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Entire area is open year round. There are no fees. There are no facilities or services available with the exception of one vault toilet at Folsom Farm. Both lakes have concrete boat launches maintained by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (paid in advance parking permit from WDFW is required.)
The Fishtrap Area offers 9,000 acres of beautiful landscapes and an old farmstead, with habitats ranging from forest to shrub-steppe, grassland, and wetlands. Fishtrap is home to two scenic fishing lakes and numerous species of birds and other wildlife. The historic Folsom Farm Recreation Site demonstrates how the landscape was converted into small farms, ranches, and communities beginning in the late 1800’s. Enjoy the chance to explore, view and study nature, picnic, backpack, horseback ride, mountain bike, or hunt throughout the entire Fishtrap area. Fishing for stocked rainbow trout is popular at Fishtrap Lake, and during the winter season at Hog Canyon Lake. Know Before You Go: Fishtrap Recreation Area is open year-round has no developed campsites. The South Loop Trailhead parking lot has substantial space for vehicle and RV parking/camping. Additional minimal space is available at the Folsom Farm, and Hog Lake Loop Trailhead parking lots. See the Fishtrap Area map. vehicle and RV parking/camping is limited to existing parking areas and camping pull-outs. Dispersed (tent) camping is allowed. Please practice the seven Leave No Trace principles when recreating on Public Lands. Check Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishing regulations for fishing seasons at Hog Canyon Lake and Fishtrap Lake. Both lakes have concrete boat launches maintained by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (a paid in advance parking permit from WDFW is required.)
Guide
A bathroom and a parking lot to camp in. THE VIEWS are are a must see, the scablands of Washington are up there with the badlands in unique
Guide
Free pack in pack out dispersed camping
RangerWhat an amazing spot. Many of the spots are RV accessible a decent gravel road goes through the entire area. Very little traffic people seem to care about the area cuz it's really clean. No hookups excellent phone service cell phone towers just around the corner. No traffic noise. Depending on where you are in the camp you will hear a train come by every couple hours. It's not too close I'm not too loud. Around 2:00 a.m. every morning the coyotes have a 2 to 3 minute party. It's amazing to hear him. Never saw one though they keep away.
Traveler
Quiet campsite in Fishtrap Recreation Area.
Pros:
Very quiet open sites. Plenty of opportunity for solar 3 bar 5g Tmobile Open mostly level sites Not very busy Some larger sites able to accommodate bigger rigs (25' at least)
Cons:
No amenities (where we are, maybe further in they have them) Dusty and dry Fire restrictions in place Sites have some trash in them.
Overall we enjoyed it for a layover stay. It's very quiet, open skies were good to recharge solar and stargaze and it was a nice break from some of the more crowded campsites.
GuideThis campsite was the perfect break in our drive from North Cascades to Glacier. The road was easy to find and there were so many great sites. There is a porta potty too. We found a site that was both tent-able and hammock-able. Lots of mosquitoes though!
RangerArrived early in the afternoon and got the last spot, looked to be a lot of people staying longer term; but still was quiet and there are lots of places to walk with pets/explore around camp.
GuideThe drive was mostly dirt roads. I managed just fine in a Subaru for context. The hike itself was incredible and a bit primitive at points. Bring bug spray and maybe a machete lol. I was getting close to where one of the waterfalls was and ran into a Coyote who would not budge. That pretty much ended the hike as I could hear others howling nearby.
The hike back was even amazing with the Sunset and landscape making me feel like I was on another planet. The best part was pure luck as I setup camp on the road back during a new moon which was perfect for star gazing and astro photography. I’m an amateur and took my time to learn my camera a bit. This little adventure was my favorite thus far this year.
GuideA lot of places to camp here all equipped with fire rings. We had a 30ft RV and drove in on the nice gravel road. We took the very last camping spot closest to the lake and it had a good amount of shade on all sides. It was big enough to fit two campers if camping with friends. The spot was very spacious and felt private. It was clean with only a couple specks of trash that we found.
We walked down to the lake and it looked great for paddle boarding or small boats/rafts but not for swimming. There is a lot of seaweed and it’s murky.
The area/sites are really dusty in July. Lots of dirt but the road is gravel. Sites are pretty well spread out.
We took a little hike and saw a buck with a big rack on it, other deer, and a coyote. Great spot for back country hiking.
