Best Tent Camping near Republic, WA

Tent campsites near Republic, Washington provide access to the remote wilderness of northeastern Washington's Colville National Forest. Sherman Pass Overlook Campground and Highland Glenn Ranch offer established tent camping options with varying amenities. Ten Mile Campground and Ferry Lake Campground provide additional tent-specific sites in the Republic area, though these locations have restrictions on fires and pets.

Most primitive tent campgrounds in the Republic area feature basic amenities like picnic tables and vault toilets, but limited services beyond these essentials. Sherman Pass Overlook Campground provides drinking water during its operating season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, while many other sites require campers to bring their own water supply. According to one visitor, "Cool sleeping at this elevation when hot weather persists in lower lands." Fire restrictions are common at several tent sites, including Ten Mile Campground and Ferry Lake Campground, requiring campers to plan alternative cooking methods. Sites typically include cleared tent pads under forest cover, though surface conditions vary from compacted dirt to natural forest floor.

Areas farther from town offer deeper seclusion for backcountry tent camping experiences. Long Lake near Tonasket provides tent-only camping with lake access in a quiet setting. A review mentioned it as "very quiet, small lake, boat launch, outhouse." Higher elevation tent sites like those at Sherman Pass provide cooler temperatures during summer months when lower elevations experience heat. The region offers opportunities for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing directly from tent campsites. Tent campers should note that cell service is limited or non-existent at most primitive camping locations in the national forest, allowing for a true disconnection from urban environments. Seasonal considerations include potential snow at higher elevations through late spring and early summer.

Best Tent Sites Near Republic, Washington (47)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Republic, WA

162 Reviews of 47 Republic Campgrounds


  • Andrea R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2019

    North Gorge Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

    Ranger Review: GCI Outdoor Recliner chair at North Gorge Campground

    Ranger Review: GCI Outdoor Recliner chair at North Gorge Campground

    Campground review:

    North Gorge is a sleepy little place. Small campground with a small boat launch. There isn't a lot of parking so beware if you bring your truck and trailer here. The sites are small, seemed to be a decent amount of space between them. Vault toilets, well maintained. each site has your standard picnic table, and fire ring. There was a burn ban in August, no fires for us. They actually zip tied no fire signs to each fire pit. There are only a few sites, most for tent camping only, however there are a few that will fit a trailer or rv. It is $9 in the off season Nov 1st to May 30th, and $18 in the peak season

    **Product review: **

    **https://www.gcioutdoor.com/folding-recliners/outdoor-recliner/
    **

    As a Ranger for the Dyrt, sometime I get to test out awesome products in exchange for an honest review. The GCI outdoor Recliner is well built with quality materials. It is easy to slide in and out of the large storage back. easy to set up and take down. I love the mesh back, it helps to keep you cool in those hot summer days. The chair has 3 reclining positions and my favorite part was reclining the chair all the way to look at the stars, it gives the perfect angle. I also love the storage pocket on the back. just fold up the storage bag and put it in the pocket for a pillow. It has a cup holder, but I wasn't a big fan of the placement. I give this chair an 8/10.

  • Andrea R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 3, 2019

    Lake Ellen Campground

    Cute, not super private, but there is only 13 sites.

    The spaces were quite large and not very shaded. The lake is nice, but you can't see it from any of the campsites. Lake Ellen West is by far better. If you go down the road a little, there is a beautiful view of the lake. Vault toilets, picnic tables and fire rings are available. There are also dumpsters.

  • Nathan H.
    Jul. 12, 2020

    Curlew Lake State Park Campground

    Pines, Ospreys, Rocky Cliffs, and Sunsets

    Based on visit in August of 2019. The lake had a pretty significant bloom of algae and a lot of mill weed at this time, but it was still a great visit.

    The lake and surrounding area is gorgeous. If coming from the West I recommend taking Hwy 2 across the Cascades then take Hwy 21 north across the Columbia (via the free Keller Ferry) and all the way to the Lake. The whole stretch of Hwy 21 between the border and Columbia is one of the best in the PNW. Take Hwy 20 back from Republic for more splendor.

