Are you planning a tent camping trip to Wauconda? We've got you covered. Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Wauconda, including sites, reviews, and tips. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
A Discover Pass or Vehicle Access Pass is required to camp on Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) Lands.
Welcome to the Ranch!
Leave the noise and bustle of urban life behind, and settle into the peace and beauty of our off-grid ranch in Washington’s enchanting Kettle Range. Dark skies make for unparalleled stargazing!
Our Ranch is located 15 miles north of Republic, WA in Ferry County. Just a scenic 30-minute drive further north is the Canadian border crossing at Danville/Grand Forks, BC.
We love hosting campers! A Resource Book is available to borrow, offering ideas for local businesses and recreation. We are happy to help make your stay at our Ranch special!
On the day of your booking, we will reach out as to your ETA. We always greet and escort you to your site, so please arrive as close to Check-In time as possible. If you will be delayed, please be courteous of our time and let us know by calling our landline: 509-775-0204.
NOTE: It is 3 1/2 miles on a dirt county road to reach the Ranch; at various times of the year it is quite bumpy (and dusty)!
If you have questions about the campsites please let us know. If all sites are booked, contact us anyway- we may be able to create a spot just for you! We have room to grow but are doing it slowly.
Each campsite is very private, but the sounds of neighbors in the valley below do travel during the day. This is also a working Ranch so please be aware that there are sounds associated with our activities (although far above the campsites)- the livestock gets excited at feeding time; the dogs bark while doing their jobs, sometimes during the night; the rooster announces the break of dawn. However, none of that detracts too much from the soothing music of the forest!
WILDLIFE: There is a wide range of wildlife around the Ranch- snowshoe hare, grouse, turkey, bobcat, Canada lynx, coyote, cougar, wolf, and black bear. Please use common sense while camping! Always be aware of your surroundings. Keep garbage properly secured. - There are also ticks in the area!
$20 / night
Dispersed camping is allowed at this site for 14 days within any period of 30 consecutive days. The 30-day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands.
This Campground is equipped with picnic areas and 9 tent/trailer sites. Bathrooms are available. Some campsites are private. Facilities 10 campsites with picnic tables, fire pits, and tent pads Picnic area Toilets Garbage - Pack it in/Pack it out No drinking water is provided, make sure to bring your own.
A Discover Pass or Vehicle Access Pass is required to camp on Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) Lands. Blue Lake South is open from the last Saturday in April thru October 31st.
Camping is allowed on select eastside water access areas. Camping facilities such as tent or RV pads, fire rings, and picnic tables are generally not provided.
This site is a day use picnic area with a picnic table and toilet facility. The Clackamas Trail #301 also begins here. The Clackamas Trail is part of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail .
Scout
RV sure aces and tent sites. stayed here twice in RV (2 weeks and 1 month). Tenters often. showers and restrooms. water and electric. no laundry but walkable to downtown area
Guide
This place has showers and bathrooms which were great after a day floating on the river which is just a short drive away. Great tent camping with group camping available. Sites have a lot of room, table, fire pit, garbage can and easy walk to rest of campground.
Scout
Love it here! Kinda wish there was more spots but at the same time love how spaced out the camp sites are great for both campers, rv and tent sites. I love Stevens county camp grounds!
Traveler
The owners are great people and the Resort is very well kept. The have cabins and RV sites as well as tent sites. There is fishing right from the dock or you can rent a boat or a pontoon boat
Traveler
Great place for families and fishermen. Curlew Lake is known for its fishing, also boating, waterskiing, kayaking, etc. Resort has a variety of full service cabins and full RV hook up camp sites. Also tent sites available. Showers and laundry on site, along with convenient store, where bikes, boats, kayaks and paddle boards can be rented. Marked swim area for kids.
Open almost all year round.
LegendWe had a campground all to ourselves in early April. It is full of birds and waterfowl. Rocky cliff side down to the lake. In April the water levels are low for flood control. Beautiful sunsets, the site's are large and the road is good.
There are large sites for trucks, trailers. Tent camping is nice in the upper loop, but nothe a lot of shade in the lower loop. $9 in off season and $18 in peak.