TravelerEasy access off of I90. Mostly quiet overnight stay as we heard some people from another site and the road was trafficked with people looking for sites. Train noise as well. A fire pit was available. But there was some broken glass and shell casings at our site
GuideNice over night stay, but 1st come 1st served. We got there about 4pm and luckily found the last spot. May have been one of the best spots as well.
TravelerA nice location! I will advise tent campers it is tent accessible but not the easiest spot in a tent. The soil is very dry and a couple of the spots were hard rocks and not accessible for tents. We did end up finding a spot in our tent, but this is site is much easier with an RV or van. Would recommend a backup plan ahead of time in case the sites available here are not compatible.
ScoutAccess to Hog Lake was closed. Found a spot with a fire pit. All the spots are pretty spread out. Unfortunately not many treed areas for wood. Fairly rough terrain of sand and rocks
RangerWe found the most amazing site! We felt like we were on top of the world! Clear open skies! Loved the sound of the cows, coyotes, and owls! Total dispersed camping! Thank you to whoever left us wood!
TravelerWe really enjoyed our night stay , it was very quiet and the campsites were spread out well enough that it was quite private! We will be going back . Can’t drive right down to the lake , but you can walk in and take the trail around it .
GuideStopped hear from driving fatigue for the night. Glad I did. Plenty of spots to choose from & friendly waves from other campers (RVs, busses, cars).
Be aware there is a lot of noise from planes and trains but not enough to keep me from my sleep.
ScoutPulled in, hoped out and immediately got stung.
GuideCutting through this area needed night to crash, stumbled upon this last minute. Easy to find easy to access in our Honda accord. Lots of spaces but also lots of ppl. Was peaceful though. Lots of cows singing at night. I didn’t mind though. Heard some coyotes in the distance. Wasn’t a problem though
RangerWas a good site, safe, people def. Stay longer than 14 days lol
LegendLove it! Some shady spots. Not a ton of traffic. Easy gravel road to come and go from. There’s even an outhouse. 2-3 bars of Verizon service.
LegendPlenty of campsites and Verizon gets 2-3 bars of service. I found a shady spot by a large pine tree. Only a couple miles from the highway and the road is in good shape for getting in and out. Only a few other vehicles here but still plenty of space for all!
GuideLovely and quiet! Spacious! (Rare train but it does not bother me.) Picturesque lake surrounded by pine trees! So lovely! So glorious!
TravelerNice little place. The road gets a bit rough. I personally would not want to drive anything bigger than a camper van down there but there are quite a few bug turnaround spots and some nice big sites. Be careful going into the sites as there is a dip. My Kia seemed to think I was just nose diving into a crevice as I was getting across with all its sensors screaming at me. Some coyotes came through camp at some point during the night. I heard them howling from a distance but only knew they came into camp because they left footprints in the frost. Only one other person was out there so nice and quiet
ScoutA friend and I car camped here overnight on our way through the state. We couldn’t get down to the lake by car because a gate was closed but we were able to park at a pull off up the road a ways. We could hear someone shooting skeet or something and the train nearby but it didn’t bother us much.
TravelerWe have stayed here twice while driving through the area. It’s quiet and really close to the highway. There are 10-12 spots along the gravel road to Hog Lake. We have a 21ft trailer towed behind a pickup truck and it’s able to fit in most spots. None of these are really official spots (not flattened or bordered) but it’s a nice place to pass through. There are train tracks that parallel the highway, so the further you go down the gravel road, the further you’ll be from the train noise. Even if you’re closer to the entrance, it’s not too bad.
GuideBLM land was easy to find right off the highway. Rough gravel road easily traveled in a truck, low clearance vehicle may have trouble. There were a few people with campers at the end of the road. A lot of dispersed sites, some close to the road, a few very private. Two nice lakes.. at the end of the road you cross to state park land which does not allow camping but is very well marked with a gate and signs. There was a fe portapottys scatter along the road. Light freeway noise, did hear one night train, but for free and a beautiful landscape not too bad.
GuideThis spot has made many memories for me. The hike is pleasant and the view is pretty awesome. Pet friendly and honestly it doesn’t feel like this place is well known. I don’t find many folks there every time I go.
GuideRock creek runs through this lovely BLM land with 2 sets of falls. It's a great spot in late winter or early spring if you're looking for solitude. We visited in February and saw 4 or 5 people, but no one stayed the night except us. Towell falls is beautiful, but we have yet to visit Breeden falls. The ranch has an interesting history and it's fun to poke around the old structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near St. John, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near St. John, WA is Hog Lake Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near St. John, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 dispersed camping locations near St. John, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
