Find a place to go camping in Snohomish County

  • By Jessi Loerch Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, April 17, 2013 4:27pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

View Camping in Snohomish County in a larger map

Are you itching to get outside? I know I am. I’m dreaming of camp fires, s’mores, hiking and splashing in rivers.

If you want to make the most of the summer, set aside a few weekends for camping.

Snohomish County has many great campsites, from beaches to forests. This list includes developed campgrounds. Many sites can be reserved, and it’s best to look ahead as sites are snapped up quickly, especially on weekends.

This list does not include the Forest Service’s group campgrounds, which are a great, affordable option for groups. Check http://bit.ly/12WkNEK for more information on those sites.

The sites include Beaver Creek, Boardman Creek, Coal Creek, Esswine, Marten Creek, Hemple Creek, Tulalip, Wiley Creek. The group campgrounds include toilets, picnic tables and fire rings.

State parks

Cama Beach State Park

  • Where: Southwest shore of Camano Island.
  • Sites: 33 cabins.
  • Amenities: Cabins include living room, kitchen area and bedrooms; some have bathrooms and showers. All have heat, lights, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and sink. For cabins without restrooms, restrooms and showers are nearby. Linens and dishes not included.
  • Activities: Boat rentals, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, crabbing, diving, fishing, swimming, bird watching, hiking, interpretive activities, horseshoe pits.
  • Reservations: Required. Reservations can be made up to nine months in advance. Large groups can reserve up to 18 months in advance. Reservations fill up quickly. Call 360-387-1550.
  • Open: Year round.

Camano Island State Park

  • Where: Camano Island.
  • Sites: Five cabins and 88 camping sites. Tents and sites for RVs up to 40 feet. Group site for up to 100 people.
  • Amenities: Restrooms, showers, dump station. No utility sites. Two boat ramps. Kitchen shelter.
  • Activities: Saltwater boating, diving, fishing, swimming, clamming, crabbing, bird watching, hiking, wildlife watching, interpretive activities, sailboarding, large field for ball games, near golf course.
  • Reservations: Campgrounds are first come, first served. Reservations can be made up to nine months in advance. Large groups can reserve up to 18 months in advance. Cabins require reservations. Cabins fill up quickly. Call 360-387-1550.
  • Open: Year round.

Wallace Falls State Park

  • Where: Two miles northeast of Gold Bar.
  • Sites: Two walk-in tents sites and five cabins.
  • Amenities: Restroom, no showers. Very private tent sites with picnic tables and campfire rings. Cabins have covered front porch, picnic table, fire pit, barbecue stand, heat, lights and beds.
  • Activities: Hiking, biking, wildlife watching, swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking, climbing.
  • Reservations: First come, first served for campsites; reservations required for cabins; bit.ly/10ZDsNb.
  • Open: Year round.

County parks

Flowing Lake County Park

  • Where: Near Flowing Lake Golf Course in Snohomish.
  • Sites: Tents, RVs, cabins.
  • Amenities: Some sites have water and electrical hookups for RVs, fire pits, picnic tables. Limited campsites have water from Nov. 1 to March 15 each year. Showers year round. Boat launch, picnic shelter, amphitheater, ranger station, camp host.
  • Activities: Swimming, volleyball, boating, walking, biking, fishing, playground.
  • Reservations: http://bit.ly/cMQUL4 or call 425-388-6600.
  • Open: Year round.

Kayak Point County Park

  • Where: Port Susan.
  • Sites: Tents, RVs, yurts, cabin, water trails.
  • Amenities: Electrical hookups, drinking water, fire pits, picnic tables, restrooms, showers, ranger station, camp hosts, picnic shelters.
  • Activities: Fishing, crabbing (seasonal), boat launch, picnicking, playground, bird watching, kayaking, beach combing, hiking, open field.
  • Reservations: bit.ly/ipakTi or call 425-388-6600.
  • Open: Year round.

River Meadows County Park

  • Where: Northeast of Arlington on the Stillaguamish River.
  • Sites: Tents, RVs, yurts.
  • Amenities: Fire pits, picnic tables, restrooms, showers in yurt village, ranger station, yurt host, open meadow.
  • Activities: Fishing, hiking, wildlife watching, kiting.
  • Reservations: http://bit.ly/Z0YvSO or call 425-388-6600.
  • Open: Year round.

Squire Creek County Park

  • Where: Near Darrington
  • Sites: Tents, RVs.
  • Amenities: Fire pits, picnic tables, drinking water, restrooms (sani-cans in winter), ranger station. No RV hookups.
  • Activities: Creek access, hiking, bird watching.
  • Reservations: http://bit.ly/Zyg48w or call 425-388-6600.
  • Open: Year round.

