Douglas Creek, near Palisades, Washington, is a rugged retreat that invites you to disconnect and immerse yourself in nature. With no amenities to distract you, it’s all about the great outdoors here—perfect for those who appreciate a more primitive camping experience.

The area boasts stunning scenery, including beautiful pools and waterfalls that are ideal for a refreshing dip after a day of hiking. Visitors have shared that the landscape is reminiscent of Utah's Moab, with breathtaking views that make the trek worthwhile. As one camper noted, “The place really came to life around 11:30 pm,” highlighting the vibrant wildlife that adds to the nighttime ambiance.

For those who enjoy solitude, this location offers a sense of privacy that’s hard to find elsewhere. Many campers have praised the peaceful atmosphere, making it a great spot for bird watching or simply relaxing away from the hustle and bustle. Just remember to bring your own firewood and water, as you won’t find any services here.

Accessing the campground can be an adventure in itself, with some rough roads and water crossings that require a sturdy vehicle. If you’re up for the challenge, Douglas Creek promises a rewarding escape into the wild, where you can truly unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Douglas Creek

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Palisades. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Palisades. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Palisades

The Best Camping Near Palisades, Washington

Arrived around 2pm to the Douglas Creek Trailhead. The 8 miles of road H to get to Douglas Creek Rec area is gravel, primitive -no signs. Hiked the canyon for ~3miles. Lots of groundhogs and birds. Campsites are roughly half mile from the parking lot for hiking. The gravel road here is much narrower, and has more aggressive rocks/stones. Between the parking lot and campsites several large puddles/ponds took over the road. Campsites have pull throughs for RV’s. I chose the third site I saw, steep downhill to the fire pit, but close walk to the creek. The grounds are minimal, no services (no toilets, picnic tables, hookups, trash bins etc). Had no cell service. Weather was in the upper 60’s, no clouds. Perfect getaway.

Hidden Suprise 

I lost count of the dispersed campsites along this road, but I'll estimate 15-20 options in total. Some are better than others due to adjacency to the road or access to the creek. It does look like this area gets heavy use at some point, maybe during the summer. The weekend I explored this place there were no other campers, so I had my pick of sites. 

  

The road gets pretty narrow and rough the further in you go, and there are multiple stream crossings, too. No problem in my Jeep, but I'd be hesitant to tow a trailer too far in here.

  

I thought this was a very pretty area and will likely visit again sometime to explore the roads a bit more. If you can, go all the way to the canyon to see the waterfalls. Oh, and watch for cows!

Potential gems on BLM

A great place to get away from it all less than an hour from town.  No amenities so bring it in and pack it out.  Dual sport motorcycle or 4 wheel/all wheel drive recommending with good ground clearance.  Multiple water crossings.  You are on your own out here.

  

No services, scattered cell service so please keep this place the hidden gem that it is.

  

If you choose to leave your vehicle, it's a fun place for sure-footed adults, not a good place for small children.  Steep cliffs, loose rock, rattle snakes, ticks and other wildlife.

Go back in time

Had a great time here staying only one night. Brought the dogs and found a great spot overlooking another group of campers and the small creek. Had a hiking trail that cuts in between the canyon with beautiful views that almost reminded me of Utah near Moab. 
Cons (for me)
-Need a truck to access part of the roads and sites, we only saw a few sites before the road was flooded and we couldnt go forward.

-no trees for firewood, dry bushes that you’re able to collect and burn quite well with a small fire however. 

- wild life gets 10x louder at night, the place really came to life around 11:30pm-12:00am

Pros

-VERY private. About 30 minutes removed from cell signal

-beautiful landscape

- primitive camps. No amenities. Zero. You get a spot to put down a tent and water from the creek if you didnt bring lots of water. 

- peaceful and great for relaxing. We went on memorial weekend 2023 om saturday night at 7:00pm and had no problem finding a great spot but there was a rather large group near the entrance with 5 kegs and drunk shouting all night. Could hardly hear them and wasnt bothered by it at all. Only to mention that we went on memorial weekend and felt like we had it to ourselves for the most part. It was nice

Highly recommend if you’re into bird watching, maybe catching little critters with bug nets and your kids or a relaxing weekend AWAY from EVERYTHING. Like FAAAR away from literally everything 





Private Oasis

Swimming In the pools is nice after hiking! I've been coming here since I was a kid and have hiked and camped all over Douglas creek. Beautiful scenery. Ticks are everywhere out there though, don't forget repellent! 

Photos of Douglas Creek

Real photos from real campers