Denny Creek Campground

Quick handy campground 50 miles out from Seattle just off I90 and a couple miles east of Snoqualmie pass.

Classic forest camp sites set in mature 2nd growth.

Nice hikes along Denny Creek to Franklin falls, or up into the cascades.

There is some freeway noise, but when city friends stopped by they didn't notice until I pointed it out.

Great little campground, yes it's crowded but it's so close to the city that you can't expect much else. You are still under the canopy of the forest so its like camping lite. Clean facilities, a great spot for short day hikes. We hit this up on stop one of our Cascade Loop camping trip and it wasn't the best or the worst place we stayed. The hike to Franklin Falls is nice, even if it's wicked crowded.

So over crowed that even to hike is impossible.

It’s a good spot for hikers to get to all the other places to go hike. The campground itself is kind of crowded usually and the spots are close to each other. It’s paved and maintained. I would’ve liked it more if they has more foliage between sites.

Road is currently closed, bummer.

Great campsite for a weekend away from Seattle. Some spots can be tight for RV but we managed to fit our 23ft no prob. Some sites have electrical hook ups.

No water hooks but at the entrance there looks to be a water faucet you can pull the RV to in order to fill up.

No dump site.

Only con is I90 traffic noise.

Most of the spaces have full or partial shade. The creek runs fast in the spring but dries up as the summer progresses. You can hear the traffic from the I-90 highway. There is a 2 mile hike to Franklin falls.  There are flush toilets. The campground is always clean. If you don't mind the hum of the highway, it is a great place to camp.

This is a smaller spaced out campground.  It's on the southFork of the Snoqualmie River and the water level varies with the season. There is plenty of access points to the river.

The campground has hook ups for RVs and trailers and a group site, which was in an area by itself, super convenient for big groups. There is a host on site and an info center and the center of the camp ground.  Each site has a picnic bench and a fire pit with grate. A few of the RV sites are pull through making parking very easy. Franklin Falls is very close, a short drive or longer walk. Didn't go this time, but will next trip.

The camp ground was sold out when we went, so get your reservations in early, don’t count on walk in. On the drive in there are many shots to dead out camp though.

June 15th Overcast chance of rain $22 a night Deep parking spot, site removed from parking. Direct access to creek. Trees sufficient for a hammock. Neighbors separated by trees. Dedicated tent pad but there were some rocks deep down, hard to hammer tent posts in. Nearby water spigot, restroom and dumpster (dumpster at end of parking spot near paved road).

Well maintained, sites are a bit close to one another on some spots.

Denny Creek Campground • Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington

Standard Tent to RV Sites - $20-32.00

Group Sites - $84

When you pull off HWY 90 into Snoqualmie Pass you’re going to be tempted to stop at Dru Bru Brewing just off the exit on your left. We understand the desire, but look temptation in the eye and keep moving forward. You’ve got a sixer in the cooler and just three miles ahead is Denny Creek Campground.

We’d almost never advise against stopping at a local brewery, but if you haven’t made a reservation you’ll want to keep moving (if you have then by all means…). Denny Creek fills up most days. Even on the Monday we were passing through only 3 of the 33 spots remained available and there was a car in front of us, and another behind us. Passing through all two blocks of civilization and the new condo construction you’ll pull up onto a road that is nearly 100% jackknife switchbacks. At first you’ll be exposed with wild flowers on both sides, but by the third turn you’re completely emerged in Snoqualmie National Forest with moss covered pines and the glimpse of a river in the distance. You’ll pass dozens of cars pulled off at hiking trailheads for access to the PCT, and even an established parking area for day-use hikers. This is a heavily trafficked corner of the forest a mere 45 minutes from downtown Seattle.

Denny Creek Campground is overseen by Camp hosts, Mitch and his lovely Wife (whose name we never got). They run a tight ship, well-oiled, clean and efficient. They have been hosting here for seven years, and by golly, we don’t think we’ve ever seen a cleaner camp bathroom or had a friendlier chat with a host. They even took time out of their busy schedule to deliver our firewood to us. Fine people to have representing the outdoors.

On our visit sites 14, 16 and 33 were open. The car in front of us passed on 14 so we snagged it. It was okay. Shaded and near the flush toilets. As we hustled to get our payment up to the entry box we passed site 16. Looking at it from the paved camp loop road it looked a little bit like heaven. A pull in for your vehicle with a little pathway back to the site which was nearly 100% private and within seeing and hearing distance of the creek. I stood in the entry, scribbling the new number onto our pay stub and holding the spot while the Wife sprinted to get the car before the lollygaggers behind us caught up and stole it.

When we spoke to our hosts they said, “You got 16? That’s the best one!” And, “Since we opened 6 weeks ago this site has never not been reserved.” We’re calling it road trip luck and saying our thanks. The sites all have the standard picnic table and fire ring, but the fire ring is only partially a manufactured grate with the other part a rock ring. The rocks collected from the river nearby giving it a more nature feel to it, and a downed tree log for seating. There was a enough branches to used for kindling and a burst of flame every now and again, but bringing or buying a bundle of firewood is recommended. No guarantee on downed wood on the inner circles. Bundles run $6.00 from Mitch at the entrance. Our picnic table had cut flowers in a recycled pop bottle from our hosts, and there was a leveled pad for our tent. One of the best functionally designed campsites we’ve ever had.

And all that was just the basics. The river runs past camp making for a lovely gurgling sonnet to fall asleep too, and from our site you could walk out into the middle of the river on downed trees looking up at a mountain on one side and pines on the other.

Besides a great place to sleep, this area is extremely popular for hikers. In addition, to the PCT access points there were multiple hiking trails leaving directly from camp. We took the Franklin Falls trail, a well-groomed trail upstream culminating in the Franklin Falls which isn’t just a view point, but you can actually walk out to it (or shower if you so choose). Just be sure to pick up after yourself. It was disappointing to see trash left behind. We took the Wagon Wheel trail back to camp through the old growth forest. It crossed two paved roadways. Totally hike distance for both was just over three miles and we despite the popularity of the area we didn’t see more than two sets of other hikers the entire time with a departure time of 8:30AM-ish.

The only really con of the camp was at night when most were quiet the occasional semi-truck passing on the highway would interrupt the sound of crackling fire and silence. Despite feeling like you’re deep in the woods and the twisty road in you never really get too far from the interstate. It was easy to overlook for the scenery and experience of Denny Creek Camp which we give 3.5 Tent Stakes of Awesomeness. One of our top scores so far, and favorite memories of our recent road trip.

_Pro-Tip #1: Sites 15 & 16. Oh yeah. Those two. If not, watch for group campsites near you. They are open and it is a popular spot for large roving bands of weekend camping children. _

Pro-Tip #2: Reservations recommended. Even during the week.

We had a great stay at Denny Creek Campground. There was a great platform for setting up our tents on. The fire pit was well placed and I was so close to the creek that I was happily lulled to sleep by its babbling.

right by the river, quiet, spacious. Far from bathrooms but close to path to river (but not directly adjacent to path).

stayed here during our 24 hr Questival!

Only stayed one night but I wish we could stay longer!

Wonderful place!

Peaceful

The sites and location are amazing, truly gorgeous views of the mountains nestled into the trees. However, if you're in a tent you'll hear the I-90 traffic...bring ear plugs. The sites are nice and large and very well maintained Perfect access to the Franklin Falls trail and everyone knows it... it'll get busy, pretty busy with lots and lots of traffic.