Dispersed camping near Metaline, Washington offers free sites throughout the Colville National Forest, where summer temperatures average 75-85°F with cooler nights in the 45-55°F range. The elevation in this region ranges from 2,000-4,000 feet, creating distinct microclimates between valley camping and higher forest sites. Most roads accessing dispersed sites remain snowy and impassable until late May in typical years.
What to do
Fishing at alpine lakes: Cook's Lake provides secluded fishing opportunities in a pristine setting. One visitor noted, "Cute little dispersed campground approx 6 sites. Not alot of traffic comes through during the week. Has one vault toilet that was pretty clean but bring your own tp."
Waterfall viewing: Within 20 minutes of Campbell Park at Box Canyon Dam, campers can explore Sweet Water Falls rest stop. As one visitor described, "Just up the road is a view point for eagles nest, Sweet Water Falls rest stop, which has a small hike up to a double waterfall!"
Cave exploration: Gardner Caves offers guided tours near Metaline. Tours run at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm daily during summer months. From the cave, visitors can take "a 1/4 mile hike to Canada Border!"
Berry picking: Beehive Lake Dispersed campsites provide access to seasonal huckleberry picking. "If you visit during the right season, you'll find huckleberries everywhere, which is a sweet bonus after the tough hike in."
What campers like
Private creek-side spots: Cee Cee Ah Creek dispersed camping offers seclusion along water. A camper shared, "Nearby campsites are far enough away that you have plenty of privacy. There is a creek that runs through this area, which is great for cooling off on hot days."
Well-spaced sites: Campers appreciate the thoughtful layout at many dispersed areas. At Little Pend Orielle Campground, "The spots we saw were all quite large and they are very spread out from each other. There was also a creek running behind the spot we chose which was a treat for the dogs to drink from."
Bear boxes at select sites: Some Sullivan Creek sites feature practical amenities. A camper at site #14 reported, "The site is near the river (multiple paths for easy access), has a bear box, and a fire ring."
Free firewood: Campbell Park previously offered unusual amenities when it allowed camping. A visitor recalled it had "free firewood, washrooms, drinking water and a small lagoon for swimming."
What you should know
Fire restrictions vary: Check current fire regulations as they change seasonally. At North Fork Chewelah Creek, "There are established stone fire pits or you can gather up some rocks and make your own. Plenty of deadfall and fire wood all over the place."
No cell service: Prepare for complete disconnection in most camping areas. At North Fork Chewelah Creek, visitors report "dead quiet and usually quite private" conditions with no connectivity.
Wildlife concerns: Bears are active in the area. One Sullivan Creek camper warned, "We had a late night bear visitor but was camping in my van so not too concerning."
Road conditions: Many access roads require high-clearance vehicles. For Little Pend Orielle, "Roads into the area are narrow gravel roads, so 'large' rigs and/or trailers may find it a challenge."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming spots: Several sites offer kid-friendly water access. At Sullivan Creek campground#2, "Sullivan lake is right down the road about a 5 minute drive you can access additional hiking trails."
Fishing docks: Little Pend Orielle provides structured fishing opportunities. "There is a family friendly fishing dock on Potters pond, and it is stocked with good sized rainbow trout the little kids had a blast fishing."
Wildlife viewing: Children can observe diverse forest creatures. One camper at Cook's Lake described seeing "Birds everywhere, woodpeckers in the birch trees and killdeer darting down to the water. Chipmunks and rabbits. Tadpoles and turtles and little water snakes."
Navigation challenges: Families should bring navigation tools. At Little Pend Orielle, "a CAUTION is to bring a GPS and have good map reading skills to avoid getting lost; it's easy to lose yourself."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Small to medium RVs work best on forest roads. At Cook's Lake, one RVer advised, "At least 2 of them are good for me trailer although I wouldn't try if you're not experienced with towing. The road to get there was approx six miles of gravel winding single lane road."
Leveling challenges: Many dispersed sites have uneven terrain. A Sullivan Creek visitor noted their site "has a lot of shade so depending on the time of year make sure to bring the weather appropriate clothing."
Towing precautions: Unpaved roads demand caution. A camper at Cook's Lake warned, "Decided to drive down to the water (that was hardly there) and found myself barely on the edge of lake bottom mud. Didn't get out till the next morning."
Limited turnaround space: Plan your approach carefully at remote sites. At Beehives Lakes, there's an "Awesome single site adjacent to the Beehive Lakes trailhead parking lot" but limited maneuvering space for larger vehicles.
