Looking to cabin camp near Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Cabin camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. You're sure to find the perfect cabin rental for your Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest camping adventure.
General Information Flowing Lake is located five miles northeast of the City of Snohomish. The lake is the middle of the "Three Lakes" chain that starts with Storm Lake and ends with Panther Lake. The lake covers 132.5 acres and has an average depth of 28 feet. The immediate watershed is 640.2 acres. Recreational Opportunities Flowing Lake is one of the few parks in Snohomish County that allows for motorized watercraft and water skiing. Flowing Lake has two public access points with boat launches. Snohomish County's Flowing Park at Leckie's Beach is located on the north end of the lake and has campsites, cabins, a swimming beach, a boat launch with a fishing dock, an amphitheater and picnic locations. The Department of Fish and Wildlife also operates a boat launch on the southeast side of the lake.
Colonial Creek South Campground in North Cascades National Park is a remote, yet bustling campground nestled in old -growth forest. Located on the south side of State Route 20 near milepost 130, there are 94 campsites that are surrounded by forest and located on Diablo Lake. Colonial Creek South Campground can accommodate a variety of camping, whether its drive-in camping, or walk-in tent camping. The campsites vary in size from small to medium. Most of the campsites do not accommodate large trailers or RVs.
Campers can access the Thunder Creek Trailhead from the South Loop. The Thunder Knob Trailhead is on the north loop across State Route 20. Fishing is allowed in Diablo Lake with a Washington State Fishing license, the nearest location to purchase a license is in the town of Marblemount, WA. Follow Washington State Fishing Regulations when recreating. Black bears are active in this campground and the surrounding trails. Be aware of your surroundings while hiking, picnicking, and camping. Use the provided bear boxes in your campsite to store coolers, cookware, and other odorants when not in use. If you encounter a bear around the campground or on a trail, inform campground staff or go to the North Cascades Visitor Center and fill out a bear report.
Colonial Creek South Campground is surrounded by a forest of western redcedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, red huckleberries, and other native vegetation. The campground has easy access to Diablo Lake for recreating.
Traveling west on State Route 20: The North Cascades Visitor Center is 11 miles (18 km) west on State Route 20 from Colonial Creek South Campground, operating seasonally, typically from May to September. Campers can find the passport stamps, exhibits, park film, park store, and much more. Traveling east on State Route 20: Diablo Lake Overlook is 1.5 miles (2 km) east on State Route 20. the turquoise lake can be viewed safely from this area and there is ample day use parking and vault toilets. Ross Lake Overlook is 5 miles (8 km) east on State Route 20, this is a less developed vista point. There are two pull off areas with interpretive way sides and with views of the Ross Dam and Ross Lake.
For facility specific information, please call (360) 854-7200.
$16 - $24 / night
Lake Wenatchee State Park is a 489-acre camping park with 12,623-feet of waterfront on glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee and the Wenatchee River and is a great place for camping near Seattle. The park is bisected by the Wenatchee River, creating two distinct areas – south park, which features areas for camping, swimming and horseback riding, and north park, which is in a less developed, forested section of the park and a quarter-mile walk from the lake.
The park has 155 tent spaces, 42 water and electric sites, one dump station, seven restrooms, and 16 showers. In addition, the park provides two ADA campsites. Call 509-763-3101 for more information.
The south campground (sites 1 - 100) has parking pads 30 to 40-feet in length, with only two pull-through sites. Larger RVs and fifth-wheelers should use the north campground (sites 101 - 197) which includes 42 large pull-through utility sites. Maximum tents allowed are one family tent or up to two 2-3 man tents. Maximum vehicles allowed are two per site, additional vehicles may park in overflow areas.
Enjoy a beautiful natural setting at the base of Mount Baker with easy access to North Cascades National Park. Take a day trip to Bellingham, the San Juan Islands or British Columbia. At our Thousand Trails Puget Sound RV campground, the Northwest is at your disposal. Grandy Creek RV Camping features long pull-thrus (up to 90 feet) as well as tents and two-room cabins. Grandy Creek RV Camping visitors can stay busy with all our planned activities or just enjoy our beautiful Puget Sound RV campground by sitting under a tree with a book, flying a kite in the field or hiking the campground trails. Kids love our all-day Saturday planned fun, as well as the fabulous Jumping Pillow! The most important thing about our RV campground is customer care. Our employees love their job and our guests. You'll feel right at home at Grandy Creek RV Camping.
Close to Seattle but a world away, Camano Island Camping offers a mellow, less bustling, but equally friendly alternative to its busier neighbor, Cama Beach State Park.
Forest loop trails provide cool, tranquil hiking, while shoreline strolls offer birding, shell and rock exploration and sweeping views of Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier.
