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.
