Best Tent Camping near Mazama, WA

We had a tent site up on the hill that was semi-private with beautiful views. Plenty of birds to wake you with the sunrise. I could see how the lake could be busy in peak months but it wasn’t while we were here.

We used a tent site which was in excellent shape. The views from our site were of the North Cascades. Only a short block walk into the heart of Winthrop which has all amenities, restaurants, micro brews, shopping etc. Very clean restrooms, ( $1.00 for a 2 minute shower) laundry available

We were surprisingly pleased with this campground. Our site was was a tent site only. The sites are spread out and do offer a little privacy. The sites have a picnic table, fire pit and a bear box. The restrooms a bit dated and you could defiantly tell they need to be updated. Diablo lake is beautiful and plenty of hiking trails to keep you busy. We will be back.

This is one of the most amazing campgrounds I’ve ever visited. It doesn’t look like much but it boasts waterfront tent camping and the showers and bathrooms are always clean and stocked. Sites are relatively small but big enough for two tents, their picnic table, fire pit, and some camping chairs. With two docks for fishing and floating as well as the adjascent boat launch, you’ll be able to play with all your water toys on Wapato Lake! I would highly recommend staying here if you want to visit the Chelan area without camping in downtown proper.

What can I say that others haven't!? Some of the best car camping in the Cascades. The lake is shockingly blue and COLD, but after a sweaty day of hiking is the ultimate in refreshment! Camp sites are close but feel secluded enough. If you walk into the tent sites on the north side of the campground you have some better options if you want to lug all of your gear with you.

Neve Camp is another far off adventure that is totally worth taking; located in the North Cascades not too deep off the thickly forested Thunder Creek Trail.

When planning our trip, we read reviews on other sites where folks thought the trail was boring, but we disagree. It is thickly forested but we were still able to glimpse the icy blue creek through the trees here and there and there was so much more to see! We found snails, mushrooms, wild flowers, all kinds of edible wild berries, trees large enough to stand inside, a rock cave in the hillside, and, of course, the sweet wooden foot bridge leading across Thunder Creek right into the first camp of the trail, Thunder Creek Camp . We bypassed this camp for two main reasons; 1) it’s located uncomfortably close to the trail, and 2) it’s only 1.5 miles into the trail (though not a bad spot if you got a late start and wanted to skip spending the night at Colonial Creek campground at the trail-head) and we wanted to see what lay ahead. We trekked another easy 1 mile before finding signs to Neve Camp. We wandered the nicely spread out campsites until settling on the dope site with the awesome river views from the fire pit/cook area. The tent sites for this camp are located on a small side trail up the hill a bit. They even have a nice pit toilet which isn’t enclosed so you can enjoy the surrounding forest while there. We had originally planned to head out the next morning, heading further up the trail but at breakfast our group of four decided we weren’t going anywhere as we were all in love with Neve Camp! We had an amazing view and sounds of the river to help lull us to sleep at night. During the day we watched all kinds of birds use the river as a freeway to head up or downstream. We saw many osprey, herons, a few formations of Canadian geese, a family of woodpeckers and more small birds we didn’t have names for. Did I mention the berries? The boys wandered the forest collecting all kinds of berries; blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, salal berry, salmon berry, and strawberry. We assume all those berries is why we found fresh bear scat on the trail, and spotted a black bear across the creek from us on our last morning in camp.

This location could be used as a mini base camp to hike up or down the trail a bit more. Neve Camp is also located very near the trail fork leading to Fourth of July Pass.

Really the only remotely negative thing I can say about this spot was that the tent sites were a bit small. We rock a Marmot Limelight 2P and we hardly had enough room to set up our tent! Once we jammed it in the tent site, however, we were good to go and the tent site size no longer mattered.

Alta Lake is a nice, clean park with decent tent sites. We had a site in Loop 2 on the right (on the lake side). It was away from the main area, parking lots, boat launch or store, so pretty quiet. Our site was sweet, it had a trail down to a small open sandy stretch of beach that was basically our own private beach. Took the cooler and a pop up tent and enjoyed the beach all day. We went in August and it was hot, the lake was super refreshing! (photo from WA State Parks & Rec commission)

General: A variety of different campsites in two sections ranging from economy to basic to popular, with and without hookups, and priced according to peak or non-peak season. There are also three cabins and two group camp areas. 

Site Quality: We are happy we were able to book a basic tent site with our campervan (there were more than a few others with RVs in these sites). Parking was on grass and not completely level, but we made it work. Each site had a picnic table and fire ring (although there was a fire ban in effect when we were there). The sites with utilities had paved camper pads. 