Are you happiest in or on the water? Go boating, crabbing, saltwater fishing and sailboarding in Saratoga Passage. Curious about the restored 1930's fishing resort at Cama Beach? Hike the 1-mile trail to check out this neighboring state park.
After a fun day exploring the trails or cavorting in the water, you will probably want to kick back in your forested cabin, pitch your tent or get cozy in your RV. There, you can cook up the delicious crab you have caught, or your dinner of choice, and enjoy a bit of sublime R and R before heading back to the world.
Step into U.S. military history at Fort Flagler Historical State Park on the northern tip of Marrowstone Island. Tour and explore a significant coastal defense fort established more than a century ago to guard the entrance to Puget Sound. Built in the late 1890s and manned during World War I, World War II and the Korean War, Fort Flagler now features a military museum and gift shop. The park offers guided tours of the gun emplacements and other facilities during the summer. Or find the batteries on your own and wander through them at leisure. Fort Flagler activities include hiking, boating, kite-flying, beach exploration, saltwater fishing, clam digging and crabbing. Experienced paragliders can bring their wings and ride thermals up to stupendous aerial views. Group camps Hoskins, Richmond and Wilson are available for retreats of up to 250 people, and historic officers' vacation houses can be booked for group gatherings and romantic getaways. Beachfront tent and RV sites boast some of the best views in the region. So gaze out on the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north, the Olympic Peninsula to the west and Whidbey Island to the east, and breathe deep of the ocean air. The group of forts once known as the "Triangle of Fire" (made up of Fort Flagler, Fort Worden and Fort Casey) is a must-see for military, armament and maritime enthusiasts. Fort Flagler's off-the-beaten track location and its wide, manicured former parade lawns make it a winning destination. Fort Flagler Camping has 59 standard sites, 55 full-hookup sites, two primitive sites, one Cascadia Marine Trail (PDF) site, one dump station, two restrooms. Forty-seven standard tent sites and two primitive sites are in the upper camping area. This area is suitable for tents and some sites can accommodate RV's up to 25 feet. Twelve standard sites and 55 full-hookup sites are in the lower camp area and have easy access to the beach. Maximum site length is 50 feet (limited availability). Check-in time is 2:30 p.m. Check-out time is 1 p.m.
The park has 46 standard campsites, 30 partial-hookup sites, two restrooms and six showers. Maximum site length is 50 feet (limited availability). The campground is divided into three areas.
Sites 1-9 (view sites) provide the best opportunity to view Padilla Bay and are also utility sites. Site length is approximately 50 feet and all sites are back-ins. Tents are not permitted in these sites. Sites 10-30 (hookup sites) face a 1.5-acre grassy section, which provides space for kids to play safely and for parents to keep an eye on them. Site length varies, with 40 feet the maximum length. All sites are back-ins. Sites 31-76 (standard campsites) provide a parking place, stove, picnic table and space to pitch a tent. Tent size and vehicle parking lengths vary from 25 to 40 feet. Only a few of the sites can accommodate a large tent. All sites are back-ins.
GROUP ACCOMMODATIONS The park provides one group camp for tents only. The camp accommodates 20 to 24 people. There is no space for RVs. Showers and restrooms are nearby. Fees vary with size of the group.
CABINS The six cabins at Bay View are nestled among Douglas-fir trees with views of Padilla Bay and the San Juan Islands. Bay View cabins are within walking distance to the park’s beach area and Padilla Bay. Each cabin is furnished with one double bed (sleeps two) and two single bunks (each sleeps two) as well as microwaves and small refrigerators with freezers. Outside is a fire ring and an upright pedestal grill. Two cabins have bathrooms.
$12 - $75 / night
Guide
Lovely treed campground. Large sites!
Traveler
Definitely a nice area to Visit for our first time. Quite and the ferry comes right past the camp ground. Ferry doesn’t blast its horn unless there is a boat in the ferry path. Definitely worth to check out and check out the fort. Showers and nice very clean park.
Scout
Our camp spots were close to the lake. The cedar trees gave great cover from the rain. The trails around camp were well maintained.
Traveler
We love this campground our kids love it too. The kiddos always want to go camping here when we ask them!! Great staff really nice campsites. Beautiful beach bring the kites
Scout
Tenting areas are 10-15 feet from the road, so very noisy all night long. The road is 35mph, so it’s noisy.
Otherwise everything was nice. Plenty of amenities - showers, pools, hot tub, mini golf etc. staff were friendly as well.
Staying in an RV would be okay as they are further away from the road. It’s just unfortunate that the tenting spots (8-10 tents max) is so close to the road. It’s close enough that my tent would rustle with each car moving past.
