Camping near Northport, Washington offers diverse backcountry experiences within the Colville National Forest at elevations reaching 4,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F during day and 50-60°F at night, with cooler conditions at higher elevations like Big Meadow Lake Campground. Water access varies significantly between locations, from small swimming lagoons to kayak-accessible waterfalls.
What to do
Kayak to waterfalls: At Boundary Dam Campground, Peewee Falls is accessible by water. "Peewee falls is only a 5 minute paddle from the campground, if that! Highly recommended!" notes Megan W. The falls are approximately 10 minutes by kayak from the beach area.
Wildlife viewing: Iron Mountain Ranch provides opportunities to observe local wildlife in natural settings. John W. reports, "I watched a mama bear and her cub on the hill beyond the cabin! Also saw deer in the driveway and the night sky was awesome with NO lights in any direction except the stars!"
Swimming: Campbell Park at Box Canyon Dam features a small swimming lagoon outside designated swimming areas where pets can access water. "This place is absolutely charming... you can find vault toilets here as well as a small swimming lagoon," writes Mac.
Fishing: Multiple lakes offer fishing opportunities with varying species. At Crescent Lake in Colville National Forest, Douglas S. notes, "It is stocked seasonally with brown and rainbow trout. I have seen MANY turtles and frogs on the shores, as well as elk, deer, bald eagles and even a bear!"
What campers like
Free camping options: Boundary Dam Campground provides no-cost camping with maintained facilities. Lisa H. states, "Absolutely beautiful! Access to so many different attractions...all free!!!" The campground underwent recent renovations with new facilities.
Privacy between sites: Despite proximity, many campsites maintain separation through natural vegetation. At Pierre Lake Campground, Eric P. explains, "Although they are fairly close together there is enough trees and brush that you feel like you're not around anybody."
Interconnected trails: Pet owners appreciate trail systems that connect camping areas. "The entire campground has trails interconnected all throughout that lead from one end of the sites to another," reports Eric P. about Pierre Lake Campground, creating convenient walking routes.
Swimming access: Campbell Park at Box Canyon Dam offers swimming opportunities. "There is a fishing/swimming pond for the kids, free firewood, one of the sites has a cute small waterfall, IN THE SITE!!!" explains Andrea R.
What you should know
Pack-out requirements: Some campgrounds require visitors to pack out all waste. At Pierre Lake Campground, "There are no garbage dumpsters on site so you must pack out what you pack in," notes Eric P.
Limited services: Most campgrounds have basic facilities without hookups. "There is no running water so you must bring your own," Beth S. advises about Big Meadow Lake Campground.
Seasonal considerations: Big Meadow Lake Campground operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day with higher elevation providing cooler temperatures. Kendra C. mentions, "Been going here since I was a kid. Fishing on this lake in a little boat will always be special to me."
Wildlife precautions: Local wildlife includes bears, deer, and occasionally cougars. Boddy P. reports from Sheep Creek Campground, "At 1255 am a big cougar walked right into our camp. I was fully prepared for bears but not a big cat."
Tips for camping with families
Life jacket availability: Campbell Park provides life jackets for children. Andrea R. notes, "The campground also provides life jackets, if your child needs one!"
Boat-accessible attractions: When camping at Boundary Dam, families can access Peewee Falls via short boat ride. Alex D. states, "Peewee falls is about a 10 minute kayak from the beach. Great stay. Definitely recommend staying during the week. Weekend traffic is intense."
Campground layout considerations: For tent camping families, site arrangement matters. At Boundary Dam, Becky explains, "There are only 6 small tent camping spots right next to the dam's bright lights. The tent sites are VERY close together so there is a lack of privacy and only 1 tent spot per site."
Fishing opportunities: Kettle River Campground offers water access for family fishing. Scott B. reports, "Beautiful river waters and some sandy beaches. The kettle river is usually good for swimming and floating from the beginning of July until the end of August. Lots of bald eagles and other birds to watch."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Most pet friendly camping near Northport requires self-sufficiency. Eric H. shares about Kettle River Campground, "We stayed here with our 21' travel trailer. There are no hookups so we brought our generator and made sure we had a full tank of water."
Site size limitations: Many campgrounds have smaller sites than advertised. "The paved parking was quite small for the 'max vehicle length' rating. This left us using every inch of pavement we had," explains Eric H.
Site separation: Despite basic facilities, RV sites often maintain decent spacing. Mitchell F. notes about Kettle River, "This was a clean and well maintained campground. Only 12 sites most of which are right off the bank of the Kettle River. There was some space between most of the sites."
Upper Columbia options: For full-hookup requirements, Upper Columbia RV Park and Campground provides complete services. Andrew F. states, "We had a great experience here. The owner Ralph is very affable and helped us get to our site the first night as well as drove my car back for me from the canoe launch site."