Best Cabin Camping near Oroville, WA

We found Bonaparte Lake Campground through Dyrt when sites were not available at Curlew State Park and we needed some place in that Okanagon/Ferry County area of Washington. Part of Bonaparte Lake is available by reservation. We lucked out at the time and found what ended up being the perfect site. It had plenty of room for our A Frame trailer and truck and could have fit another vehicle on the site. The table/fire ring area was generous and private, with space for our dog to be on a 25 ft lead. In fact, the whole site was very private with the campers to the right of us at least 50 feet away from us and no one to the back of us or to the left of us directly. I guess I should stop saying how great our site was so we can get it again sometime! In our loop we only had pit toilets. In the non-reservation loop there was one restroom with flush toilets and then other pit toilets. No showers available. The non-reservation loop had lovely sites as well with some right on the lake. Our loop had lake sites, too. The camp host was amazingly helpful and friendly, giving us maps of things to do in the area. We took a loop to find old ghost towns and remnants in the area plus other loops. We tried to schedule our trip up this way in July to beat the smoke from forest fires but unfortunately due to early heat conditions and dryness forest fires started early this year. We ran into some smoke the 2nd day of our trip there but the third day was clearer. It never got bad while we were at Bonaparte Lake but just over the mountains in Oroville where we went to get gas, it was in the unhealthy range of the Air Quality Index. We will definitely go back to Bonaparte again sometime. It would make a beautiful trip in the early fall.

 My boyfriend and I stayed at Tiffany's resort this weekend , August 28, 2021, for one night at Cabin 5. We found the place dirty to the level of being worried for our health and safety and the only positive was the lake view. We arrived at 5:15 pm, we brought our stuff in the cabin and had to leave and returned at 8:00 pm. The owners leave at 5:30 pm, thus, when we came back there was no one to contact about the state of the cabin. The cabins have obviously been constructed at time when lead paint was used in these facilities. The cabin has tons of decaying wood peeling paint and obvious mold growing in and around the sink area. The caulking was little to nonexistent there was cracks in the concrete floor in the living room and bathroom, the floors were so dirty that we had to wear our shoes and there were light fixtures that did not work. The windows did not stay open and if they did they had, there were broken screens which were duck taped to seal the screen. There was a serious gap in the door which allowed the outside wind and air to enter the cabin including bugs. When we looked up at the light at night there were tons of little green flies around the light. The beds were covered with old, motel like cover, which was not clean, smelled like bio, and the bed was covered with thin sheets, on an old mattress. I checked for bed bugs... did not see anything, but who knows? All of the furniture in this cabin, was old, dirty and run down; bed side tables were missing handles. In the bathroom we found two soaps and no shampoo. The gas heater in the living room did not work, and had slimy dust in it the couches were filthy, and all stained and dusty, God knows what was on them...You would not want to bring a blue light in this cabin. There is no doubt when the facilities were originally constructed, they were fantastic and were the place to build family memories. In the review book, people reference those magical times, but now these cabins pose a serious health hazard to those hoping to enjoy the lake. There's a serious concern of mold spores, being dirty, lack of sanitation, period, not to mention the required sanitation due to COVID-19 protocols, the structures severely asked the question should they be condemned for health and safety purposes? We understand staying in a rustic cabin, we also do not mind an older cabin, but we have not agreed to pay to stay in filthy and condemned place. We rented it as a choice for staying in a tent, as the nights are getting cold and we knew we were coming in late, but this type of facility looks like something that you would find abandoned with no maintenance being done for years. And all this for the price of$118.00 plus tax, per night, when the state park across the way charges$30 a night for a tent spot and the grounds there are spotless, pristine and maintained amazingly. While the cabins are decaying slowly, the owner is building a new building and their current home, which is right on the property, oozes with the fanciness and richness of a Beverly Hills like mansion with big expensive looking signs with warning of no soliciting or trespassing on their private property with "top of the line quality" sectional on their porch. At check out we provided the feedback about the cabins. The owners were only concerned because another potential client was in the room at the same time with me and heard what I was saying about the state of the cabins. Moreover, owners continue asking me why we didn't leave when it was so bad...or why didn't we say anything. How can one provide feedback when no one is available after 5:30 pm. The owners responded that they are sorry, and as soon as I walked out, I herd them excusing themselves to the client in the room, saying that they were sorry the client had to hear what I had to say. They did not seem to see that this was a health and safety concern, especially in the world of COVID-19. We won't be back!

The Winthrop KOA is similar and on par with most other KOA campgrounds, as far amenities go. The campground is right on the Methow River which is great, however, early in the camping season the current is so swift, you would not be able to swim in it. The campground itself has a western vibe, with old wagons that you can actually rent to sleep in, log cabins, and western-style artifacts throughout. The campground is right off of the highway, so there is a little car noise during the day. At night, we didn't really notice it. With the location of the campground in Methow Valley, it can get really windy. One of the nights we were there, we had to douse our campfire because embers were flying everywhere. We had site 18 which was at the end of one of the rows and it was very spacious with a big grass area and a few trees.