I was fortunate enough to get the only flat tent space - all other tent sites are on a gentle lean.
Summary: nice spot, but don’t rent here. I would give it a 4 star review if I were staying in an RV, but need to put the warning out for others who tent
Guide
If you need wifi to plan your next days this location is not for you. Wifi available at the lodge only and very slow. Except for that the site is big, nothing specific regarding amenities
TravelerBeautiful campground with many large shaded sites along Lake Diablo. Absolutely gorgeous. Each site has its.own bear boxes and the bathrooms were pretty clean.
Traveler
It's a lovely area right by a beautiful river. However, it was hard to find a large enough spot that was also level to park our van. There was some traffic on the road, and a great bonus is that the road is paved, so no worries about destroying a tire. We did have phone service, and it's close to a small deli and other conveniences.
Traveler
Outside the picturesque town of Leavenworth, lies the most stunning body of water in the Pacific Northwest. This was our first camping trip and we could not have picked a better time or place. We visited in September when summer was slowly becoming fall. The weather was cool but not unmanageable and the camp ground was near empty. The only sounds that could be heard were the wrestling of leaves, the gentle lapping of waves, and the nightly screaming of elk in the distance.
At the time of our visit, there was a burn ban but we were allowed to use a propane fire pit.
We plan on going back when it’s a bet warmer so we can take our kayaks.
Our dog loved it!
Traveler
We reserved a space for 1 night the day before. Great communication with Brett, everything went really smooth. The facilities are great and very clean, the park very quiet. There are a lot of big rigs parked there, some of the pm long-term as it seems. We enjoyed ourselves and would definitely visit again.
Guide
We love Tall Chief because it is super close to a lot of great spots around the Seattle region.
It’s super close (like 7 min drive) from one of my favorite coffee shops, Aroma Coffee Co. Try it! You won’t be disappointed!
Tall Chief’s biggest perk is probably how nice they keep the park. Bathrooms are usually found to be immaculate. The main bathrooms have a great “spa” feeling to their design and make you feel like you are glamping.
Most sites are pretty big too. We can easily fit our trailer, tow vehicle, and extra vehicle and still have space!
No sewer connections which can be a bummer, but the nice bathrooms make up for it imo.
The staff are always super nice and helpful.
Another thing that can be annoying is trying to find a site with good cell reception due to all the trees. They definitely have a few, but I would say arrive early so you can drive by all the sites while checking to make sure you have good reception if you need it.
I’m getting 120+ mbs download on AT&T in my site right now, but several sites down from me, it can dwindle down to 5mbs!
Scout
This is the very first park I took my motorhome to. After spending a year getting the rig ready, I was finally ready to take it on the road. I had joined Thousand Trails earlier in the year and set off to see what I knew. While I had previous RVs before (5th Wheel, Class C's, Travel trailers) this was my trip in a Class A.
My first visit to the Thousand Trails La Conner site was great. I was able to find a nice full hook up site at the edge of the park very close to the water.
A couple more visits to the park in the following months gave a less than great experience but still good.
Last week turned a corner. While the staff is still five star level, the park is showing a lot of wear and tear. I counted more than a dozen closed sites. Some of these sites had been closed for a long time. Potholes and ruts in the road made travel unpleasant but the pools of water (and mud) really stood out.
Granted, I was there in February but these issues were not just seasonal. Some of the same sites had been closed for the past few visits to the park.
I hope they start to pay attention to this park because its location is great.
TravelerWe stayed here in February so the whole park was not open. As with all state parks, some spots are better than others. The ranger was very nice, although there for only limited hours. It was quiet and obviously close to Padilla Bay which was a nice walk. Also an easy drive to La Conner and Deception Pass.
Legend
General: A variety of options from cabins to tent sites to RV sites with electric and water hookups on the Skagit River.
Site Quality: With the exception of the ADA-accessible sites and the sites directly on the river, sites are gravel. All appeared to be level. Sites have nice tree cover separating them.
Bath/Shower house: Code entry and they were clean. Showers are $1 for four minutes and a quarter for each continuous minute thereafter. Didn’t use so cannot comment on them (except that hooks are outside of the shower stall, compromising privacy a bit).
Activities: There is some nice playground equipment and horseshoe pits (not sure if you have to bring your own horseshoes). There is a trail, but a sign was posted saying there was a recent cougar siting, so I took a pass on that one! Saw a boat on the river with people fishing.
We ended up here since our planned campground was closed due to recent fires. We arrived at 3 pm on a Thursday the week after Labor Day and there were plenty of sites, so the host gave us an ADA-accessible site since it was larger. We appreciated the helpfulness of the host for a last-minute reservation and the price was reasonable.
