Looking for the best campgrounds near Metaline, WA? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Metaline is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Discover great camping spots near Metaline, reviewed by campers like you.
The waters of Boundary Reservoir back up behind Boundary Dam on the Pend Oreille River in the very northeast corner of Washington State. The area offers 3 water-access-only small recreation sites on BLM lands, all along the reservoir’s west bank, which provide primitive amenities. The BLM sites are Everett Slough, Ledbetter Cove, and Grandview.
Access is by boat only, typically via the boat launch at Seattle City Light’s Forebay Recreation Area, located at Boundary Dam.
US Forest Service lands on the other side of the reservoir offer additional primitive developed and dispersed recreation opportunities.
Due to predominating dense forest and steep canyon slopes, Everett Slough is the only one of these sites that offers a hiking opportunity. There, hikers can travel through forest along the old +1-mile-long no-public-vehicle-access dirt road grade, that ends at the recreation site. Otherwise, activities at Boundary Reservoir include motorized and non-motorized boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and nature viewing. The 3 recreation sites each provide basic sanitary facilities with privacy fence. Additionally:
Everett Slough has 3 primitive campsites, each with tent site, picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof storage container.
Ledbetter Cove has 4 tent sites, 2 picnic tables, 2 fire rings, and 2 bear-proof containers.
Grandview has 2 primitive campsites, each with tent site, picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof container.
Seattle City Light manages recreational use on BLM public lands along Boundary Reservoir, at developed sites and on dispersed lands. Seattle City Light manages this recreational use under the terms and responsibilities established in their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for Boundary Dam. Please contact Seattle City Light directly regarding public recreational use on these BLM lands, by email at scl_recreation@seattle.gov, or call Boundary Dam at 509-446-3083 (option #9).
Crescent LakeBeautiful twenty-two acre lake located nine miles north of Metaline Falls, WA and just a mile south of the Canadian border adjacent to Highway 31 which is part of the International Selkirk Loop. Open season runs from the last Saturday in April through October 31. This lake receives annual plantings of rainbow trout. A small rustic three site campground lies just above the lake. Amenities include: tables, fire rings, concrete vault toilet and animal proof garbage can. No potable water is available. It is best suited for small RV's or tent camping. Facilities 3 small campsites with picnic tables, and fire pits No drinking water 1 vault toilet Garbage disposal (animal proof)
A Discover Pass or Washington State Fishing License is required for access, and can be acquired through Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's website.
Edgewater Campground is perched along the banks of the Pend Oreille River in the Colville National Forest. The quiet, family-friendly campground attracts visitors who come for boating, hiking and fishing. The picturesque area, surrounded by cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir, boasts views of the Selkirk Mountains.
Trout and bass fishing is great for avid anglers. A boat ramp is located on-site. Hikers enjoy exploring nearby Terry Trail and Box Canyon. Wildlife watching for moose, white-tailed deer and the endangered woodland caribou is another popular activity.
The campground sits on a bluff on the east bank of the river at an elevation of 2,000 feet. Many campsites offer a scenic view of the river. The forest floor is covered with thimbleberry, wild rose and other shrubs. The 1.1 million acre Colville National Forest lies in the northeast corner of Washington. The forest's great salmon runs first attracted native Americans to the area, then miners, homesteaders and fur trappers followed. The variety of resources and natural beauty in the region continues to attract visitors. Three mountain ranges, the Okanogan, Kettle River and Selkirk, run through the Colville Forest.
Sweet Creek Falls is located just north of the city of Ione.
$31 / night
Sullivan LakeThis Lake is a popular recreation lake nestled in the mountains of the northwest Washington. In addition to fishing for trout, salmon and turbot, visitors come to the lake for camping canoeing, swimming, SCUBA diving and hiking along the trail on the east side of the lake. Other attractions include ice fishing for burbot/ling cod and bighorn sheep viewing during the winter months.
East Sullivan Campground is located at the north end of Sullivan Lake about five miles east of Metaline Falls, Washington. The campground provides a unique environment where campers can enjoy many recreational opportunities.
The Sullivan Lake Basin provides campers with opportunities for swimming, biking, fishing, boating and hiking. Canoeing , kayaking, paddle boarding and power boating are among the water sports popular on the lake. Campers can walk directly from their campsite to a short nature trail, as well as the Lakeshore Trail, a National Scenic Trail that runs along the eastern shore of the lake. This 4.2 mile trail offers viewpoint of the lake and is a popular day-hike for all ages. Biking along local trails and roads is also popular. Common fish species include burbot and Kokanee salmon. Fishing in this deep mountain lake is most successful from a boat.
