Riffe Lake and Mayfield Lake form the watery heart of camping options near Onalaska, Washington, sitting at elevations between 750 and 1,200 feet in the Cascades foothills. This region features a temperate climate with summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F during peak camping season from May through September. Winter camping is limited as many campgrounds close seasonally, though a few like Ike Kinswa remain open year-round with reduced services.
What to do
Fishing at Mayfield Lake Park: Located just 15 minutes from Onalaska, the park offers excellent trout fishing opportunities with a dedicated fishing dock. "Fishing is good for trout out on the water. All camp sites are clean and ready when you arrive," notes Eric P. from Mayfield Lake Park.
Explore old-growth forests: Lewis & Clark State Park features remarkable stands of ancient forest with interpretive trails. "This is a lovely park with beautiful trails that wind through very large, old growth cedar forests. The Rangers and the campground hosts were very friendly and helpful," writes Theresa R.
Kayaking at Alder Lake Park: The lake offers protected areas specifically for non-motorized watercraft. "There's even a protected kayaking area that goes up the river. We found a lovely beach up there to explore," shares Bonnie H. from Ike Kinswa State Park.
Lake swimming: Mayfield Lake Park maintains a designated swimming area perfect for cooling off during hot summer days. "This campground is on Mayfield lake there is something for everyone here. It has a large swimming area, hiking trails, playgrounds, boating, fishing just to name a few," reports Rick S.
What campers like
Private, wooded sites at Thousand Trails Chehalis: Located about 25 minutes from Onalaska, this campground offers secluded camping spots. "Our site has electricity and water hook up. The site was level and backed up to a creek that was down below the site. The stay site was quiet, no one camping on our driver side," explains Jeff C.
Well-maintained facilities: Campers consistently mention the cleanliness of facilities at campgrounds throughout the Onalaska area. "The bathrooms were super clean as well as the showers. Valerie came up with just a phone call. Got us hooked up and mentioned a seniors discount if we qualified," notes adelia from Mayfield Lake Park.
Lakefront campsites: At Mayfield Lake, waterfront sites allow direct boat access. "We were able to reserve a lakefront spot. We were able to beach our boat right in front of our spot. Our spot was very quiet," shares Russ H.
Wildlife viewing: Winston Creek Campground offers excellent opportunities for quiet nature observation. "Just got done spending a 3 day weekend camping here. It was very relaxing and the extremely hot weather we had it was nice to have the shaded stream to cool off in," writes Allen D.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds in the area fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. "The biggest downfall is that this place books up so fast. Make reservations early," advises Rick S. about Ike Kinswa State Park.
Water quality notices: Some campgrounds occasionally issue water advisories. "Throughout camp I did encounter a slight concern with using this bathhouse because there was a current e coli water warning which was displayed throughout camp on all water spigots," notes Crystal C. from Lewis & Clark State Park.
Varying prices: Campsite fees range widely based on location, amenities, and season. "If not camping here, it is $5 to dump. About 40 miles from campsite to main visitor center for Mt St Helens," explains Carol from Seaquest State Park.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies greatly between campgrounds. "No cell reception is sketchy at best. A fair number of run down campers. Clubhouse, showers, bathrooms were clean," reports Ella T. from Thousand Trails Chehalis.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "Kids are helping review campgrounds we visited this summer. They loved that there was scavenger hunts for pigs in morning, tractor rides in afternoon, face painting, slushees, movie in lodge, crafts," shares Nicole R. from Thousand Trails Chehalis.
Cabin options for pet friendly camping: For families bringing pets who prefer not to tent camp, cabins provide comfort while maintaining outdoor access. "This camping spot has easy water access and I never find that it is too busy. The camping is on gravel so make sure to bring THICK pads if sleeping on the ground," advises Bree G. from Mayfield Lake Park.
Junior Ranger programs: Seaquest State Park offers excellent educational activities. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained. She was great at engaging all the kids and teaching them about the park," reports Ashley B.
Beach access considerations: Some lake beaches near Onalaska have rocky shorelines. "The beach itself is pretty rocky, not ideal for just playing in, but great for SUP or boat access. North side also gets substantially less shade so be thoughtful when setting up your tent if you are the napping type," warns Perla H. from Mossyrock Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy: RV campers recommend researching specific sites before booking. "We stayed in the upper loop site 13. The large site could easily fit a couple of tents, and still had a decent view of the lake! Pros: Campground location is right on the lake, playground, swim area, boat launch," shares Tiffany T. from Mayfield Lake Park.
Power considerations: Some older campgrounds have electrical issues. "The worst part for us, however, was that the power was really variable. Sometimes it would spike to 130 volts and then drop suddenly to 110. Luckily we have a great EMS and it alerted us to the problem," cautions Marnie G. about Thousand Trails Chehalis.
Highway noise awareness: RV sites closest to major roads experience traffic noise. "The eight full hook up sites sat right on a very busy highway with loud logging trucks going by. It did quiet down at night however," notes Theresa R. from Lewis & Clark State Park.
Limited large rig access: Not all campgrounds accommodate bigger RVs. "I would not want to come in here with anything much bigger than our little 20 footer. There were other sites that would easily fit bigger rigs, but the trees were pretty close on each side and some were leaning over the path," advises Doug from Winston Creek Campground.
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