S
Shannon W.
Traveler
TravelerBay View State Park Campground
We stay at bay view when ever we are in the area. Staff is great & the views are beautiful.
Tent Camping near Nooksack, WA
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Tent campsites near Nooksack, Washington range from primitive forest camping to backcountry lakeside sites with views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. Hidden Meadow Retreat provides tent camping in a private meadow setting, while Pine and Cedar Lakes Primitive Camping offers a more secluded backcountry experience accessible via a short hike from Bellingham. Several tent-friendly areas in the region feature varying terrain, from lakeside sites to forested campsites with mountain views.
Surface details at tent campgrounds range from compacted dirt to forest duff, with most sites featuring minimal grading. Many primitive tent sites lack amenities, with facilities limited to fire rings, though Hidden Meadow Retreat provides picnic tables and a compost toilet. Several backcountry tent areas prohibit fires during summer burn bans, and campers should verify current restrictions before arrival. Pine and Cedar Lakes primitive campsites require a short but steep hike, with no toilets available. A visitor commented, "Steep but short hike, but hey, it's close to town! A 15 minute drive from downtown Bellingham and you get yourself a secluded, quiet lake."
In early fall, tent camping areas offer cooler temperatures and less crowded experiences. The primitive tent sites at Cedar Lake provide bigger and flatter spaces for tents compared to Pine Lake, with log benches marking designated sites. Campers traveling to Blue Lake BackCountry Campsites should note additional access challenges. A review mentioned, "The bridge over the Nooksack River on Forest service road 12 has been out for the last few years...to get to Blue Lake you have three extra miles of road to walk before the trailhead." Most backcountry tent sites in the region lack running water, so campers must filter lake water or bring their own supply. Mt. Baker Highway provides access to additional primitive tent camping opportunities, with many sites offering views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan for those willing to hike to more remote locations.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Nooksack (46)
1. Hidden Meadow Retreat
"Campground review: https://www.hipcamp.com/washington/hidden-meadow-retreat/hidden-meadow-retreat)
[Hidden Meadow Retreat](https://www.hipcamp.com/washington/hidden-meadow-retreat/hidden-meadow-retreat"
Check Availabilityfrom $30 / night
3. Pine and Cedar Lakes Primitive Camping
"Steep but short hike, but hey, it's close to town! A 15 minute drive from downtown Bellingham and you get yourself a secluded, quiet lake."
"Close to Bellingham, no bay views but nice scenery, little lake, and dense forest nonetheless. Good steep trails nearby and charming boardwalks."
4. Mt. Baker Highway (SR 542)
5. Cedar Lake Campsite
"One north and one south of the lake. A few good level sites and some built in benches. No fires permitted and a few fishing spots if you are daring."
6. Mountain Lake Campground — Moran State Park
"The way the campsites are tiered allows for a sense of seclusion even with neighbors on all sides. "
"We were in site 22, right on the water (but also right next to the access road.) There is a lovely 3 mile hike around the lake with a fun bridge to jump off of to swim."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $12 - $23 / night
7. Lily and Lizard Lakes
"Spent one night at Lizard Lake. Only 4 campsites there and all really close to each other. All the sites had a fire ring, bench and a flat area to set up your tent."
"A good one or two night backpacking experience. There is no overnight parking at the top lot that is half way up the trail, so you have to park on Chuckanut drive."
8. Clark Island Marine State Park — Clark Island Marine State Park
"This is yet another Washington Sate Park in their Marine Island system. Clark Island offers a nice, large rocky beach that makes it easy to beach your boats to set up camp."
"I recently did a solo kayak trip around Orcas Island, WA and Clark was my first stop. I've camped on this island before so was looking forward to visiting again."
9. Sucia Island Marine State Park Campground
"Madrona trees around every corner. And your choice between perfect privacy or a few neighbors. This island is amazing!"
"The Caves are fun to climb around in and have a fun history of hiding smugglers."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $70 / night
10. Obstruction Pass State Park Campground
"My twelve year old wanted to try backpacking, but not hike too far. My wife didn't want us to get eaten by bears. The solution? Obstruction Pass!"
"I kayaked in to this campground and though it's an awesome location it was a bit disappointing."