Sullivan Lake covers 1291 acres and has a depth of 320 feet. Hall Mountain rises abruptly from the eastern shore of the lake to a height of over 6000 feet. The densely wooded nature of the campground provides privacy at each campsite, and plenty of shade for warm summer days. Wildlife such as elk, moose, white-tailed deer, and black bears can be spotted in the area. In the fall, the surrounding forests are ablaze with the yellow foliage of western larch and aspen.
The trail to the top of nearby Hall Mountain offers great views of the lake basin and surrounding mountains. Wildflowers canb abundant on this popular trail. A 20 mile drive will take you to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness area, which offers excellent hikes and rugged mountain scenery. Sullivan Lake is about four miles southeast of Metaline Falls, a quaint town with historic buildings. Crawford State Park is located on the west side of the Pend Oreille River near the U.S.- Canada border. In the summer, a park ranger conducts under-ground tours of Gardiner Cave, the main attraction at this park. Seattle City Light offers tours of their Boundary Hydroelectric Project, on the main-stem Pend Oreille River one mile from the international border.
$31 - $120 / night
Noisy Creek Campground is located at the south end of Sullivan Lake. The campground is a perfect getaway just 20 miles from the US-Canada border. Campsites are set back from the lake. Beyond the campground are scenic mountains where hiking is popular. Fishing, swimming and boating are favorite activities.
The Sullivan Lake Basin provides campers with opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating and hiking. Common fish species in the lake include burbot (ling cod) and Kokanee salmon. Fishing in this lake is most successful from a boat. Canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding are among the water sports popular on the lake. Two major hiking trails can be accessed directly from the campground. The Lakeshore Trail is a designated National Scenic Trail that runs along the eastern shore of the lake. This 4.2 mile trail offers viewpoints of the lake and is a popular day-hike for all ages. The Noisy Creek Trail follows along the creek for two miles, and then veers sharply upslope to the top of Hall Mountain. There are rich opportunities for bird watching and wildlife viewing in general in the area. Individual animals from the Hall Mountain bighorn sheep herd sometimes pass through the campground. Cougars, bobcats and black bears can all be seen in the local area.
Sullivan Lake covers 1,291 acres and has a depth of 320 feet. Hall Mountain rises abruptly from the eastern shore of the lake to a height of over 6000 feet. Abundant western larch, aspen and cottonwood trees create vibrant colors in the area during the fall.
Sullivan Lake is about four miles southeast of Metaline Falls, a quaint town with historic buildings. Crawford State Park is located on the west side of the Pend Oreille River near the U.S.- Canada border. In the summer, a park ranger conducts under-ground tours of Gardiner Cave, the main attraction at this park. Seattle City Light offers tours of their Boundary Hydroelectric Project, on the main-stem Pend Oreille River one mile from the international border.
$120 / night
Priest Lake camping features 151 campsites, and 5 cabins. Priest Lake State Park lies just 30 miles from the Canadian Border, nestled deep below the crest of the Selkirk Mountains. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Northern Idaho and mile-high mountains, Priest Lake State Park sits along the eastern shores of Priest Lake, a 19-mile long, over 300 foot deep lake. Amenities include showers, flush toilets, dump stations, full service park store with gasoline. Activities include hiking mountain biking, cycling, fishing, boating, swimming, horseshoeing, water sports, volleyball, disc gold
The waters of Boundary Reservoir back up behind Boundary Dam on the Pend Oreille River in the very northeast corner of Washington State. The area offers 3 water-access-only small recreation sites on BLM lands, all along the reservoir’s west bank, which provide primitive amenities. The BLM sites are Everett Slough, Ledbetter Cove, and Grandview.
Access is by boat only, typically via the boat launch at Seattle City Light’s Forebay Recreation Area, located at Boundary Dam.
US Forest Service lands on the other side of the reservoir offer additional primitive developed and dispersed recreation opportunities.
Due to predominating dense forest and steep canyon slopes, Everett Slough is the only one of these sites that offers a hiking opportunity. There, hikers can travel through forest along the old +1-mile-long no-public-vehicle-access dirt road grade, that ends at the recreation site. Otherwise, activities at Boundary Reservoir include motorized and non-motorized boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and nature viewing. The 3 recreation sites each provide basic sanitary facilities with privacy fence. Additionally:
Everett Slough has 3 primitive campsites, each with tent site, picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof storage container.