    Decent-sized IGA for groceries, convenience stores, and a few restaurants in Republic nearby

    This is a big campground on a big lake, but the three loops help to create three different experiences. We camped in #79, one of seven tent sites on the somewhat isolated lower loop. All of the sites on the lakeside of this loop are pretty large and nice. Save for a few trees there isn't a lot separating each site and all are visible from the lake, so not exactly private either. South of the park are cabins across the bay that you can see and hear. During the day there is a lot of activity on the water, including speedboats blasting Nickelback (it is close to Canada).

    Over a little hill from the lower loop is swimming beach and day-use area. This area was pretty busy with locals as the temperatures hit 100 during our visit. The bathroom has pay showers, outlets, and was recently renovated. Plan your showers for the morning or evening.

    The middle loop is on top of hill that has a wooded slope on the lakeside. There are two distinct areas here, one is literally a loop of sites on grass in classic WA State Parks fashion. The other section is series of 10 or so sites on the hillside and in the woods that you have to park and walk into. The sites were all different sizes and distances from each other. More privacy here, but there is a trail just above the shore that runs by many of them, so keep your shorts on.

    The upper loop is the largest and has mix of RV and drive-up sites in a little valley ringed by walk-in sites on top of the hill. Note that from the sites in the valley you can't really see the lake but there are scattered trees to provide some shade. Not my cup of tea, but there is another shower area and a little store operated by the hosts that had ice, wood, and some frozen treats.

    Back to our experience: the lower loop is on edge of a small bay and natural marshland. We had a clear view of an Osprey nest (see pictures) that the hillside trails goes right by.

    In addition to the Ospreys we saw many birds drawn to the marsh and trees, several kinds of fish, turtles, and nutria in the water. In addition to a few red squirrels we also were visited by a tiny skunk who sauntered up through the reeds on the hillside to lick the griddle I left on the ground by our table (always clean up, folks). It left without incident, but I was glad we didn't have out dog with us or else things could have ended quickly.

    In the area are hikes in the Kettle River Range, the Ferry County Rail Trail (which I want to check out next time), and numerous back roads to explore. Because of the heat we did some trips in the van up to the border, Ranald MacDonald State Park (smallest in the state), Swan Lake, the city of Curlew, and of course the ice cream serving establishments of Republic.

    I wish the lake would have been more pleasant to be in, that's the only reason for the 4 star review. I'm not sure if it is like that every year, so I would contact the park office or check on social media to see.

  • Andrea R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 1, 2019

    Kettle River Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

    Super small. Doesn't get much use

    Seems much like a lot of the campgrounds in the Colville National Forest. Really quiet, there was nobody there but us! Vault toilets, picnic tables and fire rings at every site! The wildlife viewing is always nice. Bring binoculars! $9 in the off season and $18 in the regular season. So worth it depending on how many people are there in the summer.

  • Andrea R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2019

    Douglas Falls Grange Park Campground

    Exceeded Expectations!!!!

    Ranger Review: Aftershokz Trekz Air at Douglas Falls Grange Park

    Campground Review:

     Wow! Wow! Wow!

    First off, a bit about the campground itself. It is owned by the local grange, right next to the Colville National Forest. It is free with a Discover pass. The discover pass is $10 for a day or $30 for a year and needed for a lot of parks in Washington. It is also located just outside of Colville, where you can get anything you need. There is about 8-15 sites. Why don’t I know? Well the campground loop intercepts the day use area, and what is a site, compared to the day use area, we can’t tell. On the main campground loop there is 8 sites. In the day use area, site #9 appears to be the only marked ADA accessible site, though many of the others seem just as accessible. Site #10 and #11 are a slight downhill walk from the parking area. Site 10 does not have a clear parking spot, where all of the other sites do. Site #12 is basically in the parking lot. When we arrived we drove the main loop and there were a few other campers, then we came to the day use area and site #12 had a tent pitched there.  There is a short car road that is a one way access with additional sites #13 #14 and #15, this road was closed, but may open in the future. There were black table cloths on the tables, indicating not to use. All sites have a fire ring, and picnic table. Some have a cute log bench right next to the fire.

