Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Skykomish? The Dyrt helps you find campsites with tent camping near Skykomish. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Skykomish, Washington's most popular destinations.
BEAR WARNING: bears frequent this area, make sure to store food and garbage properly
This walk-in campground on Cooper Lake offers 22 tent-only sites.
$14 / night
A nice combination of sun and shade, this campground offers exploration of the North Fork of the Skykomish river when you're not sitting by the campfire roasting marshmallows.
Located on the south shore of Lake Wenatchee. This campground also offers 16 walk-in sites located on the lakeshore.
Dispersed camping is the term used for camping in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Typically, it refers to roadside car camping, but also refers to backpacking in undeveloped sites. Dispersed camping means there are no services like trash removal, and amenities such as toilets, tables and fire pits, are not usually available.
It is your responsibility to plan ahead and learn the extra skills necessary for dispersed camping. Camping rules and regulations apply to make your experience safe, and to keep the natural resource.
WTA Pro Tip: This is a popular area for camping. On a sunny weekend, start early to allow plenty of time to find a site. Note that Gothic Basin is an extremely fragile area, so be sure that you're camping on an established site or sturdy surface, like rock or dirt, and avoid camping in meadows or grasses, as this can damage the landscape. You’ll also want a bear can, as there are no trees in Gothic Basin suitable for a bear line.
Parking along FS Road 7601 is now allowed, but only on right side of road (going up). For vehicles parking on road or in parking area -- a NW Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass or the Overnight Visitor Parking Pass that comes with Enchantments overnight permit must be on display on your vehicle’s dashboard. Day Passes can be purchased at trailhead, and pass must be displayed on dashboard of vehicle, even if parking on the road.
$10 - $25 / night
The relatively flat hike to this long, shallow lake makes an excellent destination for families with children or an easy overnight camping trip.
Follow the Cle Elum River Trail as it moves through wooded forest and over bubbling streams while surrounded by a bevy of local berries: thimbleberry, bunchberry, mountain ash and huckleberry.
The initial gentle incline flattens out after the first half a mile as you continue through the woods. After one mile, the forest begins to open as the trail nears the lower portion of the main lake.
Listen for birds singing in the forested canopy, as they tend to gravitate toward the lake—this means you’re close. At two miles the lake comes into view. Arriving at the lower shores, you'll find plenty of picnic and camping options. The trail continues to the upper lake to offer incredible views of Cathedral Rock and Mount Daniel, which create a striking contrast to the flat valley holding the lake.
Return by the same route.
There's only one pit toilet, BYOTP, first come first serve. 2 miles in from the trailhead.
This campground offers 5 walk-in tent-only sites near a small lake and the Cle Elum River. There is no fee and no services. Pack out your trash.
Guide
Has tent camping and bathhouse
Traveler
Good sites for tent camping but the sites aren't great for an RV.
Legend
We’ve camped here a number of times and love it. 4 kids and a dog. We’ve tent camped, stayed in the cabins and our class C RV. We’ve been in a variety of spots around the campground. Our favorite were tent camping over the river and being close to the playground & dog park on the RV. The store is the best I’ve come across at a campsite. Great kid craft activities, nice playground, yummy pancake breakfast, great access for swimming in the river. We walk to town. It’s awesome.
Ranger
A friend told me to check out Leavenworth. It was cute, but every bit the touristy type of thing I’m not a fan of. The real jewel of the area are these Wenatchee National Forest campgrounds. This one is right on the river. I think I paid $22. for a walk-in tent site (but we camped in the parking lot in our rooftop tent). The best walk in tent site is right on the river. Very relaxing. Beautifully wooded sites. Beware of bear activity.
Legend
Half way along the mountain loop highway you encounter numerous spacious tent sites with fire rings and gorgeous river & Mountain View camp grounds.