Ledbetter Cove has 4 tent sites, 2 picnic tables, 2 fire rings, and 2 bear-proof containers.
Grandview has 2 primitive campsites, each with tent site, picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof container.
Seattle City Light manages recreational use on BLM public lands along Boundary Reservoir, at developed sites and on dispersed lands. Seattle City Light manages this recreational use under the terms and responsibilities established in their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for Boundary Dam. Please contact Seattle City Light directly regarding public recreational use on these BLM lands, by email at scl_recreation@seattle.gov, or call Boundary Dam at 509-446-3083 (option #9).
Crescent LakeBeautiful twenty-two acre lake located nine miles north of Metaline Falls, WA and just a mile south of the Canadian border adjacent to Highway 31 which is part of the International Selkirk Loop. Open season runs from the last Saturday in April through October 31. This lake receives annual plantings of rainbow trout. A small rustic three site campground lies just above the lake. Amenities include: tables, fire rings, concrete vault toilet and animal proof garbage can. No potable water is available. It is best suited for small RV's or tent camping. Facilities 3 small campsites with picnic tables, and fire pits No drinking water 1 vault toilet Garbage disposal (animal proof)
A Discover Pass or Washington State Fishing License is required for access, and can be acquired through Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's website.
Sullivan LakeThis Lake is a popular recreation lake nestled in the mountains of the northwest Washington. In addition to fishing for trout, salmon and turbot, visitors come to the lake for camping canoeing, swimming, SCUBA diving and hiking along the trail on the east side of the lake. Other attractions include ice fishing for burbot/ling cod and bighorn sheep viewing during the winter months.
East Sullivan Campground is located at the north end of Sullivan Lake about five miles east of Metaline Falls, Washington. The campground provides a unique environment where campers can enjoy many recreational opportunities.
The Sullivan Lake Basin provides campers with opportunities for swimming, biking, fishing, boating and hiking. Canoeing , kayaking, paddle boarding and power boating are among the water sports popular on the lake. Campers can walk directly from their campsite to a short nature trail, as well as the Lakeshore Trail, a National Scenic Trail that runs along the eastern shore of the lake. This 4.2 mile trail offers viewpoint of the lake and is a popular day-hike for all ages. Biking along local trails and roads is also popular. Common fish species include burbot and Kokanee salmon. Fishing in this deep mountain lake is most successful from a boat.
Sullivan Lake covers 1291 acres and has a depth of 320 feet. Hall Mountain rises abruptly from the eastern shore of the lake to a height of over 6000 feet. The densely wooded nature of the campground provides privacy at each campsite, and plenty of shade for warm summer days. Wildlife such as elk, moose, white-tailed deer, and black bears can be spotted in the area. In the fall, the surrounding forests are ablaze with the yellow foliage of western larch and aspen.
The trail to the top of nearby Hall Mountain offers great views of the lake basin and surrounding mountains. Wildflowers canb abundant on this popular trail. A 20 mile drive will take you to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness area, which offers excellent hikes and rugged mountain scenery. Sullivan Lake is about four miles southeast of Metaline Falls, a quaint town with historic buildings. Crawford State Park is located on the west side of the Pend Oreille River near the U.S.- Canada border. In the summer, a park ranger conducts under-ground tours of Gardiner Cave, the main attraction at this park. Seattle City Light offers tours of their Boundary Hydroelectric Project, on the main-stem Pend Oreille River one mile from the international border.
$31 - $120 / night
Legend
Luby Bay Campground offers a beautiful lakeside experience, with many sites featuring direct lakefront access. The campground is surrounded by trees and foliage, providing a sense of privacy, and the sites are nicely spaced apart.
In the back corner of the lower loop, there is designated parking for boat trailers and extra vehicles. I launched my boat at the Priest Lake Marina just a mile down the road for a small fee, but I appreciated the free trailer parking at the campground.
The flushing toilets were impressively clean—better than many I've encountered at other campgrounds.
The road through the campground is paved but narrow, roughly 1.5 vehicles wide, so backing in a trailer requires some finesse.
Each site comes with a bear-proof locker, which is essential for safety. The only downside was that our locker had trash bags left by the previous occupants, which hadn't been cleaned out before our arrival. This seems to be a minor oversight by the host.