Bath/Shower house: Clean with soap and air dryers. The showers are free but you are asked to not use more than three button pushes. My shower in the afternoon was completely COLD and I am not sure if it was the time of day, the particular shower, or user error. My husband’s shower got hot midway through. 

Activities/Amenities: All things water-based including jet skis, water skiing, kayaking, SUP, and fishing. There is also a boat wash. There are also numerous trails used for hiking, running, and mountain biking. Other activities include volleyball and horseshoes.

Despite my cold shower and the fact that state parks are becoming increasingly pricy (with reservation and out-of-state fees, we paid $ 77 for two nights for a tent site), we enjoyed our stay here.

Disclaimer - I never camped here, but we visit the park all the time during the day whenever we are in the area to let our dog swim and just enjoy the lake.

This place is BUSY. There is no real privacy as most of the sites are clumped together on loops in a grass field by the lake.

The lake is fun - people are always boating (there is a boat slip) and floating and swimming. So if you want to be around a large community, (and don't mind no privacy) then this could be the place for you.

If you are tent camping, there are MUCH better campgrounds in the area that offer more privacy.

Located directly in front of the North Cascades Visitor Center. The campground is as described. We tent camped in loop A near the hike-in sites. Of course it was rainy but we were still very happy with this campground. The bathrooms were clean and had one electric outlet. The water spigot was in front of the restrooms. The bear box was excellent and there were plenty of trees for privacy. There is one general store nearby but no restaurants so I’d recommend coming prepared. The NP Rangers are lovely and pointed us in the right direction for hikes. We drove into Newhalem to hike the Ladder Creek Falls Trail behind the Gorge Powerhouse. It is beautiful! Then we drove up Lake Diablo - Gorgeous!

General: Camping in three loops plus walk-in tent sites and a group site (closed when we were there). No hookups of any kind. I was surprised that we had such good cell coverage (Verizon) but am guessing the proximity to the town of Newhalem is why. 

Site Quality: Nicely wooded with decent separation. Some were back in, and some were pull-through. All were level with a paved camper pad. The sites in Loops A and B have tent platforms (didn’t see them in Loop C); all have a fire pit (but there was a burn ban), a large picnic table, and a bear box. 

Bathhouse: The one in the A loop was very clean. There are no showers. No paper towels or air dryer so make sure to bring your towel. 

Activities: Daily programs at Visitor Center 12:30 and 4:00 pm. It is about a half-mile walk via the River Loop to get to the Visitor Center (farther from Loop C) where you can get information on hikes and there is a small store and interpretive center. The proximity of the Visitor Center was appreciated due to the recent fires and not knowing what was open and what was not. The River Loop is approximately 2 miles and is accessed between the A and B Loops. You can also hike to Ladder Creek Falls. The gardens have been neglected for some time, but the falls are worth it. (You can also drive to the town of Newhalem to get to the falls). 

We have been in many National Park campgrounds that have been outsourced and have been disappointed, so we were very glad to find this one still maintained by the NPS and at a very reasonable rate ($12 with senior pass).

Nestled just short distance off the main highway through this area, the Klipchuck campground is remote feeling and quiet. Sites here are beautiful with tall trees and lush greenery. This campground was so beautiful and as the fog lifted in the early morning following a rain it was something out of a movie with the cascading sites lining the flatter areas and also the gentle climbing slopes. 

Despite the nature of this site being semi-primitive you do not feel as though you are without as there is running water located at centralized spigots throughout camp and vault toilets scattered throughout. No matter the site number you select you will be within close proximity to walk to these features. 

Each site is equipped with a parking space large enough for a mid to large size vehicle, with some large enough for larger RV units as well. I found on a quick drive through camp there were sites to accommodate all camping styles depending on your personal preference of size. 

Standard site amenities include picnic tables and fire rings with clear area perfect for tent camping. Garbage collection areas are placed along each of the 2 loops, a great bonus feature not all forest camps offer. 

Pricing was very friendly and could be deposited into a self pay station at the entrance. This is checked by a campground host daily. Additionally the campground host when I was there was extremely friendly offering great tips for adventures in the area within driving distance. 

3 trails lead out of this campground making it the perfect setting for exploring, though the area does have bear awareness signs located throughout so it would be wise to come prepared for the possibilities of animal encounters. I suggest the scenic trail which has some amazing views of the forest and the many features of the landscaping around. 

