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Group
Tent Sites
Fires Unknown
Pets Unknown
Drinking Water
About
Gold Basin Campground
Gold Basin Group Campground sits near the banks of the tranquil South Fork of the Stillaguamish River, close to several wilderness areas and hiking trails, offering visitors opportunities to experience both the serene and wild aspects of the Cascade region.
Gold Basin is the largest campground on the Mountain Loop Highway and offers the most developed and accessible camping experience.
Recreation
In addition to being a prime location for hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking and horseback riding in summer and early fall, Gold Basin offers excellent skiing and snowshoeing in the winter months.
A large, open field offers opportunities for sports and group activities.
For visitors wanting to learn more about the natural and cultural history of the area, the Gold Basin Mill Pond interpretive trail is located across the street from the campground. This interpretive site includes a short, barrier-free trail that passes by mill relics and ends on a floating viewpoint. Interpretive signs discuss the history of the mill and the wildlife in the area.
Facilities
This is a large campground with 99 reservable sites, including one large group site that can accommodate up to 75 guests.
Picnic areas, trails and open spaces, along with the conveniences of firewood, drinking water, showers and flush toilets, give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while still having many of the conveniences of home.
Natural Features
Old-growth forests of cedar, fir and hemlock line the wide, gently-flowing Stillaguamish River and tower over trails winding through moss-covered rocks.
On a clear day visitors can spot Mt. Baker, the most prominent feature of the Mt. Baker Wilderness Area. Rising to an elevation of 10,781 feet, this active volcano is perpetually snow-capped and mantled with an extensive network of creeping glaciers. Mt. Baker's summit, Grant Peak, is actually a 1,300-foot-deep mound of ice, which hides a massive volcanic crater.
The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support an abundance of wildlife. A multitude of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles make their homes here, and the area sustains more rare species like lynx, moose, wolves and wolverine.
Nearby Attractions
Visitors enjoy the North Cascades and Mt. Rainer National Parks, where interpretive programs and exhibits offer education about the diverse landscape and history of the area.
The spectacular Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), one of the world's premier National Scenic Trails, showcases some of North America's most fantastic scenery, winding its way its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington, and is accessible near the campground.
ADA Access: N
Sites
93
Operator
National Forest
Access
Drive In
Features
Alcohol Allowed
Drinking Water
Firewood Available
Picnic Table
Toilets
Trash Available
Contact
Location
Gold Basin Campground
is located in
Washington
Directions
From Seattle, Washington, go north on I-5 to Everett. Take exit 194 onto Highway 2, then turn north at Highway 204 toward Lake Stevens. Turn north on Highway 9 then east on Highway 92 to Granite Falls. The campground is located 13.5 miles east of Granite Falls.
2 Reviews of Gold Basin Campground
Awesome for a large campground
Gold Basin Campground is on the Mt Loop highway, in the Mount Baker- Snoqualmie National Forest. It is stunning. I really love this area! This is a large campground with over 99 sites, due to flooding damages the sites are currently first come first served, but generally they are reservable. The sites are large but close together. There is a huge grass field with plenty of space to get a baseball or soft ball game going, maybe a soccer game. There are amazing showers and flush toilets! There are drinking water spigots, trash cans close to the sites. The river is gorgeous, so get a site along the river obviously! Wildlife viewing abound.
Best site in the area
I’ve loved Gold Basin since I was a kid. It’s a solid middle tier campground. Nothing fancy, but a lot of room. Bring the bikes, bring some sports equipment to play in the open field. Bring a swimsuit. The water is icy cold, but if you go downstream on the far side of the river there’s a clay patch that is there some years and not others depending on myriad factors. Try to get a spot on the river (not that it needed to be said) and you’re in for a sweet camp. Sit at the site supervise the kids through echolocation and it’s all good. I bet you could go fishing, but probably not a lot there for the most part. You could possibly even bring a small tube and find a little run into the slow water area.
