Cabins near Napavine provide access to both Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier. Situated at approximately 150 feet elevation, the area experiences mild summers with temperatures in the 60-70°F range and cool, often rainy winters. Several campgrounds maintain year-round cabin accommodations, though winter visitors should prepare for temperatures that frequently drop into the 40s.
What to do
Fishing access: Silver Lake Resort offers multiple fishing opportunities from cabin sites. "Silver Lake is one of the best Large-mouth Bass fishing lakes in Washington State. We also have a lot of Crappie, Trout, Perch, Bluegill, Catfish, Warmouth, Pumpkin Seed, and two kinds of Carp," notes one camper.
Lake recreation: Waterfront cabin areas at Mayfield Lake Park provide immediate boat access. A visitor mentioned, "We were able to reserve a lakefront spot. We were able to beach our boat right in front of our spot." Boat rentals are available at several resorts if you don't bring your own.
Hiking trails: Multiple trail networks connect cabin areas to viewpoints and water features. "There are ample trails throughout the park including a lovely trail along the lake, which is not far from the campground," writes a visitor to Millersylvania State Park. Winter cabin users will find many trails remain accessible year-round, though often muddy.
What campers like
Proximity to attractions: Seaquest State Park Campground cabins place visitors close to Mount St. Helens. "This is a campground on one of the roads leading to Mt. Saint Helen's. It was a decent sized campground with RV spots, tent spots, group spots, and walk-in spots," notes one reviewer.
Wooded privacy: Cabins at Ike Kinswa State Park Campground offer forest settings. "The campground is heavily wooded which is really nice for shade, though it can make it tricky to get into a spot if you have slide outs," a camper observed. Many visitors appreciate the separation between sites despite overall campground capacity.
Winter accessibility: Many cabins remain open and comfortable during colder months. "We finally got one for Thanksgiving weekend! The park is on their winter schedule so only sites 1-7 and 226-248 were open. It made for a nice, quiet weekend even though the open sites were 80% full," wrote a winter visitor about Millersylvania State Park.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Cabins require advance booking, especially during peak periods. "This place books up so fast. Make reservations early," advises a visitor to Ike Kinswa State Park.
Price variations: Cabin costs fluctuate significantly based on amenities and season. American Heritage Campground offers military discounts for nightly reservations. "Last minute trip and the host was amazing making an exception for us having 3 dogs (2 dog limit). Military discount for nightly reservations," reports one camper.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely between properties. "No cell reception is sketchy at best," notes a visitor to Thousand Trails Paradise RV Campground. Another camper at Millersylvania reported, "We had decent service for Verizon," showing the inconsistency between carriers and specific locations.
Tips for camping with families
Family programming: Thousand Trails Chehalis offers structured activities for children. "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, slushees, a great store, basketball court, pools," shared one parent.
Playground access: Several parks maintain playground equipment near cabin areas. "My kids loved walking the trails and riding their bikes around the loops. Everyone is courteous, there are bathrooms nearby, and the campsites are semi-private," reports a family staying at Ike Kinswa State Park.
Educational opportunities: Junior Ranger programs operate at select parks. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained. She was great at engaging all the kids and teaching them about the park, highly recommend this for anyone bringing kids," wrote a visitor to Seaquest State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: For cabins near water, specific location matters. "Some sites are beautiful with woods separating the sites and level spaces. Others are in the open with very slanted spaces," explains an RVer at Thousand Trails Chehalis.
Power considerations: Electrical reliability varies between cabin sites. A visitor to Silver Lake Resort suggests, "Check out other parks in the immediate area for 1/2 or less than 1/2 of the price." Others note fluctuations in power delivery at some locations, particularly during high-demand periods.
Winter preparation: Cabins with wood stoves require specific planning. When temperatures drop, bring additional bedding beyond what's provided. Many cabins maintain level access even in poor weather, though some access roads may become challenging after heavy precipitation.
