Tent camping options near Woodland, Washington extend beyond the Mount St. Helens area into the Columbia River region and surrounding forests. The area sits at elevations ranging from 50 feet along the Columbia River to over 3,000 feet in the Cascade foothills. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during day and drop to 45-55°F at night, with frequent morning fog in riverside campgrounds.
What to do
Kayaking on waterways: Sand Island Marine Park Campground offers a unique boat-in camping experience accessible only by kayak or boat. One camper notes, "Accessible by boat or kayak. Sites are primitive, no tables. This is on the columbia river water kayak trail."
Wildlife viewing: At Healing Ponds Farm retreat you can observe farm animals and wildlife. A camper shared, "We enjoyed seeing the baby bunnies, cows, goats, chickens, and turkeys! My partner, myself, and teen had so much fun visiting them all."
Swimming in Yale Lake: Cougar Park & Campground provides direct lake access from tent sites. A visitor mentioned, "The campground is right on a lake, which means I went for a swim at dusk - it was spectacular."
Hiking forest trails: L.L. Stub Stewart State Park offers extensive hiking opportunities from their walk-in campsites. A camper explained, "This area is beautiful and there are many trails around to go hiking and horseback riding on."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Merrill Lake Campground, the walk-in tent sites provide a sense of seclusion. As one camper described, "All campsites have a fire ring and picnic table. You'll still see and hear your fellow campers, but it does seem semi private."
Riverside camping: Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping lets you camp right beside water. A reviewer shared, "Site I picked had a trail down to the creek that was nice. Would recommend the area for just a nice quiet disconnect. No service."
Lakeside views: Yale Lake at Cougar Park & Campground provides scenic water views. One camper remarked, "The camp is very nice, shady and walking distance from big lake. Facilities: showers, toilets, water supply for each few camp sites."
Island solitude: Government Island State Recreation Area offers boat-in camping with fewer crowds. A camper noted, "We love camping on the island, as you can only get to it via boat so it is not overly populated. There are no fire pits but you can burn."
What you should know
Pack light for walk-in sites: Sand Island Marine Park requires planning for boat transportation. One camper advised, "Loading and unloading gear (pack light, condense as much as possible) wait time... we waited over an hour on the dock in 90 degree heat to get to the island."
Bring toilet paper: Merrill Lake Campground facilities aren't consistently stocked. A camper warned, "Make sure to bring toilet paper, the bathroom seems to never be stocked. Make sure to haul out all trash."
Rough access roads: Some dispersed sites have difficult approaches. At Canyon Creek, one camper reported, "Road got a little bumpy getting out here but once we found a spot right near the riverbank, you felt like you were deep in it."
Site variability: The terrain at different campgrounds varies considerably. At Healing Ponds Farm, a camper noted, "The one campsite the host have is adjacent to the main road and to their driveway and house. It was odd. Surprisingly busy road for being in country too."
Tips for camping with families
Bring entertainment for kids: Brooke Creek Walk-In Campground has communal spaces for children to interact. A visitor mentioned, "The sites don't have fire pits but there is a communal fire pit, which is great for meeting your fellow campers!"
Use site carts for gear: When tent camping at L.L. Stub Stewart with kids, look for provided transport. A camper advised, "We got there late at night and didn't notice the carts available for hauling all your stuff. But the hike isn't long or difficult."
Choose sites with swimming access: Cougar Park provides family-friendly water activities. A visitor commented, "Every camp site have fire place and table. There are a lot of activities around: hiking and biking St. Helens mountain area; all kind of water activities on Yale lake."
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds have varying noise enforcement. At Cougar, one camper noted, "With all of this surveillance you would think that getting a good night's sleep would be easy, but the campsites are close together and there's no real enforcement of quiet hours."
Tips from RVers
Know site restrictions: Woodland Shores RV Park offers tent camping alongside RV sites. A visitor noted, "The rv park is next to the river. It's small but the spots are spread out more than a lot of other rv campgrounds."
Tent-only designation: Some campgrounds restrict vehicle camping. A Cougar Park visitor warned, "Be forewarned that this is a tent only campground. We showed up with our VW Eurovan (smaller than half the pickup trucks parked there) and were immediately lectured on not having a tent."
Ground conditions: Prepare for hard surfaces when tent camping near Woodland. A Canyon Creek visitor advised, "Would definitely recommend sleeping mats if you're in a tent as the grounds rather hard."
