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Gatton Creek Campground

Walk-in access defines the experience at Gatton Creek Campground, where five tent sites sit directly on Lake Quinault's south shore. Campers park in a designated area and carry gear to their sites, creating a buffer from vehicle noise while maintaining easy access to the water.

The rocky shoreline eliminates the need for grass maintenance but requires quality sleeping pads, as Erin S. notes the sites are "solid rock just like the beach - I'm talking large pebbles." Each site includes a picnic table, fire pit, and gravel tent pad, with minimal vegetation separating neighbors. Lake access allows swimming and kayaking directly from camp, while trails across the road provide hiking options.

The single pit toilet serves all campers from the parking area. Reviews consistently mention the campground fills quickly despite its first-come, first-served policy and $25 nightly fee. The nearby Quinault Lodge restaurant and mercantile offer dining and supplies, including firewood. For those exploring tent sites near Olympic National Forest, this location provides immediate lake access within the national forest boundary.

Arrive early in the day during summer months, as the combination of waterfront camping and limited sites creates high demand from June through Labor Day weekend.

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Map & DirectionsGatton Creek Campground is located in Washington near Quinault

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

From Aberdeen, WA travel north on US Highway 101 for 45 miles to the junction of the South Shore Road. Turn right (east) and proceed 2.8 miles on South Shore Road and turn left into the Gatton Creek Campground and Day Use parking area.

Coordinates

47.47312687 N
123.8379893 W

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Connectivity

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    Verizon
    Possible Coverage
    Verified by 14 users
    Last on 6/28/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Good Coverage
    Verified by 35 users
    Last on 6/28/26

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    Possible Coverage
    Verified by 14 users
    Last on 6/28/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Good Coverage
    Verified by 35 users
    Last on 6/28/26

Access

  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets

Contact

General Info

Drive Time


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Reviews4 Camper Reviews - Gatton Creek Campground

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4.5

out of 5

4 Reviews

Campers regularly cited the prime lakefront location with direct beach access as the main draw. Some feedback indicated concerns about rocky terrain, limited privacy, and restroom conditions, but most found the lake setting worth the trade-offs.

Reviewed Sep. 11, 2021

Pretty and nice, but small

Great little campsite with I think 5 tent sites. Looks like it fills up pretty quickly and doesn’t take reservations so get there early! $25 fee always seems a bit ridiculous for a tent site but happy to pay it for the pleasant night’s stay. Was very quiet when we arrived at 8pm.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Jun. 20, 2020

Lakeside Walk-In sites

This 6 site campground is walk-ins only. On the south shore of Lake Quinault. It was full when I was there so couldn't get any photos of the tent sites but they seemed pretty standard with gravel footprints, picnic benches and fire pits.

 There's a pit toilet on-site and extra parking. It looks like $25 per night and there is lakefront access to Lake Quinault, which is always a plus. This is a good spot if Falls Creek and Willaby are full and you don't have time or the desire to travel way upriver to Graves Creek or North Fork campgrounds. In my opinion, it's a little steep for a tent-only site but then again the view is worth a million dollars!

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Gatton Creek Campground by Zach A., June 20, 2020
  • Review photo of Gatton Creek Campground by Zach A., June 20, 2020
  • Review photo of Gatton Creek Campground by Zach A., June 20, 2020
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 14, 2017

Great spot

Only five sites at this campground - first come first served - all are walk up and all are on a semi private beach on Lake Quinault with beautiful water for swimming and kayaking and fantastic trails directly across the road. Easy access to the Quinault lodge restaurant and a Mercantile general store which has almost everything you could need, including firewood. This was a fantastic campground the only reason I didn't give it five stars is because there is very little privacy and less than ideal bathroom facilities. Not much but a shrub or two separates you from your neighbors, so if that is something that's important to you, you might consider looking elsewhere. There is only one women's and one men's bathroom - in the parking lot - and the women's room was so foul (and I mean foul by campground standards) I couldn't stay in there longer than 20 seconds and wasn't able to use it again the whole weekend. No showers available on site. That said, the lake is gorgeous and the ability to literally walk out of your tent and be on the beach is pretty fantastic and I was able to swim in the lake every morning so I didn't miss the shower facilities much! Oh, and one more important note – unless you have an air mattress or serious pads don't even think about staying here, because the campsites have no grass or dirt and they are solid rock just like the beach - I'm talking large pebbles. Didn't bother us because we had an inflatable mattress, luckily, but if we hadn't there would've been no way to sleep on the ground at this site!

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Gatton Creek Campground by Erin  S., August 14, 2017
  • Review photo of Gatton Creek Campground by Erin  S., August 14, 2017
  • Review photo of Gatton Creek Campground by Erin  S., August 14, 2017
Reviewed Jul. 27, 2017

Practically Perfect

no plan, just hoping. chatted with the gentleman working the museum at Lake Quinalt and he recommended Gatton. great spot! only five sites, all walk up, all right on the lake. we had our own private beach and it was lovely. the sites are close but private. the grounds are well maintained and have water, toilets. hikes and trails nearby so lots of walking opportunities. bring your kayak!

Site4
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Gatton Creek Campground by Amber B., July 27, 2017
  • Review photo of Gatton Creek Campground by Amber B., July 27, 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Gatton Creek Campground located on Lake Quinault?

Gatton Creek Campground is situated on the south shore of Lake Quinault, offering waterfront camping with beautiful views. The campground features private beach access directly on the lake, making it ideal for swimming and kayaking. Its location provides easy access to hiking trails across the road and is conveniently close to the Quinault Lodge restaurant and Mercantile general store. This small, secluded campground is perfectly positioned for those wanting to enjoy both the lake and the surrounding Olympic Peninsula wilderness.

What amenities and facilities are available at Gatton Creek Campground?

Gatton Creek Campground offers basic facilities in a stunning lakeside setting. The campground features 5-6 tent sites, each equipped with a gravel footprint, picnic table, and fire pit. A pit toilet is available on-site along with extra parking. Each campsite provides direct access to a semi-private beach on Lake Quinault. The grounds are well-maintained, and the sites, while relatively close together, offer privacy. There are no RV hookups or shower facilities, making this location best suited for tent camping.

How do I make reservations at Gatton Creek Campground?

Gatton Creek Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. All sites are walk-in only. The campground fills up quickly, especially during peak season, so arriving early is highly recommended to secure a spot. The camping fee is $25 per night. For the most current information on availability, fees, and policies, it's advisable to contact the Olympic National Forest or Lake Quinault information center before your trip.