Dispersed camping near Neah Bay, Washington offers campers forested sites within the Olympic Peninsula's temperate rainforest ecosystem. Annual rainfall exceeds 100 inches in this region, creating dense moss-covered terrain and river corridors for primitive camping. Most dispersed sites require campers to navigate gravel or dirt roads that can become muddy after rainfall.
What to do
Fishing access points: The South Fork Calawah River provides good fishing spots. "Great little hikes around the site, and a Bald Eagle nest right across from where we stayed!" notes Tristan S., who recommends packing out all trash.
Beach exploration: At DNR Dispersed Campsite, campers can access shoreline areas. "We stayed 4 nights, enjoyed sunset views, beach sounds, and cool breeze right off the road!" reports one visitor who constructed a driftwood fort during their stay.
Trail connections: The Olympic Discovery Trail connects to camping areas near Camp Creek, offering hiking and biking opportunities. According to Carla S., the trail "winds through moss enchanted forest of the Washington Olympic forest. Seems to be ever changing with something new always to see."
What campers like
Riverside locations: The Forest Road 2918 Dispersed Site offers river access that campers appreciate. Michael P. describes it as "an perfect spot for a quick overnight! Clean, spacious & has an access trail to the river."
Natural isolation: Campers enjoy the secluded feeling at many sites. Tee C. describes one location as having "very pretty, quiet, mossy forest" with spots that are "not super busy" where campsites have "plenty of space."
Seasonal wildlife viewing: Some areas offer wildlife watching opportunities. One camper at South Fork Calawah River reported seeing a "Bald Eagle nest right across from where we stayed," while others mention opportunities to spot various forest animals.
What you should know
Road conditions: Vehicle clearance matters for accessing the best sites. One reviewer at Dispersed Camping NF 2918 cautioned, "I was driving a Toyota sienna with a 120 inch wheelbase and going over the edge down towards the sites I scraped the bottom of my car so be careful if you have a larger vehicle."
Cell service variability: Connectivity differs between sites. At NF 2918, "I have AT&T and there was no service at this location, my car has Verizon built-in and it was able to get a good enough service to browse Internet and stream videos."
Local traffic patterns: Some roads near primitive camping areas around Neah Bay see industrial use. A camper noted, "Logging season was in full swing when we stayed, so lots of trucks hauling off the mountain started early."
Tips for camping with families
Safer beach options: For families, Washington Beach Pulloff offers easy beach access. Alaina I. describes it as "Peaceful with no one around. Drive onto the beach and overlook Canada and the ships passing."
Space considerations: Look for sites with room to spread out. One camper at Forest Service Road 29 noted, "Last minute found this place it was nice," though they mentioned fellow campers "were up late and at 10:00 PM using a chainsaw."
River spots: Sites along rivers can entertain children with safe play areas. Alexis B. found Dispersed Camping NF 2918 perfect for their new travel trailer: "We gave this one a try, despite neither one of us being familiar with the area at all, and were absolutely delighted to find a perfect spot."
Tips from RVers
Pullout options: For RVs, Forest Service Road 29 Dispersed Camping Loop offers accessible parking. Alyson M. reports, "Just a simple loop that you can park along, no privacy from neighbors but very quiet. There were 3 big rigs and then us in the Outback. Also lots of roadside pull offs that you could park at too!"
Leveling challenges: Many RVers mention the importance of finding level spots. One camper noted they "didn't even need levels" at a large pullout when they "didn't feel comfortable driving our class C into any of the nicer, more private spots off of this road due to large potholes, ruts, etc."
Size limitations: Larger RVs face restrictions at some sites. Garrett B. warned, "We tried it in our 40ft Class A and got pretty jammed up down a narrow road... Disconnected the toad and ran around trying to find anything that would work but there was nothing for our size."
