Camper submitted image from Upper Clearwater - 1

View Photos

Camper submitted image from Upper Clearwater - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Upper Clearwater - 3

Roads

Camper submitted image from Upper Clearwater - 4

Facilities

Water

Unlock Planning Tools in App

Established Camping

Upper Clearwater

5 Reviews

Upper Clearwater, near Forks, Washington, is a charming campground that offers a peaceful escape into nature. With spacious sites, many right by the river, it’s a fantastic spot for those looking to unwind and soak in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

The campground features a clean pit toilet and picnic tables, making it a comfortable choice for campers. Visitors have noted the serene atmosphere, with one reviewer mentioning, “I loved my time at Upper Clearwater,” highlighting the large sites and the soothing sounds of the nearby river. While there are no showers or drinking water, the natural setting more than makes up for it.

For those eager to explore, the area is surrounded by lush forests and trails, perfect for hiking. The road leading to the campground is mostly paved, with some gravel sections, and offers beautiful views along the way. If you're feeling adventurous, a short drive can take you to Yahoo Lake Campground, where you can discover more remote sites and enjoy a scenic hike to the lake.

While the campground is small and can feel a bit rustic, it’s a great choice for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle. Just remember to pack out what you pack in, as there’s no trash service on-site. Whether you’re camping with friends or seeking solitude, Upper Clearwater is a lovely spot to reconnect with nature.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Upper Clearwater is located in Washington

Coordinates

47.67900073 N
124.11700067 W

Open in Google Maps

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Good
T-Mobile
Good

Site Types

Tent Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

3 hrs 45 min from Olympia
4 hrs 10 min from Bremerton
4 hrs 39 min from Mount Vernon
4 hrs 41 min from Seattle

Max B.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2022

Peaceful and big sites

Small dispersed campground with a restroom. Huge spots with 3 lucky ones right on the river. Arrived about 2pm during the week and plenty of free spots and still empty spaces for the few days we were there.

Month of VisitJuly

L & J L.

Ranger

Reviewed Dec. 6, 2021

Peaceful and Primitive

We were the only ones at this campground the first weekend in December. Got to the location about 9:45pm Friday night in the pitch dark so we were especially glad it wasn’t busy. We took spot 1, which in our opinion is the best location right on the river. During the high season some of the other spots might be better, though, since spot 1 is close to the entrance and the pit toilet. There are 6 spots, one of which is pretty big and would accommodate a group.

The road getting to the campground is really nice. It is paved, which surprised us based on other reviews. Some sections narrow to one lane, but there are plenty of shoulders and turnouts so if you had to reverse to allow someone to pass you wouldn’t have to reverse very far. In a few spots the road is gravel with some potholes but not bad at all.

There is a pit toilet at the campground we did not use but we did look inside and it was clean. Right across from the pit toilet is a trailhead. It looks like there used to be two trails, one leading down to the river and another that goes up to a creek that feeds into the river, but parts of both trails are washed out and blocked by tree fall. We hiked as far as we could along them, though, and it was a nice walk.

When we left on Sunday, we decided to drive to Yahoo Lake Campground just to check it out. About 1/4 mile (or less) beyond Upper Clearwater, the road splits. Take the right fork for Yahoo. We took the left fork and went about 3.5 miles before realizing it wasn’t going to take us where we wanted to go. It was a beautiful detour and we saw some nice views but it’s just logging roads. Trust that Yahoo Lake Campground exists because there are no signs but if you go about 6 miles from that split in the road, it is there. You’ll arrive at a well-market trailhead where you can park and take a short hike to the lake and campsites. The main road continues on but, during the off season, it is closed for elk preservation. We walked to the lake and checked out a couple of primitive sites that would be great for tent camping. Super remote, beautiful little lake.

Overall, Upper Clearwater is a really nice campground and a great place to stay.

Site1

Month of VisitDecember

(6) View All

Brown Sign Junkies ..

Guide

Reviewed Mar. 8, 2021

Beautiful Place To Get Away

This is a campground that is pretty much what comes to mind when you think of camping in the PNW, good and Sasquatchy looking with old trees, ferns and moss everywhere. We were the only ones there when we camped so had the pick of the sites and went with a riverside one. Campground was clean and while not perfectly maintained, the older fixtures did add to the ambiance. I would say bringing anything bigger than the smallest of trailers would be a challenge though.

Rexanne G.

Guide

Reviewed Dec. 1, 2020

Riverside beauty that needs some work.

I loved my time at Upper Clearwater. Large sites with varied amenities. I was happy to have my riverside site even if it meant a ring of rocks instead of a real fire ring like at other sites. Or the fact that the seat on one side of the picnic table had been removed. One site even has a permanent shelter that would be great for groups (see pictures). If you love camping in the woods and hearing rivers instead of radios, this is the place for you. P.S. seriously, cleanest and least smelly pit toilet I have experienced in my life. It was oddly impressive.

Johnathan I.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 21, 2020

Small remote campground near creek

Approach to the campground is mostly paved and well marked. The road narrows considerably in a few places and with a soft shoulder. Large RV’s and vehicles with trailers meeting each other in these sections will need to reverse to allow safe passage.

The campground has only 7 sites or so and one long drop toilet. There is one group site. There are several turnouts along the road for overflow camping and gravel roads going out into the bush.

The is another campground further down the road, yahoo campground I think?
The campsites were clean with tables and fire rings. Great big trees and lots of shade.