Overall, I had a great stay and would recommend Luby Bay Campground.
Ranger
If you can get one of the lakefront campsites, the views are phenomenal! But if you can't, the rest of the campsites are still pretty nice. The campsites are spaced apart enough so you're not too close to your neighbor. Bathrooms are adequate pit toilets. The lake is clear and cold, decent for swimming if you don't mind cold water.
Ranger
I wouldn’t recommend this campground, especially if you’re hoping for a lakeside experience. The campground is actually a decent distance away, and it’s not easy to access. The road getting in is rough and bumpy, which made for an unpleasant drive. Once we arrived, the campsites were disappointingly small and cramped, making it difficult to set up comfortably. The lake itself wasn’t much better. It’s small, and the water is ice cold, so swimming wasn’t really an option. To top it off, there were no fish to be found, so fishing was a bust. Overall, between the rough road, tiny campsites, and lackluster lake, this campground just wasn’t worth the effort. There are much better options out there.
Ranger
This hike-in lake campground is a true alpine treasure, but be prepared to work for it! The hike to get there is pretty strenuous, with some tough climbs along the way. The trail itself isn’t well marked, so you’ll want to pay close attention or bring a good map to avoid getting off course. That said, the payoff is absolutely worth it. The alpine lake at the end of the trail is stunning—clear, pristine water surrounded by rugged mountain scenery. It’s the kind of place that feels untouched and pure. If you visit during the right season, you’ll find huckleberries everywhere, which is a sweet bonus after the tough hike in. The campground is simple but perfectly positioned to enjoy the beauty of the lake. The water is incredibly clear, perfect for a cold dip if you're brave enough! If you're up for a challenging hike and want to escape to a peaceful alpine setting, this spot is well worth the effort. Just be ready for a bit of route-finding on the trail and take advantage of the huckleberries along the way!
Ranger
This little lake campground is a real hidden gem, especially if you're looking for some peace and quiet. The lake itself is small but beautiful, though it is a bit swampy around the edges. The campground itself is next to the very swampy side of the lake, so you can't really put a kayak in the water or fish or anything from the campground without walking around to the other side of the lake or drive to the day use area. There’s a boat launch and a fishing dock at the day use area.
When I visited, the place was nearly empty, which made it feel like a true escape. The campground is very well taken care of. It’s clean, and each campsite has a nice shelter over the picnic tables, which is great if the weather turns. The pit toilets were also really clean—much better than I expected for this type of setup.
The road getting there is pretty rough, so be ready for a bit of a bumpy ride. But once you're there, the quiet, the fall colors, and the overall atmosphere more than make up for it. The lake, while a little swampy at the edges, still makes for a pretty view, especially with the vibrant autumn leaves around.
Scout
This is not a spot bc the park ranger told us we were not allowed to camp here
Traveler
This campsite was overall a really good time! There's a trail that leads to the water for any of the campers or visitors to go swim at, site 13 had its own trail down to the water which was so fun to have easy access too! If you want a site with a beautiful view and flat tent spots site 9 and 10 also looked beautiful!
If you plan to stay at the walk in sites I recommend bringing a wagon! The walk from car to campground is not far but there is a decent hill you have to walk down to the campsite.
Pit toilet was nice and well taken care of! The hand sanitizer was out, but otherwise very clean. The only toilet is at the parking lot, so it's a short walk from the campsites.
The other downside was bugs! SO many bee's! Especially when we ate we had to walk with our food to keep the bee's away we never got stung though!. And mosquitos at night were bad but all of it was manageable with big spray!
Overall a great campsite, if you go during the week you might have the walk in sites all to yourself, not crowded and lots of fun!
Guide
There are several dispersed sites up here along Pack River. Good for horses, camping and solitude.
Ranger
Difficult to find a spot that accommodates a 30-ft rig but I managed a pull out on the side of the road with not too much dust. Beautiful silence, amazing Blue Skies and Forest all around, Fantastic waking up to dense fog.
Scout
Really well maintained, beautiful campground with great swimming water. Peewee falls is about a 10 minute kayak from the beach. Great stay. Definitely recommend staying during the week. Weekend traffic is intense.
TravelerNice place on public land. Swimming possible. We stayed for the night
Scout
Beautiful area nice camping spot good amount of shade coverage keeps us cool during the summer clean bathrooms and the camp hosts are super nice.