Check Availabilityfrom $12 / night
Drive Time
- 23 min from Bellingham, WA
- 47 min from Mount Vernon, WA
- 1 hr 40 min from Seattle, WA
- 2 hrs 38 min from Bremerton, WA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Nooksack, WA
42 Photos of 46 Nooksack Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Hidden Meadow Retreat
Pine and Cedar Lakes Primitive Camping
Cedar Groves Rural CampgroundE
Park Butte Trailhead
Mountain Lake Campground — Moran State Park
Blue Lake BackCountry Campsites
Obstruction Pass State Park Campground
Baker Lake Road Dispersed Campsite
Odlin County Park Camping - Lopez Island
Shaw Island County ParkG
Jones Island Marine State Park Campground
Lazy H Farm and GardensZ
Tent Camping Reviews near Nooksack, WA
706 Reviews of 46 Nooksack Campgrounds
- LLori M.
GuideMountain Lake Campground — Moran State Park
Fabulous location
What a wonderful spot for boating and hiking. There are several trail options and the boat put in (electric or paddle only) is steps away. The loop is small and sites and the sites are fairly close together, but it is worth it for the access. If you can get an outer loop site you will have a lake view out your door. The first few sites around the loop has some sun this time of year and the rest are mostly shade, but that is the northwest! Note that mice are pesty here - I had 3 make themselves at home in my van so be careful if you have any access holes (I will be fixing mine from where the heater was installed) or if you plan to leave the doors open. Pit toilets are really clean, and there is water, garbage and recycling.
When I made my reservation all the sites were taken, but the first night there were only 3 of us in the loop. Last night is was nearly full, but thankfully the sites right next to me were both open. It was pretty smoky from the fires and you could hear everything fellow campers were up to, so if it was packed and there were any loud groups it would be pretty miserable.
stacy J.
ScoutWest Beach Resort
Beautiful spot on Orcas Island. Do be aware there is a ferry ride and you need a reservation and it can be expensive depending on the size of your rig. Water and 30 amp electric. Clean bathrooms and showers. Cute café and the best sunset on the island.
- LLori M.Guide
Odlin County Park Camping - Lopez Island
A real gem
I had the great fortune of being here off season, and there were very few fellow campers. Many campsites are right on the water and there is a great mix of car camping and walk-in sites. There is a group site, and some short hiking trails. The beauty is the beach and water and the amazing night sky. The pit toilets are clean and it is a laid back place. During the busy season the beach sites would be tight. Very few van/trailer sites so pay attention to the website because it has everything g you need to know.
- TTeresa A.
LegendWashington Park Campground
Overnight stay
Great spot to stay while visiting the area. There are trails to hike and wildlife to observe in camp. We needed to charge batteries so opted for a full hook-up site. The sites are nestled in the trees giving you some privacy from other campers. One thing to note is that the main restrooms are already closed for the season. Half the available restroom/shower combinations for the TH and boat ramp were closed as well. I spoke with a camp host who stated they were having vandalism problems and were in need of repairs to the drainage systems so they opted to close them early. The water in the CG was still on and the dump station was also operational.
Overall a great place to stay while visiting Anacortes. - TTeresa A.Legend
Lower Sandy - Winter Only Dispersed
Two nights
We spent two nights at this small campground. It is free in off season. There is a vault toilet but no other amenities. Sites were clean and in good condition.
Baker Lake TH is a few miles up the road for more exploring. - MMATTHEW R.
RangerThousand Trails Mount Vernon
Rest Area- 8 HR limit
Decent option if you’re traveling down 5. Seems like a popular spot so some safety in numbers. There’s a similar rest area on the other side for those traveling north
- FFrank N.Scout
Swinomish Casino & Lodge RV Park
Meh! Adequate
It’s prolly a good spot if you are here for the Casino. If not, it’s a good spot for a break along the way to someplace cool. The RV park it self has the basics. The view is okay. I’ve been by here several times and there is generally a sewage smell. My one night stay was no different. The reason I’ve been by here several times is there is a pretty massive field if you have a dog. Fun to watch mine run wild and get some exercise.
Amy W.LegendBaker Pull-Off
Great group tent spot
Potential for being a non stop dust bath. I lucked out and came to this soot after it rained so the dirt road was wet. My van is right on the side of the road. If the ground is dusty, that could be rough time with the dust. LOTS of cars driving past. Even a few throughout the night. If you are in a tent, I dont think it would be too bad as the tent areas are down closer to the water. It looks like room for 1 larger tent and maybe a smaller tent on even ground.
Not too bad on the bug situation.
Ground is very rocky so no place to dig a bathroom. Remember NOT to leave your poopoo and TP. Thats disgusting and the next camper doesnt want to deal with that. You are ruining it for everyone else. (I hate that this needs to be addressed in reviews now) 2 miles up the road at the trail head has pit toilets
Nice access to the lake. If it wasnt so cold and rainy I definitely would have gotten the paddle board out.
