Best Tent Camping near Malo, WA

Colville National Forest surrounding Malo, Washington offers several tent camping options within a short drive of town. Highland Glenn Ranch provides a single tent campsite with drinking water, toilets, and reservable space near the Canadian border. Davis Lake Campground, located in the forest approximately 2.5 hours from Spokane, offers walk-in tent sites with picnic tables and basic facilities. Canyon Creek Campground, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, provides primitive tent campsites with fire rings and vault toilets. Sherman Pass Overlook Campground sits at higher elevation, offering tent-only camping with cooler temperatures during summer months.

Most tent campgrounds in the Malo area feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal site preparation. Campers should bring their own water supplies for primitive tent camping locations, as many sites lack potable water sources. Access to several backcountry tent sites requires travel on windy dirt roads, with the final approaches sometimes requiring 45 minutes on unpaved forest roads. Vault toilets are standard at established campgrounds, while more remote areas may require proper waste disposal practices. The camping season typically runs from late spring through early fall, with higher elevation sites sometimes inaccessible until snowmelt completes, usually by Memorial Day.

Tent campers frequently note the quiet atmosphere at most sites, particularly during weekdays. According to reviews, Canyon Creek Campground remains "quiet during the week" with "well-maintained vault toilets." At Davis Lake, one visitor described it as "a high mountain isolated small lake" with "about 7 sites, good swimming and weak fishing." The elevation at Sherman Pass provides natural cooling, with a camper noting it offers "cool sleeping at this elevation when hot weather persists in lower lands." Many tent-only sites feature good separation between campsites with vegetation providing privacy. Wildlife viewing opportunities include waterfowl at several lake locations, while fishing is available at multiple water-adjacent tent campgrounds. Most primitive tent camping areas enforce a 14-day stay limit.

Best Tent Sites Near Malo, Washington (35)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Malo, WA

2 Photos of 35 Malo Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Malo, WA

140 Reviews of 35 Malo Campgrounds


  • Andrea R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2019

    North Gorge Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

    Ranger Review: GCI Outdoor Recliner chair at North Gorge Campground

    Ranger Review: GCI Outdoor Recliner chair at North Gorge Campground

    Campground review:

    North Gorge is a sleepy little place. Small campground with a small boat launch. There isn't a lot of parking so beware if you bring your truck and trailer here. The sites are small, seemed to be a decent amount of space between them. Vault toilets, well maintained. each site has your standard picnic table, and fire ring. There was a burn ban in August, no fires for us. They actually zip tied no fire signs to each fire pit. There are only a few sites, most for tent camping only, however there are a few that will fit a trailer or rv. It is $9 in the off season Nov 1st to May 30th, and $18 in the peak season

    **Product review: **

    **https://www.gcioutdoor.com/folding-recliners/outdoor-recliner/
    **

    As a Ranger for the Dyrt, sometime I get to test out awesome products in exchange for an honest review. The GCI outdoor Recliner is well built with quality materials. It is easy to slide in and out of the large storage back. easy to set up and take down. I love the mesh back, it helps to keep you cool in those hot summer days. The chair has 3 reclining positions and my favorite part was reclining the chair all the way to look at the stars, it gives the perfect angle. I also love the storage pocket on the back. just fold up the storage bag and put it in the pocket for a pillow. It has a cup holder, but I wasn't a big fan of the placement. I give this chair an 8/10.

  • Andrea R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 3, 2019

    Lake Ellen Campground

    Cute, not super private, but there is only 13 sites.

    The spaces were quite large and not very shaded. The lake is nice, but you can't see it from any of the campsites. Lake Ellen West is by far better. If you go down the road a little, there is a beautiful view of the lake. Vault toilets, picnic tables and fire rings are available. There are also dumpsters.

  • Andrea R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 1, 2019

    Kettle River Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

    Super small. Doesn't get much use

    Seems much like a lot of the campgrounds in the Colville National Forest. Really quiet, there was nobody there but us! Vault toilets, picnic tables and fire rings at every site! The wildlife viewing is always nice. Bring binoculars! $9 in the off season and $18 in the regular season. So worth it depending on how many people are there in the summer.

  • Andrea R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2019

    Douglas Falls Grange Park Campground

    Exceeded Expectations!!!!

    Ranger Review: Aftershokz Trekz Air at Douglas Falls Grange Park

    Campground Review:

     Wow! Wow! Wow!