Bathrooms were clean and had toilet paper. The walking tour at this campground is also nice. Full of history.
Legend
Ranger Review: GCI Outdoor Recliner chair at North Gorge Campground
Campground review:
North Gorge is a sleepy little place. Small campground with a small boat launch. There isn't a lot of parking so beware if you bring your truck and trailer here. The sites are small, seemed to be a decent amount of space between them. Vault toilets, well maintained. each site has your standard picnic table, and fire ring. There was a burn ban in August, no fires for us. They actually zip tied no fire signs to each fire pit. There are only a few sites, most for tent camping only, however there are a few that will fit a trailer or rv. It is $9 in the off season Nov 1st to May 30th, and $18 in the peak season
**Product review: **
**https://www.gcioutdoor.com/folding-recliners/outdoor-recliner/
**
As a Ranger for the Dyrt, sometime I get to test out awesome products in exchange for an honest review. The GCI outdoor Recliner is well built with quality materials. It is easy to slide in and out of the large storage back. easy to set up and take down. I love the mesh back, it helps to keep you cool in those hot summer days. The chair has 3 reclining positions and my favorite part was reclining the chair all the way to look at the stars, it gives the perfect angle. I also love the storage pocket on the back. just fold up the storage bag and put it in the pocket for a pillow. It has a cup holder, but I wasn't a big fan of the placement. I give this chair an 8/10.
Traveler
Based on visit in August of 2019. The lake had a pretty significant bloom of algae and a lot of mill weed at this time, but it was still a great visit.
The lake and surrounding area is gorgeous. If coming from the West I recommend taking Hwy 2 across the Cascades then take Hwy 21 north across the Columbia (via the free Keller Ferry) and all the way to the Lake. The whole stretch of Hwy 21 between the border and Columbia is one of the best in the PNW. Take Hwy 20 back from Republic for more splendor.
Decent-sized IGA for groceries, convenience stores, and a few restaurants in Republic nearby
This is a big campground on a big lake, but the three loops help to create three different experiences. We camped in #79, one of seven tent sites on the somewhat isolated lower loop. All of the sites on the lakeside of this loop are pretty large and nice. Save for a few trees there isn't a lot separating each site and all are visible from the lake, so not exactly private either. South of the park are cabins across the bay that you can see and hear. During the day there is a lot of activity on the water, including speedboats blasting Nickelback (it is close to Canada).
Over a little hill from the lower loop is swimming beach and day-use area. This area was pretty busy with locals as the temperatures hit 100 during our visit. The bathroom has pay showers, outlets, and was recently renovated. Plan your showers for the morning or evening.
The middle loop is on top of hill that has a wooded slope on the lakeside. There are two distinct areas here, one is literally a loop of sites on grass in classic WA State Parks fashion. The other section is series of 10 or so sites on the hillside and in the woods that you have to park and walk into. The sites were all different sizes and distances from each other. More privacy here, but there is a trail just above the shore that runs by many of them, so keep your shorts on.
The upper loop is the largest and has mix of RV and drive-up sites in a little valley ringed by walk-in sites on top of the hill. Note that from the sites in the valley you can't really see the lake but there are scattered trees to provide some shade. Not my cup of tea, but there is another shower area and a little store operated by the hosts that had ice, wood, and some frozen treats.
Back to our experience: the lower loop is on edge of a small bay and natural marshland. We had a clear view of an Osprey nest (see pictures) that the hillside trails goes right by.
In addition to the Ospreys we saw many birds drawn to the marsh and trees, several kinds of fish, turtles, and nutria in the water. In addition to a few red squirrels we also were visited by a tiny skunk who sauntered up through the reeds on the hillside to lick the griddle I left on the ground by our table (always clean up, folks). It left without incident, but I was glad we didn't have out dog with us or else things could have ended quickly.
In the area are hikes in the Kettle River Range, the Ferry County Rail Trail (which I want to check out next time), and numerous back roads to explore. Because of the heat we did some trips in the van up to the border, Ranald MacDonald State Park (smallest in the state), Swan Lake, the city of Curlew, and of course the ice cream serving establishments of Republic.
I wish the lake would have been more pleasant to be in, that's the only reason for the 4 star review. I'm not sure if it is like that every year, so I would contact the park office or check on social media to see.
