Best Dispersed Camping near Olga, WA

Dispersed camping near Olga, Washington is limited to a few primitive boat-in and hike-in sites across DNR and state park lands in the surrounding San Juan Islands area. Point Doughty offers three non-reservable primitive sites accessible only by boat, situated on Department of Natural Resources land. Hope Island Marine State Park provides additional boat-in dispersed camping options with very limited facilities. Pine Lake Campground offers hike-in primitive camping opportunities. These areas operate under permit requirements rather than the typical 14-day stay limits found on mainland public lands.

Access to these dispersed camping locations requires watercraft or hiking capability, as most sites cannot be reached by vehicle. Point Doughty features a steep, challenging path from the beach to the campsites with reports of difficult terrain. During low tide, the rocky shoreline can damage kayaks, though a small launch path exists. Hope Island is similarly accessible only by boat, with paddlers cautioned to check tide and wind reports before attempting the crossing. These sites generally provide minimal amenities, with most offering only basic pit toilets and fire rings. Permits are required for all locations, contrary to typical dispersed camping on mainland public lands.

The dispersed sites around Olga provide unique marine camping experiences with considerable wildlife viewing opportunities. At Point Doughty, campers report seeing orcas, stellar sea lions, harbor seals, and various seabirds. "For such a fabulous location, this campground is woefully behind the times," noted one visitor regarding the facilities at Point Doughty. Hope Island offers a more secluded experience, with one camper reporting, "We had the place to ourselves" except for the resident raccoons. The island features a trail circling its perimeter with scenic views. Pine Lake Campground, while offering primitive sites, experiences high foot traffic. "You will be interrupted 500 times a day with walkers who use the trail and want to go straight through your site," according to visitor feedback. Walker Valley ORV Recreation Area provides additional dispersed options, though with minimal documented facilities.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Olga, Washington (4)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Olga, WA

3 Photos of 4 Olga Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Olga, WA

4 Reviews of 4 Olga Campgrounds


  • Jill R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2019

    Point Doughty

    DNR site badly in need of care

    For such a fabulous location, this campground is woefully behind the times. Compared to other Cascade Water Trails locations under the WA State Parks jurisdiction that are clean and now sport awesome composting toilets, Point Doughty under the Department of Natural Resources has a particularly horrible pit toilet that you have to scramble up a bluff to get to. I understand a storm took out the stairs a while back and it's obvious there's been some activity to get stairs rebuilt. However, it's impossible as of this writing to get any gear from the beach to the campsites on the bluff. I wound up camping on the beach as I was in my kayak and there were no other options nearby. Actually the beach was quite pleasant as 2 orca whales cavorted just 100' off and a stellar sea lion, harbor seals and many sea bird varieties provided fantastic entertainment.

  • Pat M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2019

    Point Doughty

    Point

    3 non-reservable sites are available on Washington area preserve land. The path up to the sites is steep and slippery with loose dirt but there’s a rope to help out. Looks like they started to build steps, who knows if it will get finished. Not recommended for hauling myriad items up from kayaks. The restroom is a vault toilet that lacked toilet paper and was quite unsavory. We brought a couple rolls from Sucia to help out. During low side it is very rocky and tough on fiberglass kayaks, but there’s a small path that can launch one or two kayaks at a time. There’s a couple short paths to explore the area, and an epic view at the tip of the point. Best used for small groups and simple camping.

  • Pat M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2019

    Point Doughty

    Gamble for a view

    Only 3 non-reservable sites with tables and fire pits on DNR land. The path up to the sites from the beach is very steep and slippery on the dirt but there is a rope to help. Looks like they’re trying to create a stairway in the future. Not recommended if you need to haul myriad items up to the campground. One vault toilet had no toilet paper and was quite unsavory. We grabbed some rolls from Sucia to restock it for people. There is an epic view with short trails to walk around though.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Pine Lake Campground

    Busy with walkers

    Cute sites, but you will be interrupted 500 times a day with walkers who use the trail and want to go straight through your site.