I would say theres around 15-20 spots along this road. We made it to the end, its a trail head and it had a few large rigs down there set up for the night.
Guide to Nooksack
Tent campsites near Nooksack, Washington range from basic forest sites to secluded backcountry locations amid the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. At elevations between 500-1200 feet, campers can access primitive sites that offer seasonal weather variations, with warm, dry summers and wet, cool winters. Many tent camping areas in this northwestern corner of Washington require preparation for mud and standing water during spring camping.
What to do
Explore boardwalks and lakes: Pine and Cedar Lakes Primitive Camping features "cute boardwalks to explore" with opportunities for fishing in the small lakes. A camper noted, "This is a great campsite. It's at the end of a short but steep hike. There are a few campsites along the lakes, but the best one is on the island at Pine lake. There is a boardwalk that gets you there."
Wildlife viewing: At Clark Island Marine State Park, campers can observe marine wildlife from their tent sites. One visitor reported, "I enjoyed an evening of humpback whales blowing in the channel to the east of me." The island provides excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting despite occasional noise from nearby shipping channels.
Hiking mountain trails: Campsites along Mt. Baker Highway serve as base camps for accessing trail networks with varying difficulty levels. The highway corridor offers access points to trails leading to alpine meadows and mountain views, with many primitive tent sites available for overnight stays during summer and early fall.
What campers like
Easy access to water: Campers at Lily and Lizard Lakes appreciate the combination of easy hiking and lakeside camping. A visitor remarked, "All the sites had a fire ring, bench and a flat area to set up your tent. The hike up is pretty easy but the only water source is from the lakes which is not the cleanest water so bring a good filter."
Private farm settings: Hidden Meadow Retreat offers a different tent camping experience on private farmland. A camper described, "The campsites themselves are spread out from each other. You have to drive down a dirt road straight back through the property and over a quaint bridge to the meadow. The spot had a nice fire pit with stumps to sit on, a grill, a picnic table and a garbage can."
Island camping options: Those willing to boat or kayak can access Sucia Island Marine State Park, where tent sites provide unique island experiences. A reviewer shared, "Fox Cove is on the southwest side of the island and one of the smallest coves that has mooring and camping sites. Shallow Bay is the second largest cove on Sucia, there are group camping sites, multiple nice beaches and lots of camp site options."
What you should know
Steep access trails: Many tent sites require uphill hiking on uneven terrain. Cedar Lake campsites have "a high hike. Straight up. There are two sites. One north and one south of the lake. A few good level sites and some built in benches. No fires permitted and a few fishing spots if you are daring."
Limited facilities: Most primitive tent camping areas have minimal or no amenities. At Pine and Cedar Lakes, there are "no toilets, but pets allowed. Bring bug spray! Swimming is possible if you don't harm any shoreplants on your way in."
First-come-first-serve policies: Most backcountry tent sites cannot be reserved. A camper recommends, "my recommendation is to check for burn bans (so you know if you should bring fire wood) and arrive early as these sites are first come first serve."
Tips for camping with families
Choose short hike-in options: Obstruction Pass State Park provides good entry-level backpacking for families. A parent explained, "My twelve year old wanted to try backpacking, but not hike too far. My wife didn't want us to get eaten by bears. The solution? Obstruction Pass! The hike is short, the campsites are good, and there is a pit toilet, unlike some other backpacking options."
Look for flat tent areas: When camping with children, seek out the more level sites. At Cedar Lake, the campsites are "bigger and flatter" compared to other nearby options, making them more suitable for family tents.
Plan water supplies: With limited water sources at most tent sites, families need to bring sufficient water or filtration equipment. One camper at Lily and Lizard Lakes noted the lake water "is not the cleanest water so bring a good filter."
Tips from RVers
Consider small RV parks: For RVers seeking proximity to tent camping areas, Norwest RV Park offers basic amenities with "small spaces but they are level and the price is right!"
Use RV parks as base camps: While many tent sites are inaccessible to RVs, staying at an RV park provides a convenient base for day trips to nearby hiking trails and lakes. Most RV parks in the area are within 30-45 minutes of popular tent camping trailheads.
Plan for limited hookups: RV camping near Nooksack often means compromising on amenities. Many smaller RV sites have water and electric hookups but limited or no sewer connections, requiring careful tank management for multi-day stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular tent campsite near Nooksack, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Nooksack, WA is Hidden Meadow Retreat with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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What is the best site to find tent camping near Nooksack, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 46 tent camping locations near Nooksack, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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