Riverside State Park sits about 35 miles south of Loon Lake, Washington, covering 14,000 acres of woodland and waterfront. The area surrounding Loon Lake features a mix of forest service land and established campgrounds at elevations ranging from 2,400 to 3,500 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during the day, dropping into the 40s at night even in July.
What to do
Hiking opportunities: Riverside State Park offers extensive trail networks for day hikes between camping nights. "Lots of hiking trails and wildlife viewing. The swinging bridge is awesome. Popular area. The bathrooms are nice, the river is beautiful," reports Andrea R. about Bowl and Pitcher Campground.
Swimming options: Lake Spokane Campground provides designated swimming areas with safety features. One camper notes, "The park by the lake was very well taken care of as most of the campers there spent the day swimming in the nice gated off swim section at the lake," according to Jake A. at Lake Spokane Campground.
Fishing access: Jump Off Joe Lake Resort caters specifically to anglers with lakefront access. "Love JOJ, I have been coming here since I was 5 or so, beautiful location, fishing, camping; cabins, tents or RV. Swimming with floating dock, and playground area," writes Jae H.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and showers. At Dragoon Creek Campground, "The bathrooms are incredibly clean, the campsites we considered were all clean as well. Even though it straddles the creek, creek access isn't easy," according to Henry H. from Dragoon Creek Campground.
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer room to spread out. "We camped here for a girls weekend and were really happy with our double site (35 a+b). We had a tent trailer, 2 tents, 4 cars, and 10 adults and had plenty of space in our site," writes Lanae about Silver Beach Resort.
Lakefront access: Direct water access ranks highly among camper preferences. "We stayed at campsite 7 and had a great experience. The site was flat and spacious—easily fit both of our 12ft Gazelle tents with room to spare, and parking two vehicles was no issue," reports Skyla D. about Lake Spokane Campground.
What you should know
Reservation needs: Most popular sites fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. "Fills up by Friday afternoon," warns Kebby J. about Dragoon Creek Campground.
Campground closures: Some campgrounds close seasonally or unexpectedly. "Hopefully just for the winter," notes Hall M. about Dragoon Creek's closure in November.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies widely between campgrounds. At Willow Bay RV Resort, "No cell service, but who needs it when you're camping!" mentions Kaydi F.
Insects: Several campgrounds report persistent bee and wasp issues. "This campground has way, way too many bees. They are a nuisance can't relax without having to worry about a bee flying in your face," warns Aaron B. about Dragoon Creek Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with designated play areas. "This place has it all! Showers, weekend breakfast, a store, a kayak launch, you name it. This is a great place to come with your family and enjoy a day on the lake," recommends Kaila R. about Deer Lake Resort.
Safety considerations: Some swimming areas aren't suitable for young children. At Lake Spokane Campground, "The swim area doesn't appear to be toddler friendly as it isn't a gradual incline into the water. There is a single ramp for access however," notes Nanette C.
Additional fees: Watch for charges beyond the base camping rate. "Very nice but spendy if if you have kids and pets... they charge extra for the 2 dogs and then the extra kid to since our family is 2 adults and 3 kids and 2 dogs. camp sites are priced on a 4-person base," explains Brenda S. about Jump Off Joe Lake Resort.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric and water hookups vary between campgrounds. At Little Diamond Lake KOA, "Electric/Water only, does have dump station available," notes Garry S. about Thousand Trails Little Diamond.
Site dimensions: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger rigs. "The largest site length is 45 feet, so large RVs won't fit," warns Joel R. about Bowl and Pitcher campground.
Site layout: RV site arrangements differ significantly between locations. At Deer Park RV Resort, "We had as I call, circle the wagons layout. 4 RV spots are placed around a common grass area. This would be nice for a group, but a bit weird for a stranger placed in this circle," explains Patrick J.
