all hours. 2 or 3 cars drive by all day and all through the night. As far as we could find there aren't many spots that are more secluded they are mostly just turn outs," warns Spencer L.
Site availability: Weekends fill quickly across the region, particularly during summer months. "We kayaked here from Boston Harbor on a beautiful summer week-end. Boat-in sites are first-come, first serve so we did not arrive early enough to snatch the few that are right on the water," shares Rich M. about Hope Island.
Access restrictions: Some locations require hiking or watercraft to reach camping areas. "Lena Lake is a hike-in campground down a 3.5 mile trail. It sees heavy use from locals on the weekend. There was plenty of room during the week when I was there," advises Art S.
Tips for camping with families
Animal interaction opportunities: Farm settings at The Healing Farm provide unique experiences. "The kids was in Awh with all the animals and how they would let you walk up to them and interact with them. The goats were awesome, they would spend all day out at our camp and they would pose for pictures with us," shares Rebecca A.
Easy access lakeside camping: Under 2 miles to water at Green Mountain sites. "Very close to Bremerton, Silverdale, Kitsap county. Has about 5 tent spots with picnic tables and fire pit. Had a bathroom but no other amenities- drinking water, shower, firewood/ice for sale," notes Caren M.
Shorter trails for children: 1-2 mile options available at several locations. "A gorgeous 3.5 mile hike through a forest, plenty of places to rest or to pull over and take pictures. There is camp sites scattered along the lake as well," mentions Camiren R. about Lena Lake.
Tips from RVers
Road conditions: Narrow forest roads with limited turnaround space at most dispersed camping areas. "It gets pretty steep going up the road. The right steep. They wrote it on barely white enough for two vehicles to safely pass each other. Not suitable for anything wider than a class B," warns Margaret G. about Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead.
Cell service: Variable connectivity throughout region based on elevation. "Overall I had a nice quiet stay. This spot isn't anything too awful special. There are about four pull outs to set up for the night. As for cell service Verizon was barely there," reports Beamus R.
Limited spaces: Most tent campsites near Lakebay accommodate smaller vehicles only. "It's ok just a spot to pull over and camp really. There is a trail next to it I don't know how far but, it's cool. The road up the Montana is dirt but some parts are very rocky," says william T.
