Several dispersed camping areas are accessible within 1-2 hours of Mercer Island in the surrounding Cascade foothills. South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site offers free camping along Tinkham Road with multiple pull-off spots in wooded settings. The unpaved access road has numerous potholes requiring vehicles with adequate clearance. Sites are first-come, first-served with established fire rings but no amenities such as toilets or drinking water.
The area experiences heavy weekend use, particularly during summer months. A visitor noted, "If you get here early enough you can get a good secluded site on an offshoot, but most sites are just right off the road." Highway noise is audible at many sites. Other nearby dispersed options include Annette Lake, accessible via hike-in only, and Lake Dorothy, which requires a permit and prohibits campfires. Both alternatives provide more solitude than the drive-in sites. The 14-day camping limit applies throughout the region, and visitors should practice proper waste disposal as trash accumulation has been reported at popular sites.
"Access road is right off the highway and unpaved, has a TON of holes so I wouldn’t recommend driving down it without good ground clearance."
"PLEASE LEAVE NO TRACE! Other wise we really enjoyed a quick night away in our van."
"We had high hopes for this USFS campground, having read that it’s on an airstrip, it sounded neat. But we decided not to stay here after we checked it out."
"We had high hopes for this USFS campground, having read that it’s on an airstrip, it sounded neat. But we decided not to stay here after we checked it out."
"This place is the best free camping in Washington. Coming from the Skykomish direction I believe it’s the turnoff to the right, right before the bridge."
"Just a couple miles East of Skykomish, up a paved road, the campsite is just before you go over the bridge on your right and had enough room for high clearance vehicles to pull into it and smaller cars"
"Great spot to land after long day of driving."
"Super easy to drive up to the lake and camp, have a fire, hang out and explore!"
"Hike was definitely challenging for middle aged man but I made it and my 10 year old did too (albeit after handing his backpack to dad to carry)."
"We hiked in to Annette Lake to test out some new backpacking gear as we’re just getting into backpacking - it was great!"
from $5 / night
"My fiance' and I are sleeping in a tent and it has rained a lot but if you go into the woods, you can still find dry branches for starting a fire."
"I go every year, but unfortunately the only bridge to gain access to camping is closed until further notice"
"The drive up to this road is half paved and unpaved , not too bumpy. Big area for camp- dry camping. There was already a fire ring made, we opted out of having a fire."
"There’s a trail from this site that leads to a great tint site as well. Plenty of space if you have a decent sized group. Easily accommodating 3 cars. We have plenty of space with our rig."
"Not a large spot but plenty of room for car camping or even a single tent. It does get cold up here was about 32F when I was there."
"Great avenue to get out into nature with various streams crossing the path of the service road. Truly magical place."
"There were many spots right next to the stream. There was a fire ban during our stay but there are many fire pits at each site."
"Keep in mind that there’s no signal, Starlink nor cell.. we also were freezing at night (35 degrees) in early October and the spots were tricky for our bigger rig."
"One camper van here while I was and had no problem with them. Lots of people that just leave their trash here though and that's disappointing."
"Not the most private spot if vehicles were to pass. the road looks like it’s used but no one around when we arrived. the road itself is a gorgeous drive and since it’s free it’s worth it!"
RangerIt was MAGICAL- mushrooms, fall leaves, and moss everywhere. Keep in mind that there’s no signal, Starlink nor cell.. we also were freezing at night (35 degrees) in early October and the spots were tricky for our bigger rig. But if you have a smaller rig there’s tons of places off of road 73 for dispersed camping. Bumpy road to get there but keep on driving and you’ll find places with even firepits.
LegendThe dispersed sites are on the narrow, gravel section. There are a few on the paved area but most have been blocked off. Even on the gravel section most are pull-offs or quite close to the road. They are dispersed sites so no amenities. Most are close or have access to the Sauk River. The road and TH’s were very busy but cleared out as evening settled in.
LegendRoad closures due to a bridge out closed off probably the better sites up top but we did find a great spot off the road with a view. Enjoyed a nice evening under the stars and a campfire.
RangerThe roads were fair to get to it, little bumpy. Right off road but not alot of traffic. You do have cell coverage here so thats nice. Bring anything you want of need, nothings but trees and the sky are close.
LegendThe reviews here seem to be from two different places
Parking lot up by the logging operation is fine
Down the road by the creek is a bunch of permanent trailers
Be nice if people reviewed the proper spots
LegendAmazing but a bit dirty and lots of other campers. We stopped for a river visit but didn’t stay the night
ScoutWe left someone left trash everywhere
ScoutFound a cool site closer to the water when a random tweaker came through our site from his site down the hill with a whole ass machete cutting through some greenery then came back with a buddy while we were down by the river filling our water and rinsing off in our swimsuits STILL WITH THE MACHETE IN HAND and starts hollering to scare us off so they could fish??? If you wanted the spot near the river to fish just use that spot and not come through someone else's and scare them off. Be careful if you come here bc he seemed like he's been here before and likes to frequent this site
Scoutbe sure to check the keechelus reservoir level before going because fs-9070 is closed when reservoir is less than 49% capacity
Primitive camping near Mercer Island, Washington offers diverse terrain options within the surrounding Cascade foothills. Most dispersed sites in this region sit at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 feet, creating temperature variations that can be 10-15°F cooler than Mercer Island itself. Many locations experience heavy weekend traffic from May through September with Thursday arrivals recommended for securing preferred spots.