Traveler
Beautiful state park with the lower campsite open year round, with full hook up sites. Offered on a first come first serve basis over the winter months. During the summer months reservations are required.
ScoutEasy to pay and very clean bathrooms. It was very windy and rainy the night I stayed. I slept in the back of my old 4Runner and it felt like I was on a boat at times from the rocking of the car in the wind
TravelerThis is a big park that is part of Thousand Trails. No sales pitch to join, which was nice. Rangers were super nice. Bathrooms very new and clean. Lots of trees between sites. Hard to find one in the sun if that is what you are looking for. Looked like lots of long term campers. Very quiet. We enjoyed see the surrounding area - Beaver Lake Park, Carnation, Fall City. Didn't make it to Snoqualmie Falls, maybe next time.
LegendLovely but busy spot in North Cascades NP. We were fortunate with really good weather. You can swim in the lake, there is a boat launch and there is a hiking trail across the street. Super convenient. Thunder knob trail.
Bathrooms were clean. Sites a little close. Lots of people come into the park on the weekends from Seattle though it is the least visited of the three Washington Parks. Lovely scenery, turquoise lake.
You need to be prepared when you arrive. Closest camp store is about 25 minutes with limited supplies, but can get you by.. there are restaurants and gas stations in Marblemount, but that is all from what we could tell.
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! The Cascade River Camp is perfect for a family looking to stay in the outdoors, my favorite feature is the homemade play area! Check them out and share some pics from your stay!
ScoutWitnessed a beautiful sunset camping on the bluff . . . great camping spots.
Traveler
We stayed with several families at the group site with a mixture of trailers, tents, and tents on cars. The trailers ranged in size from 22’ to 36’ and we found ample space for each.
This site has close access to the bathrooms shared with those staying in the cabins. Peekaboo views of the water between the trees.
The site has several campsites that branch off of the road through the site which is also a trail. It has a central gravel area for a large group or trailers next to a large field area. There is no kitchen shelter, just picnic tables, fire pits, and a grill.
The site feels very private but you have people passing on the trail/road, which runs through the middle of camp, at regular intervals.
The park is full of steep hills which can make those with mobility challenges or kids wanting to ride bikes tough. The road to the beach is very steep.
Bring bug spray as mosquitoes were vicious as well as the yellow jackets.
GuideSpecially 4/5 stars…campground was overall very nice and well taken care of. Site I was in was very big with plenty of space ( picnic table/fire ring) and I got a site with electric/water. The site also has a connecting trail which was nice. The roads and some spots are pretty tight and windy so 5th wheels be aware. My biggest complaint is there was not dump station (which I found odd for a campground with electric/water sites) and the showers/bathrooms were a bit grungy and I could never get hot water.
ScoutStayed here 4 nights and attended the Thing festival in Fort warden Jefferson County fairgrounds They had everything we needed to have a comfortable tent stay
GuideClean bathrooms, enough space between vehicles (we had a fairly private spot), easy to access with large car. We saw a deer in the morning in the campground. Walk down to the beach in the morning to see the tide
TravelerA very nice place. Quiet, shady and allows privacy. It is not noticeable that it was full. In the center of the circle there is a large lawn that allows children to play. Walking distance from the ocean. A quiet beach, with a beautiful view
TravelerSome of you never learned proper etiquette and it shows! Beautiful spot. Toilet paper everywhere. Peaceful… except for the trucks air braking on Highway 2; and the train… which made me question if I was being visited by some alien beings for half a second. Beautiful spot, great access to the river, whose noise washes out the majority of the ambiance killers. Secluded, sadly too dry for a fire.
GuideI generally enjoyed this location in North Cascades National Park. It is a beautiful area with hikes nearby and chilly swimming. Mosquitos weren’t bad which was a relief. However, sites at this campground are close together and not very private. It feels a bit like a carnival at times instead of camping in the woods.
We found ourselves in the middle of the Pace family reunion while visiting. Apparently all the adults coordinated and rented sites by each other for this event instead of renting a group site. The adults yelled across our site to each other, their children ran through our site to adjacent ones, and they were up and noisy by 6 AM. We also were treated to dirty looks, I’m guessing because it was their “usual spot”? They said they camped there for over 30 years so they clearly feel like it’s their private park at this point. This certainly impacted our enjoyment, and ability to relax.
In the future, we will consider a site away from the water for more privacy.
Despite the presence of bears, there was also a pretty cavalier attitude to bear safety and adherence to those rules. There were a lot of kids and adults day drinking so they just weren’t as alert as they should be. This can put those around them at greater risk for a bear encounter. A fed bear is a dead bear, so this was frustrating to witness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is Howard Miller Steelhead County Park with a 4.6-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 36 cabin camping locations near Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
