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Antilon Lake Campground

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CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Antilon Lake Campground, near Manson, Washington, is a laid-back spot that offers a chance to unwind in nature without the hassle of reservations. With its free camping policy, you can set up your tent or RV and enjoy the peaceful surroundings, complete with picnic tables and fire rings for those cozy evenings under the stars.

This campground is known for its stunning views and access to fishing, with visitors catching brown trout and other species right from the shore or their kayaks. The area is surrounded by lush greenery and wildlife, making it a great place for nature lovers. One camper noted, “The view in the morning is beyond description,” highlighting the beauty that awaits you each day.

While the campground doesn’t have drinking water or electric hookups, it does provide vault toilets and a dumpster for convenience. Just be prepared for some rough roads and the occasional mosquito—bring bug spray to keep those pesky critters at bay! Many campers appreciate the quiet atmosphere, especially during the week, making it a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle.

If you’re looking for a serene getaway with plenty of opportunities for fishing and enjoying the great outdoors, Antilon Lake Campground is worth checking out. Just remember to pack out what you pack in and leave no trace!

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Location

Antilon Lake Campground is located in Washington

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Chelan, drive 6.5 miles on the Chelan-Manson State Highway 150 towards Manson. Turn right onto Wapato Lake road and drive 2.3 miles to Upper Joe Creek road where the road turns into Grade Creek Road #8200 this will lead you directly into the Antilon Lake camping area.

Coordinates

47.97786639 N
120.16288482 W

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Connectivity

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Drive Time

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Connectivity

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

FREE established camping

Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Antilon Lake Campground needs a permit.


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Reviews

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out of 5

9 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 1, 2023

Great spring camping and fishing

I camped here in mid-May 2023. I camped in dispersed campground "A" and really enjoyed it. There is good shore access for bank fishing (I caught sun fish, crappie, and brown trout). 

The camping was pretty quiet. Some mosquitos, but I've seen worse. The brown trout I grilled was good, too!

No cell service for me out here (T-Mobile). The road was rough, but pretty much any car can handle it.

SiteA
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Don , June 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Don , June 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Don , June 1, 2023
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jun. 9, 2022

Pretty good for dispersed camping.

I stayed for several days in Upper Antilon, section D. It was over Memorial Day, so a couple nights were a little noisy, but nothing too crazy. I had heard from the ranger that things could get wild, but it wasn’t too bad. The dirt road is long with curves, and can get bumpy at times. I chose a beautiful spot overlooking the lake and close to a vault toilet. It was clean and well stocked. There was also a dumpster. The upper lake is very overgrown…no swimming and no real place to safely put my kayak in. The lower lake was much better, although a VERY steep hill down to the water. Lots of lake moss, so fishing from the shore can be problematic. However, I caught 3 gorgeous brown trout from my kayak, which made 2 delicious meals. I literally had the entire lake to myself. Aside from a very windy/rainy day and night with 40 mph gusts, the weather was perfect and I loved falling asleep to the sound of the frogs and crickets.

SiteUpper Antilon D-2
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Christine R., June 9, 2022
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Christine R., June 9, 2022
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Christine R., June 9, 2022
  • (15) View All
Reviewed Sep. 1, 2021

Plenty of spaces, not the best, not the worst

There are campground sections before where it’s ‘designated’ on the map - we picked one that seemed a little bit away from the main dusty road. Lots of sand and dust, and fire ban in effect (july 2021). Apparently there is one toilet somewhere but we didn’t find it. Ended up returning here for another night. Had 1 bar of Verizon if remember correctly.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Ursula , September 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Ursula , September 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Ursula , September 1, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jun. 14, 2021

Lakeside camping

Quiet place, just sounds of nature. Spots vary in size and the ones with lake access go first. Too windy for a fire, but fire rings made from rocks are present. 2WD vehicles should have no problem, but doesn’t seem equipped to handle trailers or RV’s.

SiteA5
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Chris , June 14, 2021
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Chris , June 14, 2021
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Chris , June 14, 2021
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2018

Free For A Reason

1. If you're going to follow Google Maps instructions fully you're going to need an ATV. If not you will definitely get stuck in one of many holes and/or moon dust.

If you still decide to go then stop off at campground B or D. You won't get stuck and D has a drop toilet.