Traveler
Awesome fireplace and picnic area, the tent area is a short walk from the covered area. A public path right through the camping area which was kind of annoying since the tent area wasn’t visible from the cooking area so there were strangers walking around our tents. Nice private beach area.
Legend
Nice park beside very slow river adjacent to busy road. No dogs on grass. Garbage. Picnic tables. Shaded. Stay 72 hours. Warm shower. Flush toilet. $10/night/vehicle or tent
Guide
An absolutely fantastic little campground for all sizes, from tents to big RVs!! Jacob the manager was a great help the entire stay. It is popular with ATVrs, but they were very polite and drive appropriately.
Traveler
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE
Lake Ellen East Campground is one of two campgrounds located on each end of the good sized lake. There are 11 campsites with picnic tables, fire pits, and tent pads. It doesn't get super busy during the camping season. When we stayed the cost was 6$ for a sight. Dogs were allowed on a leash. Driving through the campground is a one way single lane gravel road loop. Campsites have good separation with lots of vegetation for privacy. Access to the lake for fishing and swimming is a short walk. Wildlife viewing is great: water fowl mostly andfishing for Rainbow Trout is good. Best for tents and small campers. Toilets available. No drinking water. Boat ramp is at the other end (west) of the lake. The nearest town is Kettle Falls, WA. Operated by the Forest Service.
If you want a low key, quiet place to camp this is a good choice.
ScoutGreat place if you’re just looking for a spot to spend the night or take a shower. The park is sandwiched between a busy city street and the river. Bathrooms are old but clean. Possibly open all night. There are no individual spots it’s just a long parking lot with a grass area for tents.
Guide
Fish Lake has lots to offer. Good fishing and good camping spots. I have been here many times as it is not far from home. Several spots have approved fire rings. The northeast and northwest campgrounds, you will need a Washington Discovery pass.
Traveler
This campsite was overall a really good time! There's a trail that leads to the water for any of the campers or visitors to go swim at, site 13 had its own trail down to the water which was so fun to have easy access too! If you want a site with a beautiful view and flat tent spots site 9 and 10 also looked beautiful!
If you plan to stay at the walk in sites I recommend bringing a wagon! The walk from car to campground is not far but there is a decent hill you have to walk down to the campsite.
Pit toilet was nice and well taken care of! The hand sanitizer was out, but otherwise very clean. The only toilet is at the parking lot, so it's a short walk from the campsites.
The other downside was bugs! SO many bee's! Especially when we ate we had to walk with our food to keep the bee's away we never got stung though!. And mosquitos at night were bad but all of it was manageable with big spray!
Overall a great campsite, if you go during the week you might have the walk in sites all to yourself, not crowded and lots of fun!
Traveler
The drive into this area is absolutely beautiful. Campground is large, with at least 3 loops. The campground itself is very clean. We saw rangers checking up and driving thru at least 6x through out day and evening. There are flush toilets and spigots throughout the loops. Bathrooms had toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
We stayed in loop 3, spot 61. It was smaller compared to other spots. This campground is big so there isn’t a ton of privacy and spots are close together. You can hear pretty much everyone’s conversations around you. Lots of RVs and families with kids. Lots of sites with dogs, so anytime people did walks with their dog, a symphony of barking dogs would start. Bring earplugs.
First night in, mosquitos were absolutely terrible. Literally swirling around us as we put up the tent. Neighbors were loud past midnight, and there was construction noise over night (woke us up around midnight and 2am).
Second night, still had noisy neighbors but these didn’t stay up as late as the ones from previous night. Mosquitos were not as bad. There was no overnight construction noise.
There are some nice hikes nearby, just be sure to plan accordingly as it gets quite warm.
Overall, while the lake was nice, it was not a place for me considering how busy and noisy it was. I did appreciate how well maintained it is though.