Wenberg County Park

  • Where: Eastern shore of Lake Goodwin.
  • Sites: Tents and RVs.
  • Amenities: Fire pits, picnic tables, utility hookups in some sites, boat launch, dump station, ranger station, shower, restroom, concession stand (summer).
  • Activities: Swimming, boating, walking, near Kayak Point Golf Course.
  • Reservations: http://bit.ly/10gValz or call 425-388-6600.
  • Open: Year round. Loop 3 closed Oct. 1 to April 30.

Forest Service campgrounds

Bedal Forest Service campground

  • Where: Mile post 37 on the Mountain Loop Highway.
  • Sites: 22 sites for tents and small RVs.
  • Amenities: Vault toilet, picnic tables, fire pits. No drinking water.
  • Activities: Hiking, bike riding, fishing, white water rafting.
  • Reservations: Some sites reservable, some first come, first served. Check hoodoo.com for detailed information on sites. Make reservations at www.recreation.gov.
  • Open: May 17 to Sept. 8.

Clear Creek Forest Service campground

  • Where: South of Darrington on the Mountain Loop Highway.
  • Sites: 13 sites for tents or RVs.
  • Amenities: Vault toilet, picnic tables, fire pits. No drinking water.
  • Activities: Biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, swimming, climbing, hunting.
  • Reservations: Some sites reservable, some first come, first served. Check hoodoo.com for detailed information on sites. Make reservations at www.recreation.gov.
  • Open: May 10 to Sept. 30.

Gold Basin Forest Service campground

Update: This campground has been closed while the risk of a landslide in the area is analyzed.

  • Where: 2.4 miles east of the Verlot Public Service Center on the Mountain Loop Highway.
  • Sites: 99 sites for tents and RVs.
  • Amenities: Toilets, showers, drinking water, picnic tables, fire pits.
  • Activities: Canoeing, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, river access, wildlife viewing. Large open field for Frisbees or games. Near Gold Basin Pond, a salmon fry viewing area.
  • Reservations: Some sites reservable, some first come, first served. Check hoodoo.com for detailed information on sites. Make reservations at www.recreation.gov.
  • Open: May 15 to Sept. 29.

Red Bridge Forest Service campground

  • Where: 7.1 miles east of Verlot Public Service Center on the Mountain Loop Highway.
  • Sites: 14 sites for tents or RVs.
  • Amenities: Vault toilet, picnic tables, fire pits. No drinking water.
  • Activities: Hiking, berry picking, biking, birding, boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, wildlife viewing.
  • Reservations: Some sites reservable, some first come, first served. Check hoodoo.com for detailed information on sites. Make reservations at www.recreation.gov.
  • Open: May 17 to Sept. 8.

San Juan Forest Service campground

  • Where: Near North Fork Skykomish River, northeast of Index.
  • Sites: 25 sites for tents and RVs.
  • Amenities: Vault toilet, picnic tables, fire pits. No drinking water.
  • Activities: Hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, swimming. Near Wild Sky and Henry M. Jackson wildernesses.
  • Reservations: First come, first served.
  • Open: May 31 to Sept. 8.

Troublesome Creek Forest Service campground

  • Where: Along North Fork Skykomish River, northeast of Index.
  • Sites: Hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, swimming.
  • Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, picnic tables, fire pits.
  • Activities: Hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, swimming. Near Wild Sky and Henry M. Jackson wildernesses.
  • Reservations: First come, first served.
  • Open: May 31 to Sept. 8.

Turlo Forest Service campground

  • Where: Across the Mountain Loop Highway from the Verlot Public Service Center.
  • Sites: 18 sites.
  • Amenities: Toilets, picnic tables, fire pits. No water during off season.
  • Activities: Hiking, river access, fishing, kayaking.
  • Reservations: Some sites reservable, some first come, first served. Check hoodoo.com for detailed information on sites. Make reservations at www.recreation.gov.
  • Open: Year-round, except during heavy snow

Verlot Forest Service campground

  • Where: Across the Mountain Loop Highway from the Verlot Public Service Center
  • Sites: 26 sites for tents and RVs
  • Amenities: Toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire pits. No water during offseason.
  • Activities: Hiking, river access, fishing, kayaking.
  • Reservations: Some sites reservable, some first come, first served. Check hoodoo.com for detailed information on sites. Make reservations at www.recreation.gov.
  • Open: Year-round, except during heavy snow.
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