The Cowlitz River Valley surrounds Morton, Washington, with the town sitting at around 900 feet elevation between Mount Rainier National Park and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. RV camping near Morton provides access to multiple waterways including Riffe Lake, Mayfield Lake, and the Cowlitz River. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-70s while winter brings significant rainfall and occasional snow.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Cast a line at Silver Cove RV Resort where sites back up to Silver Lake. "There's a small store in the front office and propane fill in the park. Not much to do close by... if your looking for a place that you can step out of your RV and toss a line in the water, this is a great place," notes a reviewer at Silver Cove RV Resort.
Mount St. Helens exploration: Use campgrounds as a base for volcano visits. "My wife and I enjoyed the campground, we will be back the next time we want to hike at Mt. St. Helens," writes one camper about Thousand Trails Chehalis, which offers easy access to the mountain.
Mountain biking: Explore forest trails directly from your campsite. "We rode our mountain bikes up to Packwood lake one morning, which is 10 miles round trip. It's a great biking trail, but can also be used as a hiking trail if you are looking for a longer day hike," shares a reviewer from Packwood RV Park & Campground.
What campers like
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming facilities when summer temperatures rise. "This campgrounds has an awesome swimming area with three pools, one 8ft deep, on 6ft, and one wading pool. Also has a large spa," reports a visitor at Thousand Trails Paradise RV Campground.
Nearby amenities: Packwood RV Park & Campground provides walking-distance access to town services. "There's a lot of things around walking distance (all within a couple min walk). Also has great showers bathrooms and laundry ($1.75 per load)... Coffee/breakfast near by, Brewery across the campsite, Gas station, Grocery store, Gift shop, Visitors center," a reviewer explains.
Recreation facilities: Family activities extend beyond hiking and fishing. "This is a very quiet campground, activities we found at the campground to keep busy was shuffleboard which we enjoyed for the first time. The Billards table was in really good shape too. A musician name Dr A played music Saturday night in the lodge," notes a camper at Thousand Trails Paradise.
What you should know
Site conditions: Level spots can be challenging to find in some parks. "The pads are grass and gravel that are not level. Your neighbor's are close so it has limited privacy. We got lucky and found a site under some trees," explains a reviewer at Thousand Trails Paradise.
Water situations: Water quality and service vary significantly between campgrounds. "There is a water issue that asks you to boil water," notes one Paradise camper, while another reports, "This is an older campground with a few issues, but the staff is great! They work hard trying to keep up with campers requests despite the challenges they face."
Seasonal planning: Some parks operate only during warmer months. "We stay two nights from September 13th through September 16, 2019... The weather was high overcast in the mid 60's, the nights low 50s. It did rain hard on Sunday morning from 2am to 10am," shares a camper detailing fall conditions at Thousand Trails Paradise.
Tips for camping with families
Look for kid-specific activities: Select campgrounds with designed children's amenities. At Toutle River RV Resort, "There's a frisbee golf course that we didn't use but looks fun, really nice playground for the grandkids that's a fort, a store, swimming pool, a recreation hall with nice paintings on the outside and showers and bathrooms nearby. You can check out basketballs and such, which is fun."
Consider fishing access: Stocked ponds provide reliable fishing opportunities. "My grandson loves coming here with us the two ponds they stock with fish," reports a reviewer about Thousand Trails Paradise, highlighting one of the most reliable family activities.
Weather preparation: Pack for changing conditions even in summer. "Weather was sunny upper 70's, the nights low 60's," notes a camper at Thousand Trails Chehalis, but other reviewers mention significant temperature drops and rain possibilities even during peak season.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Request specific site types based on your needs. At Cascade Peaks Family Campground, "Easy pull in and set up for less than 30ft setups," according to one RVer, while others note riverfront sites offer the best experience.
Utility connections: Check power stability before setting up. "We spent a number of minutes testing pads that were are the best poor, for power. A number of the sites did not have power and were not marked as such," warns a Paradise camper, suggesting a voltmeter is essential equipment.
Maneuverability concerns: Large rigs face significant challenges at some parks. "The mature trees are nice shade but are large so maneuvering in ways that won't impede doors or awnings can be tricky—just know your equipment and double check before you level and settle in," advises a visitor at Maple Grove RV Resort.