2. The lake is very overgrown, so swimming isn't really an option.

3. BRING BUG SPRAY!!! After setting up our tent and bunking down for the night we found probably 100 mosquitoes INSIDE of the tent. We were able to kill them all but spent the rest of the night listening to thousands of mosquitoes fly at all sides of the tent, hoping for a way in. The next morning we also had an angry bumblebee attacking the tent and dozens of large ants crawling over the outside of our tent.

The toilet was also filled with mosquitos. No bueno.

SiteD
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jul. 17, 2018

Stunning, with a "but"

Our visit was a completely random one, one of us just selected a spot on the map, and we went. we arrived after dark, set up camp, told a few stories, and went to bed. the view in the morning is beyond description. the only detractor was the mosquitos and bees. would definitely be best in spring or fall.

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2017

Camping in peace

A quiet campground with no reservations was exactly what we were looking for on the weekend prior to Memorial Day. Our campground backed right up to the lake. There were a couple people enjoying the lake, fishing and having a beer, but overall we enjoyed the spot in solitude. The only thing that could be improved is that there were many shell casings and some beer cans left from a previous group. Be nice and clean up after yourself :)

SiteB
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Amy S., July 9, 2017
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Amy S., July 9, 2017
Reviewed Jun. 15, 2017

Serenity

If you're looking to enjoy chelan but avoid the town, antilon is just the place! Extremely peaceful. Tons of wildlife, wild flowers, hiking trails and all around good views. If you're looking to avoid the crowds I would advise going in the middle of the week to atleast claim your site! Antilon has a designated shooting area, bathrooms and awesome rangers checking in making sure everyone is doing their part on keeping this area safe and clean for everyone! Did I mention Antilon is free?!

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Jess G., June 15, 2017
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Jess G., June 15, 2017
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Jess G., June 15, 2017
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Aug. 1, 2016

Ok on the weekdays

Antilon lake is a small lake above lake Chelan. It's not a very well defined camp ground other than there are road loops and three pit toilets. The lake itself has perch and bass in it to fish, but the bank is highly overgrown. The best part about antilon is that it is the gateway to the grade creek road which starts the trails up into the sawtooths and up lake Chelan. The one drawback to remember is that on summer weekends, especially the holidays, this is the back in the woods party spot for kids. Finding a spot, or quiet can be tough sometimes.

  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Steven G., August 1, 2016
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Steven G., August 1, 2016
  • Review photo of Antilon Lake Campground by Steven G., August 1, 2016
  • (4) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Antilon Lake Campground?

Antilon Lake Campground offers rustic, primitive camping with minimal amenities. The campground features pit toilets (drop toilets) scattered throughout the different camping sections (A, B, D). Each site typically has a fire ring made from rocks, though fire bans may be in effect during dry seasons. There are no hookups, running water, or garbage services available. The campground is not equipped to handle RVs or trailers, making it best suited for tent camping and smaller vehicles. The campground is divided into different sections with varying proximity to the lake.

What does Antilon Lake Campground look like?

Antilon Lake Campground sits above Lake Chelan in a scenic setting surrounded by nature. The small lake features some campsites that back directly up to the water, offering beautiful views, especially at sunrise. The campground is rustic with dirt/sandy areas and informal camping spots rather than clearly defined sites. The landscape includes wildflowers, hiking trails, and abundant wildlife. The terrain is dusty with some sandy areas. Camping areas are spread out in several sections (A, B, D) with varying proximity to the lake. The most desirable spots with lake access tend to fill up first. The setting is peaceful and quiet, providing a serene alternative to the busier Lake Chelan area.

How do I get to Antilon Lake Campground?

To reach Antilon Lake Campground, you'll need to navigate a long, winding dirt road that can be bumpy in places. The road has several curves and may have rough sections with holes and moon dust (fine powder-like dirt). While 2WD vehicles can generally make it to the campground, high-clearance vehicles are recommended. Be cautious if following GPS directions as some routes may not be suitable for standard vehicles. Look for campground sections A, B, or D, which are more accessible. Avoid attempting to bring trailers or RVs due to the difficult road conditions and limited turning space.

Are there good fishing opportunities at Antilon Lake?

Antilon Lake offers decent fishing opportunities with several fish species available. Anglers can catch perch, bass, sunfish, crappie, and brown trout in the lake. Bank fishing is possible with some good shore access points, particularly in campground area A, though parts of the shoreline are highly overgrown. The small lake provides a peaceful fishing experience, especially during weekdays when there are fewer people. Morning fishing tends to be most productive, and bringing a small boat or float tube would be advantageous given the overgrown areas along the shore.