Newhalem Creek Campground — Ross Lake National Recreation Area

Newhalem Creek Campground is a solid base camp if you’re in the North Cascades to actually hike or paddle. You roll out of your tent and you’re already on trail, with the Skagit River right there and Ladder Creek Falls a short walk through some overgrown gardens. The sites have the basics covered: fire rings, picnic tables, bear boxes, and surprisingly clean flush toilets even on busy weekends. RVs fit fine up to 50 feet on paved pads, and tent folks get platforms in Loops A and B. Fair warning, you will hear your neighbors. The big trees give you visual privacy but not soundproofing. If you want quiet, grab a walk-in site along the creek and carry your gear a bit. At$24 a night it’s a good deal, especially with potable water and decent Verizon service thanks to being close to Newhalem. Book ahead on the NPS site, though cancellations do pop up. Just check Highway 20 before you go, since closures can mess up access during fire season or winter. Best for: Hikers and paddlers who care more about trail access than total solitude. 4/5 if you’re okay with campground chatter. https://3pattiflyingchess.org/

General: Camping in three loops plus walk-in tent sites and a group site (closed when we were there). No hookups of any kind. I was surprised that we had such good cell coverage (Verizon) but am guessing the proximity to the town of Newhalem is why. 

Site Quality: Nicely wooded with decent separation. Some were back in, and some were pull-through. All were level with a paved camper pad. The sites in Loops A and B have tent platforms (didn’t see them in Loop C); all have a fire pit (but there was a burn ban), a large picnic table, and a bear box. 

Bathhouse: The one in the A loop was very clean. There are no showers. No paper towels or air dryer so make sure to bring your towel. 

Activities: Daily programs at Visitor Center 12:30 and 4:00 pm. It is about a half-mile walk via the River Loop to get to the Visitor Center (farther from Loop C) where you can get information on hikes and there is a small store and interpretive center. The proximity of the Visitor Center was appreciated due to the recent fires and not knowing what was open and what was not. The River Loop is approximately 2 miles and is accessed between the A and B Loops. You can also hike to Ladder Creek Falls. The gardens have been neglected for some time, but the falls are worth it. (You can also drive to the town of Newhalem to get to the falls). 

We have been in many National Park campgrounds that have been outsourced and have been disappointed, so we were very glad to find this one still maintained by the NPS and at a very reasonable rate ($12 with senior pass).

I camped here on a whim, last minute, last July. We didn’t plant it. Purely by luck and chance we were able to score a site here after cancellations due to wildfires and Hwy 20 closure on the east side of the park. We stayed in a few sites at Newhalem CG this way, some were pull-into (or back into) and some are pull-through. Sites are somewhat close to one another, so definitely hear your neighbors, but it is what it is. Bearproof food locker at every single site. (We didn’t use them as we are mostly self-contained). As someone working remotely while on the road, this was a fantastic place to be at because of cellular / internet reception! I’m an architecture geek, and thought the bathroom buildings’ architectural style fits so in well into the environment, with natural wood, soft lighting on the outside. Bathroom interiors are clean and spacious. Potable water by the bathroom bldgs. Campfires allowed in fire rings. Few trails start at the campground and go along the river (to know a tree trail, and river loop trail). Lovely stay. I’d love to see more first come first serve campsites here, less all by reservation, and had a lengthy convo about it with a park ranger. Unfortunately they’re moving away from first come first serve system, which is too bad for those who travel spontaneously.

We thoroughly enjoyed our three-day stay at the Newhalem campground (Loop C, site 99). The campground is near the NCNP visitors center and provides easy access to a few short trails which work their way through the woods and follow the river. The campground has flush toilets, We were there on a holiday weekend with a full campground and the bathrooms remained clean and never felt crowded. 

The biggest knock against the camping area is that the sites are small and neighbors are close. Our site had enough room for our Big Agnes Big House 6, but we didn't have room to push it much beyond that. While some sites did appear larger, many others appeared to share the same issue like ours. I also wish the campground had bear boxes. While the picnic table had a sign on it instructing visitors to use the bear boxes, none were present, and though we did not see any bear while we were there, a box would have provided some peace of mind and allowed us to free up some space in our car as we made our way to various trailheads during our stay.