Camping near Toutle, Washington offers access to both lake recreation and Mount St. Helens exploration. The Toutle area sits in the Cascade foothills with elevations ranging from 500-1,500 feet and receives about 70 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush surroundings for campers. Weather conditions can change quickly, with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during day and dropping to 45-60°F at night.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Silverlake serves as a prime fishing location with multiple species available. "Silver Lake is one of the best Large-mouth Bass fishing lakes in Washington State. We also have a lot of Crappie, Trout, Perch, Bluegill, Catfish, Warmouth, Pumpkin Seed, and two kinds of Carp," notes a visitor at Silver Lake Resort.
Hiking trails: The Lewis and Clark State Park area offers several trails through old-growth forests. "In the morning, we hiked the old growth loop prior to resuming our journey," shares a camper, who added that the park features "easily accessible trails, one through one of the last standing groves of old growth forest."
Water activities: Many campgrounds offer equipment rentals for lake recreation. "The lake is clean and they offer paddle boards and peddle boats for rent," mentions a guest at Silver Lake Resort. Another visitor at Streeter's Resort noted, "Kayaks, bumper boats, and paddle boats available to rent. Owners are super friendly and helpful."
Winter recreation: When snow arrives, the area transforms for winter sports. One camper at Kid Valley Campground mentioned proximity to "the Toutle State Forest, with its 35,000 acres open to snowmobiling, makes it an excellent spot for hunting, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling."
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer sites with good separation between neighbors. At Ike Kinswa State Park, a visitor enjoyed that "the sites are large, shaded and quiet. Many are pull through. If you want a water view you will find full hook up does inn loop A, or no hook up sites on loop C."
Wildlife viewing: The area provides opportunities to observe native wildlife. "We had a good site that backed up to water where we could do some fishing and had good space for the dogs," reports a camper at Silver Cove RV Resort. Another visitor to the Mount St. Helens area mentioned, "Year-round elk viewing on the road to Mount St. Helens is a treat."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers receive positive mentions. A guest at Kid Valley Campground appreciated that "this is a nice clean place," though noted "you pay for showers .25 for 2 minutes."
Food options: Some campgrounds offer on-site dining or food delivery. A visitor at Streeter's Resort enjoyed that the "store and grill were well stocked, great food and service," while another camper mentioned the "general store has good beer selection, great food which they deliver to your site along with ice and firewood."
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service and internet access vary widely between campgrounds. At Seaquest State Park, a camper noted "No cell (occasionally 1 bar LTE AT&T). Too heavily forested for Starlink. Had to leave early Monday morning since we were working and needed internet."
Weather considerations: The area can experience significant rainfall, especially during spring and fall. Preparation for sudden weather changes is recommended year-round. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during the day.
Reservation requirements: Many popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. "Make reservations early," advises a camper about one state park, noting that "the biggest downfall is that this place books up so fast."
Highway and train noise: Several campgrounds are located near major roads or train tracks. A visitor to Toutle River RV Resort warned that it "was hard for us to get a good nights sleep in between a highway and train tracks," while another noted at Lewis & Clark State Park that "unfortunately, we had to stay in the RV section" where "3 of those spots back up to a busy paved road with traffic."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature play areas for children. A visitor to Toutle River RV Resort appreciated that it was "full of fun things for kiddos" including "random trails, a playground, big green fields, volleyball court, etc. Plenty to keep them busy and felt completely comfortable letting them run around."
Junior ranger programs: Educational activities are available for children during summer months. At Seaquest State Park, a camper reported, "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained. She was great at engaging all the kids and teaching them about the park."
Swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming zones. One visitor mentioned that at Ike Kinswa State Park, "it has a large swimming area, hiking trails, playgrounds, boating, fishing just to name a few."
Cabin options: For families wanting more shelter, cabin rentals provide alternatives to tent camping. At Seaquest State Park, a visitor noted, "Yurts and restrooms were clean," and "the yurt village was my favorite part about this campground. If you are camping with a large family this would be a perfect spot to try and rent all the spaces."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose sites based on noise factors and privacy needs. At Silver Cove RV Resort, a camper advised, "I'd recommend looking into which site you have as we have had a site during previous stay that was much less usable and compact/crowded."
Hookup locations: Be aware that utility connections may be positioned awkwardly. One RVer at Toutle River RV Resort noted, "We have a back in site and my cable and sewer won't reach due to where they are positioned."
Fire pit availability: Not all RV sites include fire rings. As one camper at Toutle River RV Resort advised, "Not all spots have fire pits, so if that's important to you, be sure to ask for one."
Size restrictions: Some campgrounds have limited space for larger RVs. A visitor to Lewis & Clark State Park mentioned, "I'm not sure if any of the sites in there would be big enough to fit our 31 foot RV," while at Kid Valley Campground, the advice is to "no large rigs call to verify your rig."