    First off, a bit about the campground itself. It is owned by the local grange, right next to the Colville National Forest. It is free with a Discover pass. The discover pass is $10 for a day or $30 for a year and needed for a lot of parks in Washington. It is also located just outside of Colville, where you can get anything you need. There is about 8-15 sites. Why don’t I know? Well the campground loop intercepts the day use area, and what is a site, compared to the day use area, we can’t tell. On the main campground loop there is 8 sites. In the day use area, site #9 appears to be the only marked ADA accessible site, though many of the others seem just as accessible. Site #10 and #11 are a slight downhill walk from the parking area. Site 10 does not have a clear parking spot, where all of the other sites do. Site #12 is basically in the parking lot. When we arrived we drove the main loop and there were a few other campers, then we came to the day use area and site #12 had a tent pitched there.  There is a short car road that is a one way access with additional sites #13 #14 and #15, this road was closed, but may open in the future. There were black table cloths on the tables, indicating not to use. All sites have a fire ring, and picnic table. Some have a cute log bench right next to the fire.

    There is no garbage service at this campground. Pack it in, pack it out, please, leave no trace. There are vault toilets supplied with plenty of toilet paper, they were very clean and have an air freshener that almost makes you forget you are in a vault toilet! There is a huge field with a backstop for baseball/softball, a covered picnic area, Horseshoes, hiking trails (with the main one being a 1.5 mile nature loop) and the highlight was a gorgeous 60 foot waterfall that you can see from the parking lot or take short walk to. There is also a pretty cool suspension bridge!

    I had low expectations of this place, but I was very surprised! We took site #10 which is about 20 feet away from the upper portion of the falls. This site is a short walk from the parking lot, so you do have to walk your gear in.  The only other site in this area is #11 and it is a good distance away. From our site there is a small trail that leads to the main trail which goes to the top of the falls. If you take the main trail from the look out to the right there is access to the bottom of the falls. I listened to the waterfall all night and it was so peaceful and soothing I slept peacefully. The moon light over the falls was amazing, I wish I had my good camera! Did I mention the wildlife? Hawks, deer, super squirrels, Eagles, Chipmunks, Robins, Magpie and more! 

    Over all, I hated it, you shouldn’t go there so I can have it ALL to myself! But really, this is a fantastic place to camp. It’s a beautiful piece of land, with so much to see and do. Go, have fun, and thank me later!

    Product Review:

    Aftershokz Trekz Air- Bone Conduction Headphones.

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, sometimes I have the opportunity to review new products in exchange for an honest review. At this campground I tested Aftershokz Trekz Air- Bone Conduction Headphones. https://aftershokz.com/collections/all/products/trekz-air

    These headphones are a wave of the future. Instead of sitting in your ear like most headphones, they sit on your jawbone. They are Bluetooth, so that means wireless! They are super easy to pair and connect with your phone. As with all technology, it is really best to charge them straight out of the box. The colored light on the side of the headphone is red if it is not charged or blue if it’s fully charged. The pads that sit on your jawbone sends vibrations through the bone to your year. They come in sleek colors, and they are so lightweight and comfortable you can forget they are there. The point of these headphones is to be able to hear the outside world around you and still listen to your tunes. This keeps you attentive to other people in the office or, in my case, able to hear your music over roaring waterfalls on the trail.

    I had never heard of bone conduction technology before these headphones, and I certainly will remember now. These are funky and fresh. I love them, I love that they stay on my head while on the go, no cords to untangle and get in the way, or earbuds to pop out of my ear while walking. If you are not moving, the vibrations can be a little intense at higher volumes or songs with more bass, it makes it feel a little strange. They have a six hour battery life, and only takes about an hour and a half to charge. I also wish that there was a voice control in these as well so I could continue being hands free and answer the phone, skip songs or pause, at the same time. I hear that it’s in the works though, so I’m willing to wait. Plus, the button controls are easy to use, so it’s not a deal breaker. They come with a great carrying bag, ear plugs (if you don’t want to hear the world around you, you can use the earplugs to intensify to the volume of the Trekz Air.) and a charging cord. They also have a great warranty, return and exchange policy. There also arrived super quickly, I have been able to use them for a few weeks before the review, giving me the opportunity to get used to them and form an opinion.

    These are by far the best headphones I have ever had and I don’t think I can go back to earbuds. I would definitely recommend these to anyone!

  • Jess G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2018

    Big Meadow Lake Campground

    meadows!

    Free. 17 sites, two different areas to choose from on either side of the lake. Accessible fishing dock. Vault toilets, picnic tables and fire rings. Trail around the camp ground that takes you threw the meadow and to a look out area which was pretty cool. The trail continues on to an old shelter that is also accessible by car.

  • Teresa H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2020

    Sherman Overlook Campground

    Great one night plus spot in NE corner Washington state.

    Cool sleeping at this elevation when hot weather persists in lower lands.  We pull a 32’ Outdoors RV trailer behind a full size 6’ bed and quad cab Dodge truck.  We would have fit in a few of spots and there was 8 total with tighter loop turn around at end.  Water was off due to Covid and was no trash dumpster but did have outhouses.  Nice trail to go hiking out back of campground and simple walking wheelchair loop at Overlook parking lot.  Was some road noise when the few cars around here passed us since CG is beside road at summit of Pass but was still nice private spaces with table, fire ring and near level parking pads.

