Free Camping Collection
Established Camping
Boundary Dam Campground
About
Utility Company
The waters of Boundary Reservoir back up behind Boundary Dam on the Pend Oreille River in the very northeast corner of Washington State. The area offers 3 water-access-only small recreation sites on BLM lands, all along the reservoir’s west bank, which provide primitive amenities. The BLM sites are Everett Slough, Ledbetter Cove, and Grandview.
Access is by boat only, typically via the boat launch at Seattle City Light’s Forebay Recreation Area, located at Boundary Dam.
US Forest Service lands on the other side of the reservoir offer additional primitive developed and dispersed recreation opportunities.
Due to predominating dense forest and steep canyon slopes, Everett Slough is the only one of these sites that offers a hiking opportunity. There, hikers can travel through forest along the old +1-mile-long no-public-vehicle-access dirt road grade, that ends at the recreation site. Otherwise, activities at Boundary Reservoir include motorized and non-motorized boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and nature viewing. The 3 recreation sites each provide basic sanitary facilities with privacy fence. Additionally:
Everett Slough has 3 primitive campsites, each with tent site, picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof storage container.
Ledbetter Cove has 4 tent sites, 2 picnic tables, 2 fire rings, and 2 bear-proof containers.
Grandview has 2 primitive campsites, each with tent site, picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof container.
Seattle City Light manages recreational use on BLM public lands along Boundary Reservoir, at developed sites and on dispersed lands. Seattle City Light manages this recreational use under the terms and responsibilities established in their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for Boundary Dam. Please contact Seattle City Light directly regarding public recreational use on these BLM lands, by email at scl_recreation@seattle.gov, or call Boundary Dam at 509-446-3083 (option #9).
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Great for RV's, Cramped for Tents.
This campground seems to be designed for and attract mostly RV campers with boats since there is a boat launch at this facility. There are only 6 small tent camping spots right next to the dam's bright lights. The tent sites are VERY close together so there is a lack of privacy and only 1 tent spot per site. Campsites have a fire ring and picnic table. We noticed that the campground sprinklers come on in the morning and spray the tent sites so beware of where you place your tent. There is a potable water spigot next to where the tent site parking is but the bathrooms are a little bit of a walk. We didn't see any staffing while we were there but the bathrooms, which had flushable toilets and handwashing sinks, were well maintained. There is a picnic shelter area and rocky shore area you can hang out on. Pee Wee Falls is a short paddle (1/4 mile?) around the right side bend from the boat launch area. We went Labor Day weekend and we were the only tent campers the first night (Friday) and then a single tent camper showed up the next day. The RV sites were packed full when we arrived very late Friday night. We had a great stay since we were one of the only tent campers and it's a free campground with all the basic amenities we needed to be comfortable.
WOW!
This campground is amazing. Wasn’t expecting this type of campground to be free.
Free camping
Absolutely beautiful! Access to so many different attractions...all free!!!
Location
Boundary Dam Campground is located in Washington
Directions
Access is by boat only, typically via the boat launch at Seattle City Light’s Forebay Recreation Area, located at Boundary Dam. Just past (north of) Metaline, WA on Highway 31, turn left onto Boundary Road. Drive 12 miles to Seattle City Light's Boundary Dam / Forebay Recreation Area, with boat launch.
Coordinates
48.98433633 N
117.35088475 W