Awesome Campgrounds in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California

Recently we toured the Pacific Northwest and Northern California to photograph 47 campgrounds in the span of about a week. It was an ambitious trip but we managed to photograph some really nice campgrounds.  First lets review the vitals for the 7-day trip:

• Miles Drive: 2,240
• Miles Walked: 62.4
• Elevation Range: 5 feet to 7,110 feet
• Temperature Range: 38 degrees to 91 degrees
• Campgrounds photographed: 47
• States Visited: Washington, Oregon, California

You can see videos of many of these campgrounds on the CampsitePhotos YouTube Channel, but here’s a list for most of the campgrounds we toured with links to the campground page/photos.

Oregon Campgrounds

Broken Arrow – Umpqua National Forest (OR)

Broken Arrow Campground has 218 campsites and is located near beautiful Diamond Lake in the Umpqua National Forest.

Cove Palisades State Park (OR)

Cove Palisades State Park is located in Central Oregon and encompasses the Crooked River and Deschutes River Canyons, including Lake Billy Chinook. There are 268 campsites in two developed campgrounds including Crooked River Campground (82 campsites in loop E) and Deschutes River (180 campsites in loops A, B and C).

Crescent Creek – Deschutes National Forest (OR)

Crescent Creek Campground has 9 large, single-family campsites located next to the creek in the Deschutes National Forest. This small and peaceful campground is also a great place to relax, do some fishing, hiking and enjoy nature.

Diamond Lake – Umpqua National Forest (OR)

Diamond Lake Campground has 239 single family campsites with 51 along the shoreline and the others a bit offshore in the conifer forest.

Lava Flow – Deschutes National Forest (OR)

Lava Flow Campground has 6 single-family campsites and is located on the east side of Davis Lake, just off Highway 46 in the Deschutes National Forest. Campsites are nicely spread out and also have views of the lake. All sites are first-come, first-serve.

Reservoir – Deschutes National Forest (OR)

Reservoir Campground is located next to the Wickiup Reservoir and has 24 spacious campsites. Most have nice privacy and a few also have views of the water.

Washington Campgrounds

Adams Fork – Gifford Pinchot National Forest (WA)

Adams Fork Campground has 24 campsites set among historic basket trees and is located next to the Cispus River in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The basket trees were once used by the Upper Cowlitz Tribe to make (wait for it) – baskets.

Alder Lake Park – Main Campground (WA)

Alder Lake Park Main Campground has 78 single-family campsites, including hookup, standard and tent sites. Group camping is also available.

Alder Lake Park – Rocky Point Campground (WA)

Alder Lake Park Rocky Point Campground is located right next to the lake and has 25 single-family campsites. All sites also have water & electric hookups.

American Forks – Okanogan-Wenathcee National Forest (WA)

American Forks Campground has 12 single-family campsites and is located along the banks of the American River and near Bumping River in the eastern Cascade Mountains. There are 8 reservable campsites and 4 first-come, first-serve sites.

Beaver Bay (WA)

Beaver Bay Campground has 63 single-family campsites and is located next to the emerald waters of Yale Reservoir. Group camping is also available. Most campsites are large, level and have nice shade from mature Douglas fir trees. Many also have views of the water.

Blue Lake Creek – Gifford Pinchot National Forest (WA)

Blue Lake Creek Campground has 11 single-family campsites best suited for tents and smalls RVs. The small creek flows down through the campground and the Cispus River is across the road. Some campsites have shade from conifers and other sites are in an open/grassy area.

Bumping Lake Recreation Area (WA)

Bumping Lake Campground has an upper and lower section located on the south shore of Bumping Lake in the Cascade Mountains east of Mount Rainer. It’s also a great area to explore surrounding mountains, lakes and old-growth forests. This popular campground is generally open May through September and has 61 campsites.

Coho – Olympic National Forest (WA)

Coho Campground has 46 campsites and is located in the Olympic National Forest along the west shore of Wynoochee Lake.  The campsites are laid out in two loops among a forest of evergreen conifers and hardwoods. Three Yurts are also available. Group camping and 9 walk-in tent camping units are also available.

Cowlitz Falls (WA)

Cowlitz Falls Campground has 63 single-family campsites and is part of the 110-acre Lewis PUD County park. There are 42 RV sites with water & electric hookups and 21 tent sites.  Six group campsites are also available. The Cowlitz River also flows by the campground/park. The campground is well-maintained and most campsites are shaded.

Halfway Flat – Okanogan-Wenathcee National Forest (WA)

Halfway Flat Campground has 8 campsites and is on the banks of the Naches River in the eastern Cascade Mountains. It is also located just 30 minutes below the summit of Chinook Pass and Mt. Rainer National park.

