Skykomish is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Washington camping adventure.
"Just a couple miles East of Skykomish, up a paved road, the campsite is just before you go over the bridge on your right and had enough room for high clearance vehicles to pull into it and smaller cars"
"We were planning to stay in Leavenworth, but that got sketchy, so we came up here to this dispersed spot, and it's beautiful, quiet, and easy."
"The lake is ice cold, which is nice if you’re just finished a hot hike in. There are some areas sort of cleared for camping, that have clearly been used before."
"Easy stair stopped trail; a bit harder with a 40# pack. Lots of camp sites to choose from, but the one on the far shore of the lake is my fav. Great for groups. Primitive toilets along the way."
"Nice large campsite near the water. There were many campsites along the road. I had to clean up a lot of trash when it got here. Please pack out your own trash and follow other leave no trace rules."
"Various dispersed camping spots along the road and up the forest service roads. There are some really sweet spots along the road with water access."
$50 / night
"Skylomish is a fairly short drive away from the city but towards the mountains. You have a great view of the water in some places and it’s still pretty peaceful and quiet."
"Our favorite camp spots are right on the water, and most spots you'll find here deliver - creeks run through the (what seems to be) endless forest, trees provide shade and lovely hammock set ups, and most"
"Access road is right off the highway and unpaved, has a TON of holes so I wouldn’t recommend driving down it without good ground clearance."
"PLEASE LEAVE NO TRACE! Other wise we really enjoyed a quick night away in our van."
"Great spot to land after long day of driving."
"Super easy to drive up to the lake and camp, have a fire, hang out and explore!"
"For dispersed camping you gotta get out of the main "campground". Tons of options just off the beaten path."
"Ranger Review: GCI Waterside Pod Rocker with Sunshade at French Cabin Creek Dispersed Camping
Camping Review: 5 stars
We have nothing but love for French Cabin Creek (F.C.C.) dispersed camping"
"Easy river access from all camp spots. Great trees for hammocks, ect. Would not recommend a low clearance vehicle; big rocks and roots on most roads."
"You can float the river down to Cle Elum lake. Once the weather warms up the river lowers and slows down. Lots of area for kids to create their little pools to swim in."
$5 / night
"Hike was definitely challenging for middle aged man but I made it and my 10 year old did too (albeit after handing his backpack to dad to carry)."
"We hiked in to Annette Lake to test out some new backpacking gear as we’re just getting into backpacking - it was great!"
ScoutAs described, little to no water sources. Private property marked in some areas. Camp sites are just off the road so there is some road dust. In May there was plenty of wood for burning. Do be mindful of burn restrictions later in the season. This area is very popular with mountain bikers and some dirt bikes. Service roads did have some heavily washed out areas and rocks that higher ground clearance and AWD/4WD would be beneficial, but a 2WD car could make it to some sites. Great spot though to camp near Leavenworth Wenatchee area. Verizon phone service was ok, T-Mobile was spotty at best occasionally a message would get through.
RangerSingle campsite off the forest service road. No porta potty, no water, no electricity. Could accommodate a group. No picnic table. Not an actual metal fire pit but someone made a rock ring. The downside is the shooting pit right below the site. When we were there a family came to shoot but they stopped by our site to let us know beforehand.
RangerDog wasn’t feeling well so took a chance and went up this USFS mostly paved road. There are lovely views on the trip up and a few roadside areas you could car or van camp in a pinch. Towards the top a couple private roads break off, and just above the now dirt USFS road continues. Here is 1 large, not terribly level, high clearance needed, site with fire ring and lots of parking options.
ScoutEvery dispersed campground we checked along this road (maybe five or so) was littered with human feces and toilet paper everywhere. We found a literal bucket of human waste beside the river with a soiled pool noodle nearby I can only assume was being used as a toilet seat. Please, if you care about keeping nature wild, carry out your toilet paper and dig a cathole or use the outhouse in the campground. If you don’t know what a cathole is, you should probably should not being using dispersed camping and try the campground down the road. We ended up staying at the campground because we couldn’t find dispersed camping where there wasn’t poop and had a positive experience there. Leave no trace!!
https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm
LegendWe had high hopes for this USFS campground, having read that it’s on an airstrip, it sounded neat. But we decided not to stay here after we checked it out. There were lots and lots of other campers there, lots of camo, lots of large pickup trucks that don’t slow down on gravel roads, lots of “don’t tread on me” flags.
We drove to the end where the bathroom is and decided to turn around, though it seems that the camp spots do continue after that point. This was on a Saturday, in all fairness, so the vibe might be different during the week.
It’s a 14 day stay limit, and other than the toilets there are no other amenities, so please pack out your trash. At the entrance it says that the following passes are honored: Annual Northwest Forest Pass, Golden Eagle Passport, and Washington and Oregon Recreation Pass. However, at the bathrooms, there’s another sign that says a $5 day use fee required. Doesn’t make sense that camping is free with certain passes but for day use it’s a $5 fee, but since we weren’t staying we didn’t look much into it. No ATV or off road riding here.
Cell signal was very weak for Verizon and non-existent for ATT. Giving it 4 stars instead of 3 because it wasn't so bad that I wouldn't be willing to check it out again the next time we're in the area.
LegendWe had high hopes for this USFS campground, having read that it’s on an airstrip, it sounded neat. But we decided not to stay here after we checked it out. There were lots and lots of other campers there, lots of camo, lots of large pickup trucks that don’t slow down on gravel roads, lots of “don’t tread on me” flags. We drove to the end where the bathroom is and decided to turn around, though it seems that the camp spots do continue after that point. This was on a Saturday, in all fairness, so the vibe might be different during the week.
It’s a 14 day stay limit, and other than the toilets there are no other amenities, so please pack out your trash. At the entrance it says that the following passes are honored: Annual Northwest Forest Pass, Golden Eagle Passport, and Washington and Oregon Recreation Pass. However, at the bathrooms, there’s another sign that says a $5 day use fee required. Doesn’t make sense that camping is free with certain passes but for day use it’s a $5 fee, but since we weren’t staying we didn’t look much into it. No ATV or off road riding here.
Cell signal was very weak for Verizon and non-existent for ATT. Giving it 4 stars instead of 3 because it wasn't so bad that I wouldn't be willing to check it out again the next time we're in the area.
GuideAccess road is right off the highway and unpaved, has a TON of holes so I wouldn’t recommend driving down it without good ground clearance. There are a number of established sites where you can pull off the road and drive back into the woods a bit. And I had cell service everywhere!
ScoutNice large campsite near the water. There were many campsites along the road. I had to clean up a lot of trash when it got here. Please pack out your own trash and follow other leave no trace rules. The campfire was awesome
ScoutJust a couple miles East of Skykomish, up a paved road, the campsite is just before you go over the bridge on your right and had enough room for high clearance vehicles to pull into it and smaller cars have roadside space the road wasn’t too active when we camped overnight even so the sound of the waterfalls drowns it all out. It has Solid fire pit and very lush green forest surroundings.
Dispersed camping near Skykomish, Washington, offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of sites, this area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Skykomish, WA is Old Cascades Highway Dispersed with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 46 dispersed camping locations near Skykomish, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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