    There is no garbage service at this campground. Pack it in, pack it out, please, leave no trace. There are vault toilets supplied with plenty of toilet paper, they were very clean and have an air freshener that almost makes you forget you are in a vault toilet! There is a huge field with a backstop for baseball/softball, a covered picnic area, Horseshoes, hiking trails (with the main one being a 1.5 mile nature loop) and the highlight was a gorgeous 60 foot waterfall that you can see from the parking lot or take short walk to. There is also a pretty cool suspension bridge!

    I had low expectations of this place, but I was very surprised! We took site #10 which is about 20 feet away from the upper portion of the falls. This site is a short walk from the parking lot, so you do have to walk your gear in.  The only other site in this area is #11 and it is a good distance away. From our site there is a small trail that leads to the main trail which goes to the top of the falls. If you take the main trail from the look out to the right there is access to the bottom of the falls. I listened to the waterfall all night and it was so peaceful and soothing I slept peacefully. The moon light over the falls was amazing, I wish I had my good camera! Did I mention the wildlife? Hawks, deer, super squirrels, Eagles, Chipmunks, Robins, Magpie and more! 

    Over all, I hated it, you shouldn’t go there so I can have it ALL to myself! But really, this is a fantastic place to camp. It’s a beautiful piece of land, with so much to see and do. Go, have fun, and thank me later!

    Product Review:

    Aftershokz Trekz Air- Bone Conduction Headphones.

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, sometimes I have the opportunity to review new products in exchange for an honest review. At this campground I tested Aftershokz Trekz Air- Bone Conduction Headphones. https://aftershokz.com/collections/all/products/trekz-air

    These headphones are a wave of the future. Instead of sitting in your ear like most headphones, they sit on your jawbone. They are Bluetooth, so that means wireless! They are super easy to pair and connect with your phone. As with all technology, it is really best to charge them straight out of the box. The colored light on the side of the headphone is red if it is not charged or blue if it’s fully charged. The pads that sit on your jawbone sends vibrations through the bone to your year. They come in sleek colors, and they are so lightweight and comfortable you can forget they are there. The point of these headphones is to be able to hear the outside world around you and still listen to your tunes. This keeps you attentive to other people in the office or, in my case, able to hear your music over roaring waterfalls on the trail.

    I had never heard of bone conduction technology before these headphones, and I certainly will remember now. These are funky and fresh. I love them, I love that they stay on my head while on the go, no cords to untangle and get in the way, or earbuds to pop out of my ear while walking. If you are not moving, the vibrations can be a little intense at higher volumes or songs with more bass, it makes it feel a little strange. They have a six hour battery life, and only takes about an hour and a half to charge. I also wish that there was a voice control in these as well so I could continue being hands free and answer the phone, skip songs or pause, at the same time. I hear that it’s in the works though, so I’m willing to wait. Plus, the button controls are easy to use, so it’s not a deal breaker. They come with a great carrying bag, ear plugs (if you don’t want to hear the world around you, you can use the earplugs to intensify to the volume of the Trekz Air.) and a charging cord. They also have a great warranty, return and exchange policy. There also arrived super quickly, I have been able to use them for a few weeks before the review, giving me the opportunity to get used to them and form an opinion.

    These are by far the best headphones I have ever had and I don’t think I can go back to earbuds. I would definitely recommend these to anyone!

  • Teresa H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2020

    Sherman Overlook Campground

    Great one night plus spot in NE corner Washington state.

    Cool sleeping at this elevation when hot weather persists in lower lands.  We pull a 32’ Outdoors RV trailer behind a full size 6’ bed and quad cab Dodge truck.  We would have fit in a few of spots and there was 8 total with tighter loop turn around at end.  Water was off due to Covid and was no trash dumpster but did have outhouses.  Nice trail to go hiking out back of campground and simple walking wheelchair loop at Overlook parking lot.  Was some road noise when the few cars around here passed us since CG is beside road at summit of Pass but was still nice private spaces with table, fire ring and near level parking pads.