Fishing opportunities: Carbon River area features multiple fishing spots along the riverbanks where campers can try for trout. "I came on a Friday so I could get up early to go hiking. Woke up to a beautiful sunrise and spent time on the bridge taking photos before riding up the gravel road up to the Summit Lake hike," notes a Carbon River visitor.
Hiking access: Lake Dorothy offers backcountry camping with trail connections to additional alpine lakes. "You can hike on from Dorothy to another lake further up the trail (Bear Lake if memory serves me). There's a rustic open toilet in the bushes, but there's no privacy," shares a Lake Dorothy camper.
Stargazing: The Old Cascades Highway dispersed sites provide excellent night sky viewing away from city lights. "We were planning to stay in Leavenworth, but that got sketchy, so we came up here to this dispersed spot, and it's beautiful, quiet, and easy. Enjoyed the sounds of the waterfall/river all night, never heard a single car."
River access: Many sites along the Old Cascades Highway feature waterfront locations with natural white noise. "Cute spot next to the creek not busy at all," reports one camper. Another adds, "It's a lovely area right by a beautiful river. However, it was hard to find a large enough spot that was also level to park our van."
Cell service reliability: Several backcountry camping areas maintain surprisingly good connectivity for remote workers. "I travel and work remotely so I'm always looking for free places that have cell reception and this place hits the jackpot," notes a South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site user. "I've come in twice on a Saturday afternoon and have been able to find an open spot with my 18 ft travel trailer, I have Verizon and have 2-3 bars of service."
Uncrowded weekday options: Most primitive camping sites near Mercer Island experience dramatically reduced usage Monday through Thursday. "Mid week after Labor Day, I had my choice of sites arriving in late afternoon," shares a Joemma Beach State Park Campground visitor.
Safety considerations: Some sites require extra vigilance, especially for solo campers. "Nice area by a creek, very peaceful and quiet during the day, a ton of people around and lots of passerby's. As soon as it got dark, someone decided to sneak around my campsite with a flashlight and stand outside my tent for some time. Packed up quick and zoomed out of there."
Plant hazards: Watch for harmful vegetation at certain locations. "Lovely area such beautiful surroundings. But be very cautious as near one of the camp sites are very dangerous plants that are fatal and they are lined all around the campground so not recommended if you have children."
Noise factors: Highway proximity affects sound levels at many dispersed sites. "You can hear the road from most camping spots. When we arrived at our site there was garbage all over the place in a fire pit so we cleaned it up. There was a nice long trail that took us to the river. That was nice."
Seasonal closures: Some popular areas have limited access during certain periods. "Just went out last night to check and see if it was open... A big gate is up at the end of the road saying 'road closed,'" reports a Keechelus Lake visitor. Another adds, "Says when water gets below 2840 ft to protect the fish they close the road and no camping is permitted."
Site selection: Choose locations with natural boundaries for children's safety. "We had high hopes for this USFS campground, having read that it's on an airstrip, it sounded neat. It's a 14 day stay limit, and other than the toilets there are no other amenities, so please pack out your trash," explains a Ranger Creek Airstrip Dispersed visitor.
Bug preparation: Many riverside sites have significant mosquito activity. "This spot was truly beautiful. Green as far as the eye can see, with a creek by that provides the perfect white noise to fall asleep to. Seeing as there is water nearby, there are plenty of mosquitoes. Bring some bug spray!"
Space needs: Look for larger sites when bringing multiple children. "Great local spot for FAMILIES and a party... But as a local, this is also the spot where you go to camp and party with friends and family. So if you're looking for quiet, that's not always the case here. Be ready for tranquility or a party and join in the fun."
Ground clearance requirements: Many dispersed camping roads have rough sections requiring higher clearance vehicles. "Best in late fall when it's cooler. Less loud drunkards. Can fit large RV's down a half mile rough road. I have been a few times in October/November in a 40 ft 5er. No hookups or onsite water."
Turning radius considerations: Several areas have limited turnaround space for larger vehicles. "This is my favorite dispersed site so far. Plenty of room for larger rigs, very close to a river and lots of woods to explore nearby. For larger rigs - take the second left at a Y-intersection, and then keep to the left and you won't have any trouble getting in."
Power management: Plan for off-grid power needs. "A little pocket of peace. A lot of the spots are on the smaller side, so we had a bit of trouble finding one that could fit our motorhome, but it was worth it. The place is beautiful. Super dark at night, and besides the sound from the interstate and cars driving up and down, it's quiet."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Mercer Island, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Mercer Island, WA is South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site with a 3.9-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Mercer Island, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 31 dispersed camping locations near Mercer Island, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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