Dog-Friendly Camping near Metaline, WA

Camping areas near Metaline, Washington include private and national forest sites between 2,000 and 4,000 feet elevation. The area features forested campgrounds with limestone formations and clear lakes in the Colville National Forest. Most campgrounds open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with some free sites requiring arrival by 5 pm to secure a spot.

What to do

Visit local caves and dams: Take a free guided tour at Boundary Dam, available Thursday through Monday. "Free dam tours Thursday-Monday... offered at 10:30am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm and 4:00pm," notes a visitor to Boundary Dam Campground. Visit Crawford State Park's Gardner Caves, which offers 1-hour tours four times daily.

Paddle to nearby falls: Bring kayaks or canoes to explore waterways. "Peewee falls is only a 5 minute paddle from the campground, if that!" shares a camper at Boundary Dam. Sullivan Lake West Campground gets high praise as a base for water activities with one camper calling it "Hands down favorite place."

Explore hiking trails: Access multiple trails from camp. "The trail along the lake offers beautiful views of the lake but had a fire in recent years so a few spots are a bit more exposed to the sun," mentions a visitor at Noisy Creek. For an international adventure, Gardner Caves offers "a 1/4 mile hike to Canada Border!"

What campers like

Free camping options: Several campgrounds charge no fees. "This campground is amazing. Wasn't expecting this type of campground to be free," writes one visitor about Boundary Dam Campground. Big Meadow Lake Campground also offers no-cost camping with "17 sites, two different areas to choose from on either side of the lake."

Clean facilities: Vault toilets receive high marks for maintenance. "It has the cleanest pit toilets I have ever seen (seriously!) Whoever they hired does an amazing job!" notes a camper at Noisy Creek. Many campgrounds feature vault toilets rather than flush facilities.

Lake swimming: Clear lake water provides excellent summer recreation. "The water is refreshing and clean to play in (although cold)," says a Noisy Creek visitor. At East Sullivan, the lake is "Perfect temperature for swimming on a hot day, clean as glass, rocky/sandy bottom and no weeds."

What you should know

Bear awareness required: Proper food storage essential in this region. At Sullivan Creek Campground, campers note that "the bear box they provide keeps the mice from getting to it at night." At another site, a visitor mentioned a "late night bear visitor" though they felt safe in their vehicle.

Arrival timing matters: Popular sites fill quickly during peak season. At Crescent Lake, a visitor notes: "I tried coming here twice and both times it was not only full, but many cars circling through the loops in search of a camp."

Weather preparedness: Mountain elevation brings variable temperatures. One camper at Sullivan Creek advises: "The site has a lot of shade so depending on the time of year make sure to bring the weather appropriate clothing. During our stay it got very cold and we needed to use our heater."

Tips for camping with families

Swimming lagoon access: Campbell Park offers kid-friendly water areas. "There is a fishing/swimming pond for the kids" and "the campground also provides life jackets, if your child needs one!" reports a visitor to Campbell Park at Box Canyon Dam.

Family-friendly hiking: Multiple trail options accommodate various skill levels. At Big Meadow Lake, there's a "trail around the camp ground that takes you through the meadow and to a look out area which was pretty cool."

Tent site selection: Choose appropriate sites for family camping. At Boundary Dam, one camper notes: "Site #22 is the best in the campground... backed up to the forest, and the most private site." However, they warn tent sites "are VERY close together so there is a lack of privacy."

Tips from RVers

Site dimensions: Limited space at some campgrounds. At East Sullivan, the "size of our site could fit two RVs and several tents (Our pop up tent trailer is 25ft)."

Water access considerations: No hookups available at most sites. "Because there are no water/RV hook-ups, the place tends to be a little quieter," notes a camper at East Sullivan about the pet friendly camping near Metaline, Washington.

Leveling challenges: Some sites have uneven terrain. At Noisy Creek, one camper mentioned the site was "not great for tents" as the "ground was hard and mostly prepared for RVs."