Guide to Olga

Rustic camping near Olga, Washington primarily involves marine environments and watercraft access due to the island geography of the San Juan archipelago. The area sits in a rain shadow created by the Olympic Mountains, receiving only 20-25 inches of annual rainfall compared to Seattle's 37 inches. This creates relatively dry camping conditions during summer months, though temperatures rarely exceed 75°F even in July and August.

What to do

Wildlife observation opportunities: Point Doughty offers exceptional marine wildlife viewing with minimal crowds. "Actually the beach was quite pleasant as 2 orca whales cavorted just 100' off and a stellar sea lion, harbor seals and many sea bird varieties provided fantastic entertainment," reports one visitor to Point Doughty.

Island exploration: The trail network at Hope Island allows for complete circumnavigation of the small island, offering varied terrain and coastal views. A camper notes, "Beautiful views with a trail that circles the island. There were some sea lions swimming around in the area but never actually approached the land." Hope Island Marine State Park provides this unique island walking experience.

Kayaking: The San Juan Islands create protected waterways for paddling between campsites, though weather conditions require planning. "The waters were pretty rough so I would recommend for anyone planning to stay here to look into the waters, tide and wind report the day of," advises a camper who paddled to Hope Island.

What campers like

Solitude: Many dispersed camping areas offer remarkable privacy despite limited sites. One Hope Island camper reports, "we ended up being the only people on the island," highlighting the potential for truly secluded experiences even during peak season.

Shoreline access: Direct beach access creates opportunities for wildlife observation and marine activities. At Point Doughty, one camper found the beach "quite pleasant" despite challenges accessing the upper camping area, noting the excellent wildlife viewing compensated for facility limitations.

Rustic experience: Pine Lake Campground offers basic sites with vault toilets and no other amenities, creating a primitive camping environment. One camper described the area as having "cute sites" though noted the high foot traffic through camp areas.

What you should know

Difficult terrain: Access to many sites requires significant effort. Point Doughty campsites present particular challenges as "The path up to the sites from the beach is very steep and slippery on the dirt but there is a rope to help. Looks like they're trying to create a stairway in the future."

Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites offer minimal amenities. "One vault toilet had no toilet paper and was quite unsavory," notes a Walker Valley ORV Recreation Area visitor, indicating the need to bring all supplies, including toilet paper.

Wildlife encounters: Beyond marine observations, campers should prepare for local wildlife interactions. At Hope Island, campers report, "there were raccoons on the island with us but other than that we had the place to ourselves."

Water transportation: Most dispersed camping requires boat access. One camper suggests, "Rent kayaks (or bring your own) at Boston Harbor in Olympia. It's a short trip to the island, which is only accessible by boat."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection: Choose camping areas with gentler terrain for easier access with children and gear. A Point Doughty visitor advises, "Not recommended for hauling myriad items up from kayaks," suggesting families seek alternative locations with easier shore-to-camp transitions.

Pack light: Limited access means carefully selecting essential gear. "Not recommended if you need to haul myriad items up to the campground," notes a camper about Hope Island Marine State Park, highlighting the importance of minimalist packing.

Safety preparations: Check weather and water conditions before attempting boat-in camping with children. "It's a short trip to the island, which is only accessible by boat. I was worried, with only four camping spots, that we wouldn't get one," shares one camper who successfully navigated the logistics.

Tips from RVers

Alternate accommodation: The dispersed camping near Olga isn't suitable for RVs, requiring vehicle travelers to seek established campgrounds on larger islands. Non-vehicle accessible sites like Pine Lake are "Cute sites, but you will be interrupted 500 times a day with walkers who use the trail and want to go straight through your site."

Day trips: RV campers staying at developed campgrounds can access rustic camping areas via day hikes or boat rentals. Several locations offer kayak rentals for day trips to otherwise inaccessible camping areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Olga, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Olga, WA is Point Doughty with a 2.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Olga, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 dispersed camping locations near Olga, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.