Mossyrock sits in western Washington at an elevation of approximately 665 feet, where campers find milder winters than higher mountain areas. The region features numerous water-based recreation opportunities with multiple lakes, including Mayfield and Riffe Lake. RV camping near Mossyrock presents varied options with sites ranging from forested campgrounds to lakeside settings with boat launches.
What to do
Fishing access at multiple lakes: Silver Cove RV Resort offers direct lake access where "fishing is pretty easy here. Mostly crappie and bass though I've seen a couple trout or perch pulled out," according to a regular visitor.
Disc golf course available: Toutle River RV Resort provides recreational amenities beyond typical camping. As one camper notes, "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."
Hiking at Mount St. Helens: Several campgrounds serve as base camps for volcano exploration. "We will be back the next time we want to hike at Mt. St. Helens," mentioned one visitor at Thousand Trails Paradise RV Campground, which is approximately 45 minutes from the visitor centers.
Swimming opportunities: Cascade Peaks Family Campground features swimming pools that campers appreciate during summer months. A visitor simply stated, "We had a blast. Low key and they have swimming pools!"
What campers like
River and lake frontage: Riverfront sites are particularly sought after at some locations. One camper at Cascade Peaks remarked, "Tons of campsites but the best ones are the riverfront ones."
Campground activities for children: Chehalis RV and Camping Resort offers extensive programming for families. "Kids are helping review campgrounds we visited this summer. They loved that there was scavenger hunts for pigs in morning, tractor rides in afternoon, face painting, slushees, movie in lodge, crafts."
Convenience to major highways: Many RV parks in the region provide easy access from Interstate 5. A Midway RV Park visitor appreciated this aspect, noting it's "Half way between Portland and Seattle" making it "Nice and clean with great showers. Staff very friendly and helpful."
Fishing ponds for younger anglers: Dedicated fishing areas appeal to families with children. A regular at Thousand Trails Paradise shared, "My grandson loves coming here with us the two ponds they stock with fish."
What you should know
Unlevel sites at many campgrounds: Site conditions vary significantly between parks and even within the same facility. At Silver Cove RV Resort, a camper advised, "We had a good site that backed up to water where we could do some fishing and had good space for the dogs. I'd recommend looking into which site you have as we have had a site during previous stay that was much less usable and compact/crowded."
Variable power quality: Electrical systems at some older campgrounds may present challenges. At Thousand Trails Chehalis, one RVer warned, "The worst part for us, however, was that the power was really variable. Sometimes it would spike to 130 volts and then drop suddenly to 110."
Off-season closures or limitations: Several campgrounds operate seasonally. Thousand Trails Paradise RV Campground runs from "April 21 to October 31" according to their listing information.
Train and highway noise: Location affects ambient sound levels at some parks. A Toutle River RV Resort camper mentioned it "Was hard for us to get a good nights sleep in between a highway and train tracks."
Tips for camping with families
Check recreational amenities: Harmony Lakeside RV Park offers boating opportunities that families appreciate. "Sites are close together but if you know that going in, it's a great place. Slips for your boat is a huge plus."
Look for stocked fishing ponds: Several campgrounds maintain fishing areas specifically for young anglers. A visitor to Paradise RV Campground noted, "This site was great because of the stocked ponds for fishing and the pools."
Consider swimming options: Pools provide alternative water recreation when lake temperatures are cool. One camper at Thousand Trails Paradise highlighted, "This campgrounds has an awesome swimming area with three pools, one 8ft deep, on 6ft, and one wading pool. Also has a large spa."
Evaluate playground facilities: Parks with established play areas keep children entertained. At Toutle River RV Resort, a visitor observed, "There's random trails, a playground, big green fields, volleyball court, etc. Plenty to keep them busy and felt completely comfortable letting them run around."
Tips from RVers
Check site levelness before committing: Site conditions matter greatly for larger rigs. At Majestic Mobile Manor & RV Park, a camper with a 33-foot RV found "It took a long time to get set up because of the ridiculously small amount of space I had to maneuver my 33ft RV and my 8ft extended cab truck."
Consider water pressure limitations: Utility quality varies between parks. A visitor to Cascade Peaks noted "The water pressure was a bit low and yes there are residents that live here, but the residents keep to themselves."
Plan for poor cell service: Connectivity challenges exist throughout the region. While the existing description mentions Verizon service, at Toutle River RV Park, a different camper reported, "We had spotty cell service with Verizon though we were directly off I5 corridor."
Reserve ahead for river or lake view sites: Waterfront locations fill quickly. According to a Silver Cove RV Resort visitor, "The sites almost all back up to the water and fishing is pretty easy here."
