Normally I don't camp at KOA's but if you are trying to camp and ALSO do some usual Leavenworth things this is the perfect spot.  It is walking and biking distance from town, right behind the Safeway, and has lots of amenities.  Great place for kids especially there's tons of activities, playground and even a pool.  There are 4 or 5 free activities daily and even a couple for 21+ which I appreciated as a visitor without kids.

We stayed in a tent site and it was small and dusty but had a private trail to the river which totally made up for the more cramped quarters.  Quiet hours were observed and the staff was ultra friendly.  Picked up our propane and filled it for us and everything!

I will definitely go back here during shoulder season and rent a cabin.

Cooper Lake is absolutely stunning and admittedly the campsites are situated pretty well for views and privacy but there are definitely Pros and Cons to this campground.

Pros:

Right on the lake and if not you get a very private site walking distance to water
Great hiking trail

Lake access 24/7

Lot's of big shade trees

No internal combustion motors 

Vault toilets in good shape

Dumpsters

Cons: 

Extremely busy (and LOUD) day use area

Steep hill and trails to all the sites - pack light and even then it is A LOT of work getting into your site

$18 for a walk in site…? eh a little steep for me

Did I mention the loud day use area with lots of screaming kids?

No bear boxes by the lake so you also have to trek your cooler/dry goods up the hill every night to not attract wildlife.

All in All this was a solid 3.5 stars.  There were pros to out weight the cons but in the end if I am going to walk that far to haul my stuff into a site I want it to be pretty remote/serene OR be a little cheaper.

This is less of a campground and more "dispersed" camping.  There are picnic tables and fire rings which is nice and a small vault toilet.  (This really helps since you are right on the river and its hard to find good places to go)

Both sites are right on the river, there is a little bit of a steep step down but the spot would be good for floating, fishing or swimming.

Definitely head up to twin lakes - the trailhead across the street.  It's a great and challenging hike with payoff all the way up.

4 stars because there are only 2 spots and it's really hard to get in the summer :(

Mountain River Trails is a private members owned campground.  Located ont he river in South Cle Elum it is on leased Native land.  You must purchase a membership to camp here and with that you have your own private site.  

Most of the sites are passed down for generations or purchased after being invited by other friends.  This is a camping community as well as the perfect getaway for kids, adults, dogs and everything in between.

This first come first serve campground is one of my faves.  You can beat the crowds at the state park and nearby Nason Creek by coming to this FF WalkIn campground.  There is a small loop of sites where you can park and the rest are hike in (they all have parking spots assigned at the top on the road tho).

All of the sites are spacious, but 12 seems a little hilly so small tents might be better.  The view of the lake and the mountains is one of the best I have seen.  There is also a hike to another lake right out of the campground.  It's short and strenuous but will worth it for the views.

PRO TIP:  BRING THE BUG SPRAY -- the mosquitos are really bad in this area and you will need all the help you can get!

If you can get a site on the beach here it's well worth the alarms you have to set on your phone to get them!  The sites are smallish and a little weird shaped but you get direct access to the water.  There is also a loop at the other end of the park that is more standard drive in sites.  The water sites you park at the top and carry your things down to the site so be prepared for that.

Amazing dock system and access to the lake, great day use area where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards.

A small store with hot food, milkshakes and some floaties comes in really handy and the people running it are very nice.

Overall this is a great campground for families, it is quite large and has all the amenities you need to make great memories!

TIP:  Watch for the critters they are ruthless so cover ALL your dry goods!

I stayed here 2 years ago and got a reservation less than a month before we left.  This year, 2021, I cant even book a site for the summer right now!  I love that people have discovered this hidden gem but I am bummed I cant go back this year.

With that being said… this area is wonderful.  Many lakes, hiking trails, fishing, wildlife viewing -- it really has it all.  The sites are quite large and can definitely hold a large party.  You can access the lake from most of the sites but there is also a dock there for fishing.

Hike Strawberry Mountain if you have the time its beautiful views - but turn your phone off to avoid pinging Canadian service towers.

Can't wait to come back!

The Good:
Walking distance from Devil's Chasm and many other attractions on the cape.
Massive network of trails up and down from the campground

Bathrooms

Camp Host is helpful and nice

The Not so Good:

You are in a canyon so you will likely be socked in the entire time - bring a rain coat!

Sites are REALLLY small -- we originally got site #4 and ended up switching to #1 because we couldn't even fit our tent on it.

In general this is a great spot, it's very close walking or driving to MANY attractions on the Oregon Coast.  If you don't mind the mist and want to spend a lot of time hiking around this is the spot for you!

If you are going to the Oregon dunes without all the toys this is the spot for you!  The sites are spread out well and theres a lot of privacy especially on the greenbelt.  The hike out of the campground is strenuous but the dunes are absolutely breathtaking.

Nearby you can hike Siltcoos lake, swim in Lake Marie or visit the beach nearby.