GuideThis is one of many Park Service CGs on Lake Roosevelt. There is a day use area, group camp, and marina all down the road from CG. Your experience will depend on time of day, season, crowding, site, etc. We stayed 10 days after arriving in area & finding everything else full. We had to move mid-way into visit from site 39 loop 2 to 70 loop 3. Camp host told me 39 was best site in CG - it was, though I got it by accident for 5 days without realizing. 70 was only average. 39 is huge lakefront sandy site. Host this summer was amazing & helpful. Sites near entrance to loops were more unlevel. This year all loops are reservation only. During day in week its quiet & emptier, & fills & louder till 10pm. Weekends very busy! Sites are all paved & most are small yet many RVs are huge (& people bring boats & large trucks) making driving thru loops hard on weekends. There were LOTS of kids on weekends. Interior sites are shaded (low solar collection). The road runs near each site so every diesel truck is near your camper window & every person walking by is near your site/window (this was a virus concern on 70 especially weekends). I could hear the paper mill - not an issue in RV - would be a issue in tent. There were many generators at all times and since it's a loop it can sound like you are surrounded by generators at busy times.
GuideMy boyfriend and I stayed at Tiffany's resort this weekend , August 28, 2021, for one night at Cabin 5. We found the place dirty to the level of being worried for our health and safety and the only positive was the lake view. We arrived at 5:15 pm, we brought our stuff in the cabin and had to leave and returned at 8:00 pm. The owners leave at 5:30 pm, thus, when we came back there was no one to contact about the state of the cabin. The cabins have obviously been constructed at time when lead paint was used in these facilities. The cabin has tons of decaying wood peeling paint and obvious mold growing in and around the sink area. The caulking was little to nonexistent there was cracks in the concrete floor in the living room and bathroom, the floors were so dirty that we had to wear our shoes and there were light fixtures that did not work. The windows did not stay open and if they did they had, there were broken screens which were duck taped to seal the screen. There was a serious gap in the door which allowed the outside wind and air to enter the cabin including bugs. When we looked up at the light at night there were tons of little green flies around the light. The beds were covered with old, motel like cover, which was not clean, smelled like bio, and the bed was covered with thin sheets, on an old mattress. I checked for bed bugs... did not see anything, but who knows? All of the furniture in this cabin, was old, dirty and run down; bed side tables were missing handles. In the bathroom we found two soaps and no shampoo. The gas heater in the living room did not work, and had slimy dust in it the couches were filthy, and all stained and dusty, God knows what was on them...You would not want to bring a blue light in this cabin. There is no doubt when the facilities were originally constructed, they were fantastic and were the place to build family memories. In the review book, people reference those magical times, but now these cabins pose a serious health hazard to those hoping to enjoy the lake. There's a serious concern of mold spores, being dirty, lack of sanitation, period, not to mention the required sanitation due to COVID-19 protocols, the structures severely asked the question should they be condemned for health and safety purposes? We understand staying in a rustic cabin, we also do not mind an older cabin, but we have not agreed to pay to stay in filthy and condemned place. We rented it as a choice for staying in a tent, as the nights are getting cold and we knew we were coming in late, but this type of facility looks like something that you would find abandoned with no maintenance being done for years. And all this for the price of$118.00 plus tax, per night, when the state park across the way charges$30 a night for a tent spot and the grounds there are spotless, pristine and maintained amazingly. While the cabins are decaying slowly, the owner is building a new building and their current home, which is right on the property, oozes with the fanciness and richness of a Beverly Hills like mansion with big expensive looking signs with warning of no soliciting or trespassing on their private property with "top of the line quality" sectional on their porch. At check out we provided the feedback about the cabins. The owners were only concerned because another potential client was in the room at the same time with me and heard what I was saying about the state of the cabins. Moreover, owners continue asking me why we didn't leave when it was so bad...or why didn't we say anything. How can one provide feedback when no one is available after 5:30 pm. The owners responded that they are sorry, and as soon as I walked out, I herd them excusing themselves to the client in the room, saying that they were sorry the client had to hear what I had to say. They did not seem to see that this was a health and safety concern, especially in the world of COVID-19. We won't be back!