Traveler
Campsite 36 in the Pine loop is just a short walk away from a lovely lake beach that has fire pits and picnic tables. The campsite itself is very nice, large, shaded, with a decent distance from neighboring campers as far as campgrounds go. I didn't do what I usually do and walk around the campground to see what the best site is to book during future visits, but I have zero complaints about this site. We really enjoyed our stay at Lake Sullivan and our excursions to Metaline Falls, Gardner Cave, Peewee Falls, Mill Pond Historic Site, and Crescent Lake.
Traveler
I love the Colville National Forest and enjoy discovering different campgrounds within it.
I like to camp at Pioneer Park when I am in Newport visiting family and will always choose campsite 14! It is the best out of all the campsites there, very private, incredibly spacious, and with a nice trail to the water. I only tent camp so I don't know how accommodating it is for an RV, however.
LegendTent camper here 👋 This specific site wasn't lakefront but was only a short 3 min walk to gorgeous lake views and beach access. Being on the end, it was hushed with minor road noise. This site, in particular, backs up against Elkins Road, leading to the next-door resort which has a restaurant, bar, and convenience store - all in walking/stumbling distance. This campground itself has the basics: bathrooms, bear-proof trash, and water stations.
I highly recommend this campsite and will try to book earlier in the season next time to get a lakefront site.
Guide
Right on the Lake, has water Filling Station and Dump Also Boat ramp A bunch of small Flies, they don’t bite
Scout
Arrived to find an available site. Nice view of Lake Leo. Clean site, vault toilet's were clean and well stocked. The grounds were checked up on by the Forest Service and camp host. There are no services at the sites other than fire pits. Water is available. However, it needs filtering. Camp sites are far enough away from Highway 20 that traffic wasn't heard.
Guide
This site #8 is one of the larger sites at Sullivan Creek.
It’s right next to the river and about 150 yards from the road.
At the site: Fire Ring, and a bear box. Across the road there is a vaulted toilet along with a few campsites there next to each other.
Pack in and pack out! Sullivan lake is about 2-3 miles west and priest lake is 20+ miles to the east. If you do not have a 4wd vehicle I wouldn’t recommend driving on the service road to Priest, and depending the time of year the snow pack about 10 miles in will stop you!
Traveler
What a beautiful spot! We arrived the weekend before Memorial Day weekend and stayed 3 nights. Saw eagles and deer right from our site. The vaulted toilets made life easy and the camp host was beyond friendly and helpful. The very small hike to the falls was only steps away from our site, and one of the sites you could even see the falls! We didn’t choose that one cuz it was full shade and a little noisy for my taste. The sites are roomy and pretty darn spaced out so we couldn’t hear the neighbor we had for a night. It’s about 10 min from colville, but make sure you get wood before hand, you can gather from the area, but stopping at a store to grab it costs a fortune. We might have to make this a regular spot, we loved it so much.
Traveler
Great
Traveler
Worked well to connect spots that were next to each other for a larger group. But most of the ground was hard and difficult to find good tent spots. The only level spots were the parking spots. Access to water was nice.
Traveler
Great site to connect with the lake, but didn't enjoy the tent spots available. Ground was hard and mostly prepared for RVs.
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! We're excited to have this campground on the Dyrt and ready for you to book, check them out and make sure to leave a review!
Traveler
Campsites are pretty close together but easily accessible from the shore. Left kayak on the beach and brought the packraft to the table. Vault toilet is close and easy to find in the dark. Beautiful sunsets!
Traveler
Unfortunately we had to leave early but lesson learned. I was camping with my 4 sons and at 1255 am a big cougar walked right into our camp. I was fully prepared for bears but not a big cat. Next time I camp here I'm bringing a solar strobe to deter the cats
Scout
Loud, obnoxious and drunk boaters who trash Priest Lake. If you suffer one night of this nonsense, you will never go back. USFS complicit with this behavior.
Traveler
Between having a pond with many activities to do and the wine bar you can go to I have no complaints. Will happily return.
Camping near Metaline, Washington, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're into fishing, hiking, or just relaxing by the water, there’s something for everyone.
Camping near Metaline, Washington, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, with plenty of activities and beautiful spots to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Metaline, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Metaline, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 148 campgrounds and RV parks near Metaline, WA and 10 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Metaline, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Metaline, WA is Boundary Dam Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Metaline, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Metaline, WA.
What parks are near Metaline, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Metaline, WA that allow camping, notably Colville National Forest and Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.