Guide
Nice spots but size limits trailer length unless you get pick of spots. Van or tent camping everywhere! Tables, rings, outhouses. Great hiking trail up Mad River trail and great bike riding up Tyee road
Traveler
The campsites are nice, large and separated. A tent pad, table, and grill is provided at the tent sites. Our house near sites. Plenty to do at jim creek while you are there!
Scout
Decent, but the facilities are a bit rundown and there were three tent sites 5 feet from my door. Staff was friendly enough and 20 mins into Seattle.
GuideThis campground was alright to stay in. The highway right next to the KOA was very busy and noisy all night long, bring earplugs. The tent sites were a joke. You get a small square in a grid of 16 or so squares. Our 10x10 tent took up more than half of the tent site. The neighbor’s tent was 4 feet from ours, offering little to no privacy. The WiFi barely worked, but the showers were nice. The back showers are private rooms which are really nice, especially when camping with little ones to keep them contained. There’s no water or electric hookups for tent campers in the little squares, I had to fill my jug up from a hose on the side of the main building. To access the WiFi you have to make an account, which was annoying also.
ScoutPro: Great campground for convenience. Walkable to main town strip. Hot showers. Toilet paper stocked
Cons: Hours of pool/hot tub are narrow. Cost is a little high for a tent site.
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! The tent sites at Hearth Street Properties offer secluded spots near the water, with conveniences like restaurants nearby. Check them out and share some pics from your trip on the Dyrt!
Scout
nice park, close spots, very friendly host, swimming pool, fhu, fire pits, creek on back side of park. was very busy with a large group and kids riding bikes like crazy! plenty of tent sites too. $45/nite
Scout
We got there a bit late in the evening but managed to set up camp quickly. We did tent camping and the ground was actually nicely flat and made for a good tent platform. The bathroom was well maintained and there was a picnic table at each location we saw along with a fire pit. Overall it was a good trip and would gladly return once more.
Traveler
We stayed in the tent camping area. RV section looks very nice too. Had a great time, but next visit will select a site in the lower loop, further away from the interstate noise. Lots of trails for walking/biking and a swim area. Access to the upper stretch of the Yakima River. Clean restrooms and varied site size.
TravelerCabins with A.C. in the shade, works well for groups, but very close to each other, and for the cost, go stay at a nice hotel.
Tent camping in the field is horrible. 1 foot between our tent and neighbors. 103 degrees and not a single tree for shade.
Two of our three nights had issues with thieves taking bikes and coolers in the middle of the night.
THe river was the best place to hang for the day.
Traveler
Wonderful place to camp during autumn. Beautiful colors. Arrived for the last weekend before gates were closed (Closed noon Monday 10/11) A lot of no show reservations, recommend coming Saturday morning and taking the pick of the crop. Very close to amazing hikes and Leavenworth. Camp hosts were helpful, bathrooms were clean and comfortable. Fires were permitted, cold at night this time of year but many sites were still tent camping.
Legend
There are several pullout towards the end of the Middle Fork Road that offer access to the river and dispersed tent campsites. These are in National Forest Land NOT in DNR land where dispersed camping has different regulations.
Great views of the river and the mountains above. No facilities and no cell-reception.
Guide
We stayed in a tiny house at this campsite, and had a great time exploring the local area. The campground also offers plenty of RV and tent sites. There are quite a few amenities as well including a pool and WiFi.
About 30 minutes from Leavenworth, this campground is a great launchpad for some unforgettable adventures. We look forward to coming back to explore even more!
GuideRolled in late at night on an audible after campground at Lake Wenatchee didn't work out. Great tent sites, with decent spacing between them. This place is big, but didn't feel too crowded - at least during off-season. Super clean facilities, warm bathrooms, good provisions at their on-site store. Beautiful river walk, good proximity to town.
T-mobile 5G: pulling down 80-100mbps consistently, video calls were a breeze. ATT LTE: similar.