  • Scout G.
    Aug. 29, 2022

    Osoyoos Lake Veterans Memorial Park

    Solid RV park

    Not super busy, about half full on a Sunday night. Bathrooms and showers for campers are clean (the public ones closer to the lake are much less clean, showers there are closed). Lots of flat spots, every one has a picnic table. Paid $26 for a dry spot. Lake is also pretty.

  • Teresa H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2020

    Beaver Lake Campground

    Peaceful spots

    Nice drive thru loops between camp spots between 2 lakes even for larger rigs.  Locals use rope swing off highway into Beaver Lake.  Large spots with tables and fire rings.  Trash dumpster, water, outhouses but no showers or hookups!

  • Andrew F.
    May. 9, 2023

    Hunters Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

    River Camp

    A nice little campground that I used to go to with my Grandparents. It’s mostly set up for RV camping but works well with tents too. No hookups for RVs. Longest space is probably 20-25 ft. Beautiful view of the river!


Guide to Republic

Tent campsites near Republic, Washington provide campers access to the diverse ecological zones of Colville National Forest. The area sits at elevations ranging from 2,000 to over 5,000 feet, creating significant temperature variations between valley floors and mountain campsites. Most primitive sites require advance preparation as services in this remote corner of Washington are limited to Republic and small surrounding communities.

What to do

Hiking through diverse terrain: Ten Mile Campground serves as a base for accessing several trail systems in the Kettle Range. The campground's location provides direct access to the Ten Mile Trail which connects to larger trail networks.

Fishing at multiple lakes: Long Lake offers quiet fishing opportunities in a smaller, less crowded setting. A camper noted it as "Very quiet, small lake, boat launch, outhouse."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: The elevation and remote location of Sherman Pass Overlook Campground provides excellent wildlife spotting chances. "A great place if you're looking for a quick overnight stop with easy highway access. Water from a hand pump well and vault toilets available. Also a nice ADA trail at site," according to one visitor.

What campers like

Cooler temperatures: The higher elevation sites provide relief during summer heat waves. Campers at Sherman Overlook Campground appreciate that "Cool sleeping at this elevation when hot weather persists in lower lands."

Privacy between sites: Highland Glenn Ranch offers camping with more separation between sites than typical public campgrounds. A reviewer mentioned it "offers an awesome spot with a great way to connect with the wilderness in this Northern US Border Ranch."

Accessibility options: Several campgrounds in the Republic area feature accessible elements. Sherman Pass Campground includes "a nice ADA trail at site" and "simple walking wheelchair loop at Overlook parking lot."

What you should know

Water availability varies: Many campgrounds operate seasonally with limited services. At Sherman Pass, one camper noted "Water was off due to Covid and was no trash dumpster but did have outhouses."

Fire restrictions are common: Several Republic area tent sites prohibit open fires during summer months, particularly at Ten Mile Campground and Ferry Lake Campground. Pack a camp stove as an alternative cooking method.

Road access considerations: While most sites are accessible by standard vehicles, some have tighter turning areas. Sherman Pass Campground has a "Turn around loop is tight but doable with full size Dodge and 32' trailer."

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites with amenities: Some campgrounds near Republic offer more facilities than others. Sherman Pass provides drinking water (during operation season) and toilet facilities, making it more suitable for families with young children.

Plan for variable weather: Even in summer, temperatures can drop significantly at night at higher elevations. Bring layers and appropriate sleeping gear for nighttime temperatures that can dip below 45°F.

Accessible trail options: Families with varied mobility needs can utilize the accessible trails at Sherman Overlook Campground, where there's a "nice trail to go hiking out back of campground and simple walking wheelchair loop at Overlook parking lot."

Tips from RVers

Size limitations apply: Most tent campgrounds near Republic have limited space for larger rigs. A camper at Sherman Pass noted "Most spots can fit trailers but some more private than other spots."

Limited hookups available: None of the established campgrounds offer electrical, water, or sewer hookups. RVers should arrive with full water tanks and empty waste tanks.

Turning radius considerations: Larger rigs should be cautious about campground layouts. At Sherman Overlook, an RVer mentioned "We would have fit in a few of spots and there was 8 total with tighter loop turn around at end."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Republic, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Republic, WA is Highland Glenn Ranch with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Republic, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 47 tent camping locations near Republic, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.