Dispersed camping options near North Bonneville, Washington span across multiple forest service roads in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, with elevations ranging from 600 to 3,500 feet. Several camping areas cluster around creeks and small lakes within 30 minutes of town, though road conditions deteriorate quickly after leaving paved highways. Winter camping remains accessible at lower elevations when mountain passes receive snow.
What to do
Creek swimming spots: Panther Creek Creekside Camp offers several swimming areas along its cold mountain stream. "Ice cold creek, towering trees. Seemed to be lots of sites off the road to pick from," notes Alex R. Most sites are within 50 feet of water access.
Lake paddling: Forlorn Lakes provides opportunities for paddleboarding and kayaking across multiple small lakes. A camper reported, "The smaller lake this site backs up to is great for swimming and kayak/paddle-boarding." Site 17 sits directly on the largest lake with the best swimming access.
Hiking options: Trails near tent campsites near North Bonneville connect to extensive networks including the Pacific Crest Trail. From Wahtum Lake Campground, "You can hike beyond the lake which was very pretty," and another camper mentioned a "10 minute walk down a steep path and stairs to actually get to the lake."
What campers like
Private lake access: Several campsites at Forlorn Lakes offer exclusive water entry points. One camper explained, "The only way to gain access to the lakes is through the campsites (the rest of the lake is overgrown and inaccessible)." Sites 16-21 all sit on a larger lake with swimming opportunities.
Stargazing conditions: The area above Panther Creek Falls provides exceptional night sky viewing. "Super dark at night with plenty of stars," confirms Ryan J. about the dispersed camping area on the rocky ridge.
Secluded spots: Camping near North Bonneville offers isolation from crowds when timing visits correctly. At Black Lake Campground, one camper appreciated how "no one around" made it special, adding "The best campsites are those that are not crowded and you can enjoy the stillness during the day or night."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to many tent campsites near North Bonneville requires driving on rough forest roads. For Forlorn Lakes, a reviewer warned, "The road is a bit more than a gravel road, there are some large rocks and deep ruts to avoid," while another suggested, "Take it SLOWWW."
Site setup: Many campsites lack designated tent pads. At Columbia Gorge Getaways, a reviewer noted, "We brought our tent and loved it. We were amazed at how comfortable and spacious our site was along with a lovely picnic table to enjoy our meals."
Weekend crowds: Popular swimming areas fill quickly Thursday through Sunday. A reviewer cautioned about Black Lake: "Every Saturday night hordes of teenagers show up and party all night. Loud music, drunk driving, trash everywhere, reviving up engines and yelling all night."
Insect activity: Mosquitoes remain prevalent at waterside locations through summer months. At Rainy Lake Campground, a camper reported, "Visited in late June, and the weather was amazing, 15 degrees lower than in town, but the bugs and mosquitoes were overwhelming (even with deet)."
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly sites: Certain areas have better play options for children. A family at Columbia Gorge Getaways mentioned, "The kids loved running around the safe and friendly campsite and playing in the play space."
Site selection cautions: Consider terrain hazards when choosing camping areas. A camper warned about specific Panther Creek Falls spots: "If you have small children I'd not recommend this site since there is a drop off at the edge of the campsite that kids could fall down easily."
Lake swimming access: Rainy Lake Campground offers family-friendly water access within walking distance. "The lake is beautiful, small and remote feeling," noted one camper, who added it was "less than a 10 minute walk to the lake."
Cell service limitations: Most camping areas lack reliable phone connectivity. A camper at Panther Creek mentioned, "My carrier is Verizon, I didn't have any service whatsoever," which requires advance planning for families needing contact options.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for small trailers: Limited options exist for RVs and trailers in the area. At Forlorn Lakes, "Trailer access limited to this area," notes one camper regarding the lower lake sites.
Parking considerations: Many campsites require separate parking and tent setup areas. As one camper noted about Wahtum Lake Campground, "It's about a 10 minute walk down a steep path and stairs to actually get to the lake," and "the campground is a bit far from it."
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at most sites. Goose Lake Campground has "campsites all on a hill. We chose site 2 because we didn't want to pull up our big cooler up the steep hill that some of the other spots where on."
