Looking for the best Mead dispersed camping? Here you'll find a diverse selection of places to camp, including remote dispersed camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Washington camping adventure.
Entire area is open year round. There are no fees. There are no facilities or services available with the exception of one vault toilet at Folsom Farm. Both lakes have concrete boat launches maintained by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (paid in advance parking permit from WDFW is required.)
The Fishtrap Area offers 9,000 acres of beautiful landscapes and an old farmstead, with habitats ranging from forest to shrub-steppe, grassland, and wetlands. Fishtrap is home to two scenic fishing lakes and numerous species of birds and other wildlife. The historic Folsom Farm Recreation Site demonstrates how the landscape was converted into small farms, ranches, and communities beginning in the late 1800’s. Enjoy the chance to explore, view and study nature, picnic, backpack, horseback ride, mountain bike, or hunt throughout the entire Fishtrap area. Fishing for stocked rainbow trout is popular at Fishtrap Lake, and during the winter season at Hog Canyon Lake. Know Before You Go: Fishtrap Recreation Area is open year-round has no developed campsites. The South Loop Trailhead parking lot has substantial space for vehicle and RV parking/camping. Additional minimal space is available at the Folsom Farm, and Hog Lake Loop Trailhead parking lots. See the Fishtrap Area map. vehicle and RV parking/camping is limited to existing parking areas and camping pull-outs. Dispersed (tent) camping is allowed. Please practice the seven Leave No Trace principles when recreating on Public Lands. Check Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishing regulations for fishing seasons at Hog Canyon Lake and Fishtrap Lake. Both lakes have concrete boat launches maintained by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (a paid in advance parking permit from WDFW is required.)
Cooks LakeCooks Lake is a small 11 acre lake which lies northeast of Usk, WA. It offers rainbow trout fishing opportunities. During dry summer months the lake level can significantly recede. There is easy access for launching a small boat. Several dispersed campsites and a concrete vault toilet are located at the southeast end of the lake.
The stream flows through low wooded mountains joining the South Fork to form Chewelah Creek. This stream flows into the Colville River. In addition to fishing, visitors also hunt, horseback ride and camp along the creek. There are approximately 8 miles of the North Fork located on NFS lands. There are also many tributaries to the North Fork that are fishable. There are dispersed camping sites that exist along the stream at various locations. Washington state fishing license required. See Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at http://wdfw.wa.gov/ for more information. Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campfire in developed fire ring only Fireworks are prohibited Pets must be under voice command or on leash OHV use allowed Maximum length of stay: 14 days Food and wildlife attractants must be properly stored at all times
Traveler
We were glad we read the reviews for directions & info about spots — like others mentioned, the best spot is a big grassy area amongst the trees (continue past the first circular parking area). However, the entire area has sportsman access, so we listened to gun shots most of the day… not exactly the peaceful nature vibe we were hoping for. Would likely come back, but pray it’s a day of no hunters
Guide
Free pack in pack out dispersed camping
RangerWhat an amazing spot. Many of the spots are RV accessible a decent gravel road goes through the entire area. Very little traffic people seem to care about the area cuz it's really clean. No hookups excellent phone service cell phone towers just around the corner. No traffic noise. Depending on where you are in the camp you will hear a train come by every couple hours. It's not too close I'm not too loud. Around 2:00 a.m. every morning the coyotes have a 2 to 3 minute party. It's amazing to hear him. Never saw one though they keep away.
TravelerStopped at the little restaurant and got a fantastic meal after being on the road all day then headed past all the massive houses to end up in such a gorgeous location. This is one of my favorite spots now!
Traveler
Quiet campsite in Fishtrap Recreation Area.
Pros:
Very quiet open sites. Plenty of opportunity for solar 3 bar 5g Tmobile Open mostly level sites Not very busy Some larger sites able to accommodate bigger rigs (25' at least)
Cons:
No amenities (where we are, maybe further in they have them) Dusty and dry Fire restrictions in place Sites have some trash in them.
Overall we enjoyed it for a layover stay. It's very quiet, open skies were good to recharge solar and stargaze and it was a nice break from some of the more crowded campsites.
GuideWe were able to get our fifth wheel (40ft long, 13 1/2 ft tall) in and out easy! Lots of spaces and places to turn around. After crossing the bike path, take the first right onto the dirt road at the sportsmans access sign (parallel to the small paved parking lot.) Like another said, the best spot is past the first circular area. Keep going down the road and you’ll see a big shady area in the trees. (You can go further along to two more sites more suited for smaller pop-up campers, tents, or vans.) Close to the water so of course, there were some bugs: lots of bees and mosquitoes.
GuideThis campsite was the perfect break in our drive from North Cascades to Glacier. The road was easy to find and there were so many great sites. There is a porta potty too. We found a site that was both tent-able and hammock-able. Lots of mosquitoes though!