ScoutThis campground is beautiful! We had a site on the Mountain Loop Hwy side, so the road noise was kind of bothersome. If you’re lucky enough to get a site along the river, I don’t think the road noise would be a problem. The campground has beach access, fishing access, running water, and indoor plumbing (no showers, but sinks and toilets). It was a little stressful watching people trying to get their RV’s through the tight loop of the roadway lined with trees. We were tent camping though, so we didn’t have that issue personally. Would definitely return to this campground.
Guide
This is a nice little place. The tent sites aren’t great. It’s worth the 10 bucks to upgrade. They were very nice and helpful. Connie is fantastic if you call and book. lots of trees and trails. They have a neat suspension bridge and a trail that leads to the river and one that leads to town. Close enough to town to be convenient, but far enough away that you aren’t bothered by noise. Showers and bathrooms were ok but clean. Loved staying here.
ScoutOverall we had a good time here, river is close by for water playing, and there is a playground for kids in the park. Grocery store is only two minutes away which makes it super convenient. However, the tent campsites have no shades, so on a sunny day it can get really hot. It's not a place where you can spend much time at the campsite during the day in my opinion.
RangerNestled along a creek, close to popular Lake Wenatchee, this is a great place to camp if you want to spend time at the Lake, but do not want to deal with the "loop crowds".
Sites have picnic tables, firepits, and grills.
Tip: Tent Sites 52-56 are the best (along the creek, a little spaced out) 50-51 are close to each other. Half of the campsites are now reservation and half are first come first serve. It is also a seasonal campground, so check before you go to make sure it's open.
Ranger
Stopped to check out Goose Creek Campground which was pretty much empty when we got there, but had loads of trash left behind by previous campers. The waterfront sites were awesome and you had your pick between tent sites right at the creek's edge or some more spacious sites that could accommodate RVs and trailers up higher overlooking the water. IMO the creekside sites are the better ones if you can score them since passing cars would kick up the fine dust in the dirt lot RV/trailer sites.
Legend
Tent camped here on a last minute whim. When the weather is not the greatest on the west side, we head to Cle Elum! This is all first come, first served camping. Nothing fancy, vault toilets, tables, fire ring. I would imagine if it was busy, it would be pretty loud and dusty. There is a small dirt bike track the starts here, so if you are looking for pristine quiet, this is not your place. If you come out to the woods to ride bikes, it would be awesome!
The weekend we were there, it was pretty quiet. Played in the creek. I would go back.
Traveler
Was in need of a campsite Labor Day weekend. As you know, once you do the research, you realize most campgrounds around here are a first come basis. After driving 40 minutes down Icicle Road, and all campgrounds having a "Campground full", Blackpine was our last resort. We talked to a volunteer ranger, and he said tent camping is allowed, but if a trailer with horses show up and want your spot, you have to give it to them. He also said, that's never happened in over 20 years, but that's the rule.
I think it was $15 for a night, plus $8 extra for 2 cars. Campground were spacious, had decent pit toilets, drinking water, and a pretty quiet spot. Not too many sites, but since this campground is so far down Icicle Rd, it doesn't seem to fill up too fast.
GuideCame last minute during father's day weekend looking for a tent site. The booth host was very helpful letting us know that there was only two spots left and answering many more questions. We were able to find a perfect site for my family of 4. Clean raised tent bed with pea-gravel raked evenly good for 6-7 person tent . Fire pit is decently sized approximately 3x2 with a flip top grill that covers half of it. Paved road gravel parking space big enough for a trailer/camper . Dumpster and water spicket as well as a bathroom with pay to use shower's . ¢50-1 token = 3 minute shower. Small playground with a basketball court by the bathrooms. Lovely river walk trail follows the Yakima River . Activities for children such as the Jr. Ranger program. Gas station is close just cross the highway sells firewood as well . Overall great first time at the campground friendly staff will be coming back.
Tent camping near Skykomish, Washington, offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. With a variety of campgrounds featuring unique amenities and activities, outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Skykomish, WA is Owhi Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
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