Perhaps my favorite feature of this camp is the constant sound of the water around you which makes it extremely peaceful. If you are interested in getting a bit closer to the water make sure to camp along the back side of the campground. 

**TIP: **

• Bring everything you will need to this site, there are no stores on property to purchase anything, including fire wood you will need to come prepared!! 
• Consider one of the hikes from camp for a day trip instead of preparing to only hike at a trail away from camp.

We are all familiar with KOA and that the company prides itself in bringing more features to their campers. But many times I have found that comes with a hefty price tag. On some occasions I have been ready to spend it and other times I have to be convinced a little more due to the location. 

When pulling into Winthrop I really wanted to find out a little more about their KOA and if it was more of a hit or miss. Themed much like the other portions of the community in western decor, the campground welcomed me immediately. I found that the rustic them of the stacked fence and the cabin like exterior of the main office was just a taste of the what was to come within the community. 

It only continued with their other offerings. They had many old pieces along the way which would be perfect for taking photos, enjoying a piece of the old west and setting the tone.

 This park offered camping for RVs and tents but also had cabins. Cost was on target for the other options in the community and came with many luxuries which others did not including a store, pool and play area. Laundry was offered at this location as well and they had kayak and boat rentals if you were wanting to go and enjoy some of the many waterways in the area. 

I really enjoyed the spacing of the sites, however many were not well covered by trees and left something to be desired. The gravel roadway was muddy from recent rain and made it a bit sloshy to get to the sites themselves. So while they were nice overall that particular thing would something I would say is a bit of a let down in comparison to the rest of the facility. 

The play area was another area which would be perfect for grabbing a few memorable photos, with oversized brightly colored chairs which could fit then entire family. Additionally they offered a nice outdoor space with patio chairs and umbrellas by the office which was a nice place to stop in and enjoy some time. 

Overall the biggest asset to this campground still laid in their proximity to the community itself. From here you can drive only a few miles and be in the middle of the historic downtown western themed community and enjoy some very unique activities. For that I would say that the benefits outweigh the downside of cost which is between$30 and$50 for tent or RV camping. 

Tips: 

• Book online in advance of your stay if you are wanting a tent site, they are more limited. 
• If you are in a larger rig, bring a detachable vehicle to navigate in town as there are not a lot of places to park larger rigs in the community itself.

Needed a campground with easy access as we were just passing through for the night. Lots of privacy, clean facilities, and plenty of sites for either tents or small RV’s. Easy access to trails, river, and the towns of Mazama and Winthrop which are known for great hiking, climbing, mountain biking, etc. Very quiet, family oriented campground with clean, well-kept facilities. Definitely worth the $12 per night.

Near Mazama and Early Winters Campground

Spent 2 nights and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery of this quaint campground. Easy access to trails, river, and the towns of Mazama and Winthrop which are known for great hiking, climbing, mountain biking, etc. Very quiet, family oriented campground with clean, well-kept facilities. Not fancy, but had plenty of privacy, ADA accessible pit toilets, and drinking water. Campsite #19 is the best! Awesome for the price of $12 per night!

As the other review stated, this isn't anything special but it is a nice spot if you find yourself in the Mazama area. Well maintained (although vault toilets can get a bit overwhelmed in the summer) with nice tall trees that provide great shade, a nice reprieve from the desert feel the east side of the Cascades can have in the summer. There is potable water available during the summer but no showers. But dear not, the Methow River is right there and it's super COLD thanks to all the snow melt. If you need a refreshing dip, this river will provide just that.

There's decent climbing close by at Goat Wall (5.2 miles from the campground). For more information on the crag check out Mountain Projects website: https://www.mountainproject.com/v/goat-wall/107192115

There are also several hiking trails in the vicinity that provide 360 degree views.

If you're hungry, or need a few odds and ends, check out the Mazama Store. This is a great family run store that has amazing baked goods and coffee. http://www.themazamastore.com

Be advised: this area has been prone to several wild fires the last several years (this summer being no exception). Please be sure to check current advisories and restrictions regarding open flames. If you are able to have a fire, please be sure to manage it with extra caution.

For $8 a night, you can't beat this spot!

We camped here while trying to find climbing and skiing in the North Cascades, which are sublime, but challenging when as hot as it was. The towns of Mazama and Winthrop are figuratively but not literally cool, and with temperatures rising over 110 during the record heatwave of July 2021, the lake was a lovely place to cool down. It was much milder in temperature than the still frigid but fantastic Methow River, and perfect for casual swimming at sunset. Many families and campers but still found a spot and slept well for the first night in may hot ones.