We liked the location because it was close to Winthrop and many of the outdoor activities available in the area such as hiking trails, off-road tracks, fishing, kayaking, etc. The area is beautiful and has much to offer in the scenery department, even for folks that are car-bound.

General: A variety of different campsites in two sections ranging from economy to basic to popular, with and without hookups, and priced according to peak or non-peak season. There are also three cabins and two group camp areas. 

Site Quality: We are happy we were able to book a basic tent site with our campervan (there were more than a few others with RVs in these sites). Parking was on grass and not completely level, but we made it work. Each site had a picnic table and fire ring (although there was a fire ban in effect when we were there). The sites with utilities had paved camper pads. 

Bath/Shower house: Clean with soap and air dryers. The showers are free but you are asked to not use more than three button pushes. My shower in the afternoon was completely COLD and I am not sure if it was the time of day, the particular shower, or user error. My husband’s shower got hot midway through. 

Activities/Amenities: All things water-based including jet skis, water skiing, kayaking, SUP, and fishing. There is also a boat wash. There are also numerous trails used for hiking, running, and mountain biking. Other activities include volleyball and horseshoes.

Despite my cold shower and the fact that state parks are becoming increasingly pricy (with reservation and out-of-state fees, we paid $ 77 for two nights for a tent site), we enjoyed our stay here.

We are all familiar with KOA and that the company prides itself in bringing more features to their campers. But many times I have found that comes with a hefty price tag. On some occasions I have been ready to spend it and other times I have to be convinced a little more due to the location. 

When pulling into Winthrop I really wanted to find out a little more about their KOA and if it was more of a hit or miss. Themed much like the other portions of the community in western decor, the campground welcomed me immediately. I found that the rustic them of the stacked fence and the cabin like exterior of the main office was just a taste of the what was to come within the community. 

It only continued with their other offerings. They had many old pieces along the way which would be perfect for taking photos, enjoying a piece of the old west and setting the tone.

 This park offered camping for RVs and tents but also had cabins. Cost was on target for the other options in the community and came with many luxuries which others did not including a store, pool and play area. Laundry was offered at this location as well and they had kayak and boat rentals if you were wanting to go and enjoy some of the many waterways in the area. 

I really enjoyed the spacing of the sites, however many were not well covered by trees and left something to be desired. The gravel roadway was muddy from recent rain and made it a bit sloshy to get to the sites themselves. So while they were nice overall that particular thing would something I would say is a bit of a let down in comparison to the rest of the facility. 

The play area was another area which would be perfect for grabbing a few memorable photos, with oversized brightly colored chairs which could fit then entire family. Additionally they offered a nice outdoor space with patio chairs and umbrellas by the office which was a nice place to stop in and enjoy some time. 

Overall the biggest asset to this campground still laid in their proximity to the community itself. From here you can drive only a few miles and be in the middle of the historic downtown western themed community and enjoy some very unique activities. For that I would say that the benefits outweigh the downside of cost which is between$30 and$50 for tent or RV camping. 

Tips: 

• Book online in advance of your stay if you are wanting a tent site, they are more limited. 
• If you are in a larger rig, bring a detachable vehicle to navigate in town as there are not a lot of places to park larger rigs in the community itself.

Winthrop/ N Cascades NP KOA

Nice KOA! The sites are HUGE for a KOA and very well maintained. Sorta a western vibe which goes along with Winthrop City. Nice little town but somewhat tourist trappy. Not horribly so and a cool boardwalk to walk along. If you take away all the traffic and replace it with horses, etc you would almost be in an old west town. The river that meanders along the back of the campground is the stopping point for tube rentals. The river is very rocky so not enjoyable to walk along but apparently good for fishing. There are two very cool wagons that are rentable to stay in, as well as cabins. The campground was very quiet (except for the playground straight across from my site) and not busy on the weekdays we visited. On the side of the playground was a nice camp kitchen with tables and large sinks. The laundry room and shower house are in the same building. The one strange thing is the dump sites location. You have to go to the far right side near the back of the park and then drive all the way back to the front. A lot to do and it would be easy to occupy your vacation time.

Ski touring into the Snow Peak Cabin in the winter/spring has become an annual tradition for me and my friends. The cabin is cozy and well stocked with cots, chairs, pots and pans, firewood, and solar lights! All you really need to pack in besides the basic necessities are your sleeping bag, ski apres, and a good water filter. There's also some good skiing near the cabin and at Sherman Pass proper near where you park, as well as plenty of conservative terrain options if the avalanche forecast dictates that for you.

Snow Peak Cabin never disappoints so if you want to get a reservation, make sure you get on it early. Reservations are first-come-first-served at least 6 months out. If you are curious about the current conditions up there, the Panhandle Backcountry website is a great resource for you, as it frequently has the most current trip reports and observations.