  • Scout G.
    Aug. 29, 2022

    Osoyoos Lake Veterans Memorial Park

    Solid RV park

    Not super busy, about half full on a Sunday night. Bathrooms and showers for campers are clean (the public ones closer to the lake are much less clean, showers there are closed). Lots of flat spots, every one has a picnic table. Paid $26 for a dry spot. Lake is also pretty.

  • Teresa H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2020

    Beaver Lake Campground

    Peaceful spots

    Nice drive thru loops between camp spots between 2 lakes even for larger rigs.  Locals use rope swing off highway into Beaver Lake.  Large spots with tables and fire rings.  Trash dumpster, water, outhouses but no showers or hookups!

  • Andrew F.
    May. 9, 2023

    Hunters Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

    River Camp

    A nice little campground that I used to go to with my Grandparents. It’s mostly set up for RV camping but works well with tents too. No hookups for RVs. Longest space is probably 20-25 ft. Beautiful view of the river!


Guide to Malo

Tent camping near Malo, Washington centers primarily on the Colville National Forest with small, rustic sites situated at various elevations between 1,800 and 5,300 feet. The area experiences warm summer days with temperatures averaging 75-85°F from June through September, while nights cool significantly, often dropping below 50°F even in summer months. Weather patterns can change rapidly in this northeastern Washington terrain where the Kettle River Range dominates the landscape.

What to do

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Sherman Pass Overlook Campground offers excellent access to wildlife observation with its adjacent hiking trails. According to Emily B., there's "a nice ADA trail at site" that provides accessible viewing opportunities for all skill levels.

Fishing at mountain lakes: Davis Lake Campground provides fishing opportunities in a serene setting. While one camper notes it offers "weak fishing," the small mountain lake compensates with good swimming in a peaceful environment where motorized boats aren't permitted.

Hiking nearby trails: Several established trails connect to camping areas throughout the region. Many follow former logging routes or connect to the Pacific Northwest Trail system that traverses the Kettle Crest. The proximity to the Kettle Crest Campground offers direct access to the namesake trail system with multiple day-hiking options.

What campers like

Quiet weekday atmosphere: The remoteness of these campgrounds ensures minimal crowding, especially midweek. Canyon Creek Campground receives praise for being "quiet during the week" with facilities that campers find well-maintained.

Temperature relief: Sherman Overlook Campground provides natural air conditioning during hot weather. Teresa H. noted the benefit of "cool sleeping at this elevation when hot weather persists in lower lands," making it an excellent retreat during summer heat waves.

Privacy between sites: Most campgrounds feature natural vegetation buffers between sites. Teresa H. observed that Sherman Overlook offers "nice private spaces with table, fire ring and near level parking pads," creating a sense of seclusion despite the campground's relatively small size.

What you should know

Road access challenges: Most camping areas require significant travel on unpaved roads. For Highland Glenn Ranch, the location near the Canadian border means more remote access, though this provides excellent wilderness connection opportunities.

Water availability varies: Not all campgrounds provide reliable water sources. While Sherman Pass Overlook Campground features "water from a hand pump well," other locations have no potable water facilities, requiring campers to bring all needed water supplies.

Limited cell service: Most camping areas have spotty to non-existent cell phone coverage. The remoteness that makes these sites appealing also means limited communication options, with better reception typically only available at higher elevations or specific overlook points.

Tips for camping with families

Best swim-friendly sites: For families seeking water activities, Davis Lake offers what one camper describes as "good swimming" in a small mountain lake setting. The absence of motorboats creates a safer environment for children to enjoy water activities.

Accessible nature trail options: Sherman Pass Campground features accessible trails suitable for all ages and abilities. Emily B. mentions the "nice ADA trail at site," making it appropriate for families with diverse mobility needs or those with strollers.

Small campground advantages: The limited size of most campgrounds creates contained, manageable environments for families. Davis Lake features "about 7 sites" according to one visitor, creating an intimate setting where parents can more easily supervise children while still enjoying separation from other campers.

Tips from RVers

Tight turnarounds: RV campers should be prepared for challenging access at some sites. At Sherman Pass, Teresa H. reports, "Turn around loop is tight but doable with full size Dodge and 32' trailer," suggesting careful navigation is required.

Site selection for trailers: Not all sites accommodate larger rigs equally. Teresa notes that while "most spots can fit trailers" at Sherman Pass, "some more private than other spots," indicating the trade-off between accessibility and privacy when selecting sites.

Highway noise considerations: Campgrounds situated near mountain passes may experience some road noise. At Sherman Overlook, one camper noted "some road noise when the few cars around here passed us since CG is beside road at summit of Pass," though they still found the spaces enjoyably private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Malo, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Malo, WA is Highland Glenn Ranch with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Malo, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 35 tent camping locations near Malo, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.