Hause Creek – Okanogan-Wenathcee National Forest (WA)

Hause Creek Campground has 39 single-family campsites and is located along the beautiful Tieton River below Rimrock Lake Dam.

La Wis Wis – Gifford Pinchot National Forest (WA)

La Wis Wis Campground has 113 campsites (including 1 group site) and is located next to the junction of the Clear Fork of the Cowlitz and Ohanapecosh Rivers in Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  Most campsites are reservable, but some are first come first serve.

Schafer State Park (WA)

Schafer State Park Campground is located along the Satsop River and has 41 campsites, including 9 RV/utility sites with partial hookups. Hike/Bike and Group camping are also available.

Soda Springs – Okanogan-Wenathcee National Forest (WA)

Soda Springs Campground has 22 single-family campsites along the Bumping River in Wenatchee National Forest. You can also fill up your canteen with soda water from the spring just across the river. The campground and surrounding area offers stunning views of the river, old growth forest and alpine peaks.

The soda springs are across the bridge (left hand side of river in this view).

Willows – Okanogan-Wenathcee National Forest (WA)

Willows Campground has 16 single-family campsites and is located along the banks of the scenic Tieton River in Wenatchee National Forest. There’s some great fishing and hiking in the area. It’s also a popular spot for river rafting and kayaking.

Windy Point – Okanogan-Wenathcee National Forest (WA)

Windy Point Campground has 15 single-family campsites and is located along the banks of the beautiful Tieton River in Wenatchee National Forest. There’s some great fishing and hiking in the area. It’s also a popular spot for river rafting and kayaking.

California Campgrounds

Benbow Lake SRA (CA)

Benbow Lake SRA Campground has 75 single-family campsites and is located next to the South Fork Eel River and surrounded by conifer-covered hills. Be advised that you will also have some freeway noise from Highway 101.  Although there is no longer a lake here, the area offers a variety of outdoor recreation.

Cal-Ida – Tahoe National Forest (CA)

Cal-Ida Campground has 19 nice campsites located right along the North Yuba River in the Tahoe National Forest. Keep your eyes out for otters and they have been re-introduced to the river a few years back. There’s also a nice swimming hole right by campsite #17!

Fiddle Creek – Tahoe National Forest (CA)

Fiddle Creek Campground has 15 campsites along the banks of the beautiful North Yuba River in Tahoe National Forest. The tent-only campsites are surrounded by oak, maple, locust and pine trees. Parking is provided, but you’ll have about a 40 to 70 foot walk to each campsite.

Indian Valley – Tahoe National Forest (CA)

Indian Valley Campground has 17 campsites nestled along the north bank of the North Yuba River in the Tahoe National Forest.

Loganville – Tahoe National Forest (CA)

Loganville Campground has 19 campsites and is located on a hill above the North Yuba River in Tahoe National Forest. Campsites 1-9 are are on the left of the entrance, and sites 10-19 are on the right. There is no river access from the campground.

Ramshorn – Tahoe National Forest (CA)

Ramshorn Campground has 16 campsites and is located just off Highway 49. It is near the North Yuba River, but on the other side of the highway.

Rocky Rest – Tahoe National Forest (CA)

Rock Rest Campground has 10 single-family campsites on a ridge above the North Yuba River in the Tahoe National Forest. Take the bridge over to the river and you’ll find some fine swimming holes.

Sierra – Tahoe National Forest (CA)

Sierra Campground is located 7 miles north east of Sierra City and has 16 single-family campsites next to the North Yuba River in the Tahoe National Forest. Some campsites are just a few feet from the river (like #8).

Union Flat – Tahoe National Forest (CA)

Union Flat Campground has 11 nice campsites located along the banks of the North Yuba River in Tahoe National Forest. Towering pines provide nice shade to the mostly large and level campsites.

We also updated these campgrounds with new photos of each campsite:

Emerald Bay State Park (CA)

Humboldt Redwoods State Park (CA)

Navarro River Redwoods State Park (CA)

Richardson Grove State Park (CA)

Salt Point State Park (CA)

Sugar Pine Point State Park (CA)

Gone Creek (OR)

Hoodview (OR)

Oak Fork (OR)

Cedar Springs (WA)

Cougar Flat (WA)

Indian Creek (WA)

North Fork (WA)

Stay tuned as we add many more campground/campsite photos from around the USA! And remember, try our Campsite Assist tool if you have difficulty reserving a campsite. It will send you a text & email alert when a campsite becomes available on the dates you want to camp.

In closing – Cedar Springs campsite #6.