RangerArrived early in the afternoon and got the last spot, looked to be a lot of people staying longer term; but still was quiet and there are lots of places to walk with pets/explore around camp.
GuideA lot of places to camp here all equipped with fire rings. We had a 30ft RV and drove in on the nice gravel road. We took the very last camping spot closest to the lake and it had a good amount of shade on all sides. It was big enough to fit two campers if camping with friends. The spot was very spacious and felt private. It was clean with only a couple specks of trash that we found.
We walked down to the lake and it looked great for paddle boarding or small boats/rafts but not for swimming. There is a lot of seaweed and it’s murky.
The area/sites are really dusty in July. Lots of dirt but the road is gravel. Sites are pretty well spread out.
We took a little hike and saw a buck with a big rack on it, other deer, and a coyote. Great spot for back country hiking.
TravelerJust stopped for one night but I enjoyed the rest. Pretty spot close to the lake, but the mosquitoes are abundant! I had my door opened for just a few minutes and had to kill like 20 before I could sleep.
TravelerEasy access off of I90. Mostly quiet overnight stay as we heard some people from another site and the road was trafficked with people looking for sites. Train noise as well. A fire pit was available. But there was some broken glass and shell casings at our site
GuideNice over night stay, but 1st come 1st served. We got there about 4pm and luckily found the last spot. May have been one of the best spots as well.
TravelerA nice location! I will advise tent campers it is tent accessible but not the easiest spot in a tent. The soil is very dry and a couple of the spots were hard rocks and not accessible for tents. We did end up finding a spot in our tent, but this is site is much easier with an RV or van. Would recommend a backup plan ahead of time in case the sites available here are not compatible.
ScoutAccess to Hog Lake was closed. Found a spot with a fire pit. All the spots are pretty spread out. Unfortunately not many treed areas for wood. Fairly rough terrain of sand and rocks
TravelerWent with the family in mid May on a perfect weekend weather-wise. If you drive past the first couple grass campsites and continue on the narrow road with water on both sides, just off to the right is a single secluded campsite amongst the tree. The best site there imo. privacy, lots of trees so the site gets a good amount of shade but sun still pokes through, perfect.
Mosquitos weren't so bad that it affected us but we all had a few bites. My only knock on this site, which isn't much, is that you can see homes from the sites. What can I say I like to feel like I am far from everyone.
Good site to camp for a family.
Scout
We didn't feel secure at this location, it was very removed from the main road, it was not looked after (grass was very high), and it seemed liked someone was living there permanently. Generally weird vibes.
RangerWe found the most amazing site! We felt like we were on top of the world! Clear open skies! Loved the sound of the cows, coyotes, and owls! Total dispersed camping! Thank you to whoever left us wood!
TravelerWe really enjoyed our night stay , it was very quiet and the campsites were spread out well enough that it was quite private! We will be going back . Can’t drive right down to the lake , but you can walk in and take the trail around it .
GuideStopped hear from driving fatigue for the night. Glad I did. Plenty of spots to choose from & friendly waves from other campers (RVs, busses, cars).
Be aware there is a lot of noise from planes and trains but not enough to keep me from my sleep.
ScoutPulled in, hoped out and immediately got stung.
GuideI followed the road past the sportsman’s access sign as suggested by someone else. Turned left at the first corner, found one campsite and continued. The road turns into private land and I had to turn around. Camped at the first site. Wasn’t bad. Very open. Right near the water. Good gravel road. Only saw 2 other people while there. One stayed at the corner. Stayed one night. A deer walked right through camp.
RangerIt is a steep but well maintained forest road. There was one clear pull off early and it had someone in it. Wanted some privacy so I kept going. Someone had parked on the side of the road and went past that. Found a blocked entrance to a forest road about a mile in. Wasn't flat but not bad and off the road a bit with a place to walk the dog.
GuideCutting through this area needed night to crash, stumbled upon this last minute. Easy to find easy to access in our Honda accord. Lots of spaces but also lots of ppl. Was peaceful though. Lots of cows singing at night. I didn’t mind though. Heard some coyotes in the distance. Wasn’t a problem though
RangerWas a good site, safe, people def. Stay longer than 14 days lol
TravelerVery quiet, isolated camp spot. This is the best spot to set up: Cross the one-lane bridge > make a right till you hit the parking lot > make another right towards the sign that says "sportsman access (or something like that)" > stay straight until you are prompted to make a left. Instead of making that left, stay right there. Spacious enough for you to set up a tent and park your car.
LegendLove it! Some shady spots. Not a ton of traffic. Easy gravel road to come and go from. There’s even an outhouse. 2-3 bars of Verizon service.
LegendPlenty of campsites and Verizon gets 2-3 bars of service. I found a shady spot by a large pine tree. Only a couple miles from the highway and the road is in good shape for getting in and out. Only a few other vehicles here but still plenty of space for all!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Mead, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Mead, WA is Hog Lake Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Mead, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 dispersed camping locations near Mead, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
