Camping near Heisson, Washington offers outdoor recreation opportunities within the forested foothills of the Cascade Range. Located at approximately 600 feet elevation, the area experiences moderate temperatures with summer averages of 75-85°F and winter lows rarely dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in the region stay open year-round, though water access points typically close from November through March.
What to do
Waterfall exploration: 3 miles from Sunset Falls Campground. The paved trail to the waterfall provides easy accessibility for all skill levels. "The paved trail to the falls is so nice and a very easy walk. My 4 year old could also hike around the falls themselves just fine. Super fun for kids!" notes a Sunset Falls Campground visitor.
Fishing opportunities: Available at multiple lakes. Fishing is productive year-round at Battle Ground Lake, with species including trout, bass and bluegill. "New Year new adventures. Rolled in January 1st. Self pay. About 5 sites with power and water. We got a nice level one. There are only 5 other sites in the whole campground occupied. Short walk to the lake to fish," reports a camper at Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground.
River access: Lewis River offers swimming spots. The river provides natural swimming areas with varying depths suitable for different ages. "Swimming / wading in the water was a lot of fun. Core memz were made," shares a visitor to Sunset Falls Campground.
What campers like
Walk-in sites for privacy: Found at multiple campgrounds. Some sites require walking from the parking area but offer increased seclusion. "11 is a walk-in site that offers the most seclusion in the campground. You are away from all other campers and surrounded by river and trees," explains a camper at Beaver Bay Campground.
Camp stores for supplies: Open seasonally. On-site stores provide convenience items, fishing supplies and refreshments. "One of the best State parks for camping. Well manicured sites. Plenty of privacy. Great fishing! Trout, bass, blue gill... swimming area. Store on sites," notes a Battle Ground Lake visitor.
Volcanic features: Unique geological formations. Battle Ground Lake's volcanic origins create distinctive landscapes and water features. "They have a cool volcanic lake with a swimming area and great fishing. Its like a mini crater lake. I mean mini like pond size," shares a camper.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Prepare for disconnection. Many campsites have minimal or no cellular connectivity. "Barely got 1 bar of 4g at the welcome center. There's a guest wifi in the parking lot there too but it's 2 miles further to the camp ground and texts hardly go through," reports an Oxbow Regional Park visitor.
Road noise considerations: Varies by campground. Some camping areas experience noise from nearby roadways or transportation corridors. "Located at the northern end of Portland not too far off the 1-5 freeway. RV campground with wide streets, nice office staff, and clean facilities including laundry, clubhouse, group kitchen area and free wi-fi. Backs up to a busy road blocked by large bushes and under the pathway for the airport, so there's some noise but not horrible," explains a camper at Columbia River RV Park.
Water quality variations: Check before drinking. Some campgrounds require visitors to bring their own drinking water. "The location on the Columbia River is gorgeous, but the campground is run down and super basic anyway. Water has arsenic and is no good to drink or cook with. You have to bring your own water, or buy theirs, which they don't mention on their website," warns a camper at Reeder Beach RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Available at select campgrounds. Children's play areas provide recreational options within walking distance of campsites. "We have been camping here each summer since I was a kid and now I bring my kids to camp here! There's fishing, swimming, a playground, showers and great camp sites!" shares a visitor to Beaver Bay Campground.
Swimming areas with supervision: Designated zones for safety. Marked swimming areas provide controlled environments for family water recreation. "The lake is located right on the river. You pass through farmlands to get here where during harvest you can pick up fresh veggies and fruit. Perfect for dogs with a nice trail," notes a camper at Reeder Beach RV Park.
Family-friendly hiking options: Trails with varying difficulty levels. Multiple loop trails accommodate different ages and abilities. "This campground has lots of tent sites, and some cabins. There's a swim area roped off, and a small sand area for the kids to play. Bathrooms are throughout the campground. Also has day use areas. There are two hikes around the lake; an upper, and a lower one. Both are easy hikes, and are dog and kid friendly," explains a Battle Ground Lake camper.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Choose based on rig size and privacy needs. RV sites vary significantly in size, levelness and accessibility. "Tiny RVs only! We put the size of our RV in the state website and it gave us site 50. We arrived and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get our rig in that site due to the trees. We couldn't even continue out the secondary loop because it was so narrow and had trees on the inside of turns," warns a visitor to Paradise Point State Park Campground.
Winter camping options: Year-round accessibility with limitations. Several campgrounds remain open during winter months but with reduced services. "Nice place, showers, potable water, toilets, buy wood, etc. Has two yurts also. A little steep at 30.00/nt to camp. You have to drive or walk a ways to the river which has a day use area with bbqs & picnic tables," notes a Paradise Point camper.
Hookup availability: Electric and water at select sites. Utility connections vary by campground and site. "Nice RV park, close enough to Portland to work for us. We don't have a tow car so we relied on public transportation to get to downtown, which was great (though it is a 1 mile walk to the bus stop)," explains a Columbia River RV Park visitor.