Guide
We found Bonaparte Lake Campground through Dyrt when sites were not available at Curlew State Park and we needed some place in that Okanagon/Ferry County area of Washington. Part of Bonaparte Lake is available by reservation. We lucked out at the time and found what ended up being the perfect site. It had plenty of room for our A Frame trailer and truck and could have fit another vehicle on the site. The table/fire ring area was generous and private, with space for our dog to be on a 25 ft lead. In fact, the whole site was very private with the campers to the right of us at least 50 feet away from us and no one to the back of us or to the left of us directly. I guess I should stop saying how great our site was so we can get it again sometime! In our loop we only had pit toilets. In the non-reservation loop there was one restroom with flush toilets and then other pit toilets. No showers available. The non-reservation loop had lovely sites as well with some right on the lake. Our loop had lake sites, too. The camp host was amazingly helpful and friendly, giving us maps of things to do in the area. We took a loop to find old ghost towns and remnants in the area plus other loops. We tried to schedule our trip up this way in July to beat the smoke from forest fires but unfortunately due to early heat conditions and dryness forest fires started early this year. We ran into some smoke the 2nd day of our trip there but the third day was clearer. It never got bad while we were at Bonaparte Lake but just over the mountains in Oroville where we went to get gas, it was in the unhealthy range of the Air Quality Index. We will definitely go back to Bonaparte again sometime. It would make a beautiful trip in the early fall.
ScoutGood area but kind of tight at middle area has good food overall good experience
LegendWe have never camped here before so decided to try it out. The campground is sited on Bonaparte Lake’s southern end. It is stocked with fish and there are loons present. Some sites hav3 lake frontage and are deep sites. One couple across from us had a hammock between 2 trees with a great lake view. There are a few rustic cabins across the lake but they were unoccupied while we were there.
There was an amazing camp host while we stayed who made sure the vault and flush toilets were clean. There is a dock where you can fish plus a boat launch. A swimming area is also available. The fee is $12 or $6 with Senior Pass. We have a 24’ pop up truck camper and my sister’s small SUV fit in our site 17.
We will return.
GuideI stayed here 2 years ago and got a reservation less than a month before we left. This year, 2021, I cant even book a site for the summer right now! I love that people have discovered this hidden gem but I am bummed I cant go back this year.
With that being said... this area is wonderful. Many lakes, hiking trails, fishing, wildlife viewing -- it really has it all. The sites are quite large and can definitely hold a large party. You can access the lake from most of the sites but there is also a dock there for fishing.
Hike Strawberry Mountain if you have the time its beautiful views - but turn your phone off to avoid pinging Canadian service towers.
Can't wait to come back!
ScoutThere was liquid poop on the floor, the camp host sign was so dilapidated so there was no where to checkin not to mention the leeches that were biting my son. Store hours were never mention,had to build my own fire pit,AFTER I had to acquire a grill , the water access is virtually nonexistent UNLESS, you go through other peoples sites/spaces and scale down an embankment.
Guide
Nice drive thru loops between camp spots between 2 lakes even for larger rigs. Locals use rope swing off highway into Beaver Lake. Large spots with tables and fire rings. Trash dumpster, water, outhouses but no showers or hookups!
Legend
Beautiful blue water! A few open spots with fire rings around the base of the lake. Quite and very peaceful! The only thing you can hear is the sound of lost lake river running and echoing threw the surrounding hills. Great veiws of noble knob! Lots of fish jumping 24/7! Worth the climb!
TravelerI’ve gone to Lost Lake a few times this year and it’s always such a great place to camp. The road coming in is much less bumpy than it was earlier in the year. Only bummer this time was of course the burn ban, but we all still had a great time. There’s nothing better than getting out of the city for the weekend, and this spot is always my favorite destination.
RangerThis place is amazing to disconnect from the world yet still have a clean environment. I have been coming here my whole life and still it owns my heart. Most of the toilets are vault with one near the beach that has running water. The sites are mostly level and clear of brush. There are single and double units available too. The fishing is great, but the floating dock on the beach needs some major upkeep! Some great hikes can be had all from the campground. We will most definitely return. There is also a Kiwanis group camp at this campground, so depending on who has it rented it can be fairly noisy & busy during the day.
Tent camping near Wauconda, Washington, offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the great outdoors. With a variety of campgrounds nearby, you can find the perfect spot to pitch your tent and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wauconda, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wauconda, WA is Long Lake with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Wauconda, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 46 tent camping locations near Wauconda, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
