North Cascades RV Camping

[DBCooper]

Anyone know of a decent place past (East of) Newhalem in the North Cascades that has RV camping. Hookups aren't a must, but would rather not be in a parking lot either. We tow through there often, but never really look around and it's just far enough I don't want to just take a stab at it. I've been to the two state parks west of Newhalem. Thanks for any ideas.

Dan

 

[GerryDrake]

At 9. 4 miles east of Newhalem is the national campground where the road crosses the south arm of Ross Lake just before it starts the long steep uphill climb, and at 72 miles from Newhalem is Winthrop, with a great, but VERY popular (read as reservations necessary) campgound at Lake Pearrygin. If you want to go a bit further, one that I really like is at Lake Concunully, but that is a total of 131 miles from Newhalem... Great fishing though. . (as is Lake Pearrygin.

 

[JThiessen]

I'll second the Lake Perrigin, and Concunully. If you go to COncunully, be sure to go to the Sit'nBull Saloon on Friday or Saturday night for some great Prime rib. There is also a fairly nice Koa in Winthrop thats down on the river.

 

[exfuzz01]

Winthrop area camping

Also on the lake there is "Jefferies Silverline Resort"... . first one before you get to the state park. Very nice private campground. About 4 miles from Winthrop. We go every year the week after Labor Day... ... . quiet and all the noisy boats are off the lake.

 

[Lock93]

I've heard some people say good things about Jeffries. My only problem with it is when we drive by it, you see all these RV's stacked with barely enough room to open an awning. Not my kind 'o campin'. Thats the nice thing about the state park there, the campsites are probably the biggest I've been in. Plus its cheaper!

 

[Chipstien]

Gotta love the N. Cascade pass. By far the most scenic pass I have been on. Uncle used to have property over in the Okanogan... . awesome dear hunting if you know where to go.

 

[DBCooper]

Thanks for the replies. Gerry, do you know if they take reservations at the campground just past Newhalem, and if so what it's called? I'd hate to get all the way up there just to turn around.

I have heard of both campgrounds at Pearrygin Lake, the state parks sounds more like what I'm looking for. We'll probably check it out also.

Chipstien, I have to agree with you. We've towed over the North Cascades on our way to Banks lake. If you look at a map you'll see just how far out of our way we went for the scenic drive. We were also in the Grand Tetons last summer and really thought the N. Cascades were just as nice. Of course that's going to happen when you live in a area surrounded by mountains, eh? The kicker is that I've never camped up there and thought I'd start looking into it.

 

[GerryDrake]

It is a National Park one, and the name is Colonial Creek Campground. . No reservations... 164 sites, 15' by 22'. . so I guess it has been a while, as we now have a 35' fifth wheel... 12 are pull throughs, 14 day max stay, restrooms only, dump station, boating, ramp and dock, Open May to October. . 360-856-5700...

There are a couple others, one at Newhalem and one by Marblemount, but it is a bit west...



Between Twisp and Winthrop there are two that we have used (private parks) The KOA I think someone mentioned, and a bit further (about halfway between Winthrop and Twisp) is the Riverbend RV Park. . (www.riverbendrv.com)...

 

[DBCooper]

Thanks for the info, Gerry. We'll be looking into the campsites in the area.

Dan

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

DBCooper?



You not the DBCooper who hijacked the plane, got the ransom money, and parachuted out over the Cascades perchance?







If so I got first dibbies on the reward money. Oo. :-laf

 

[LEerkes]

Favorites in the North Cascades

DBCooper,



Colonial Creek is about it past New Halem and still this side of Washington Pass. There are a few National Forest campgrounds between Washington Pass and Mazama. Other than the state parks the only others are Marble Creek on the cascade river road outside of Marblemount (site #9), Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport (has power and water), and perhaps the Puget Sound Energy campground (Kulshan) at Baker Lake - nice big sites and fairly cheap ($7 last year).



If going over the pass isn't in the cards then you could try Douglas Fir campground on the Mt. Baker Highway (stay in the section closer to the highway - it's down at river level. )



Or, just east of you on the Moutain Loop highway Red Bridge is nice (site #5), the wife likes Turlo (Site #15). Or go over highway 2 and stay outside Leavenworth on the Icicle River road, several campgrounds out that direction. On this side of Hwy 2 there is Money Creek, Bekler River and some others.



Take a look at ReserveUSA.com for reservations of National Forest campgrounds.

 

[JThiessen]

LEerkes:

"Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport " is this Rockport State Park? We are heading up to this one at the end of the month (its on the North side of the highway).

 

[LEerkes]

RE: Howard Miller

Nope.



Rockport State Park is different than Howard Miller. Rockport is in the old growth forest on the North side of Hwy 20. Howard Miller is right down on the river in Rockport. It's right in town but doesn't really feel that way because the park is larger than the town. .



They are very different facilities. Howard Miller is very open, has a few small leafy trees vs. the state parks huge evergreens. The sites at Howard Miller are large and spacious, and fairly flat, especially at the West End. They take reservations via phone and have a web site. Just do a quick search for Howard Miller Steehlead Park and you'll find the website. It's a Skagit County Park.



Water and Power only (has a dump site) - I do the majority of my camping at national forest campgrounds or just out in the national forest. This is one of the few others I'll go stay at - great place to be in the fall if you plan on doing any Humpy fishin... (also open year-round - floods permitting)



Check it out when you are up there. . they are very very different and one will definately appeal to you over the other.

 

[klaybus]

We stay at the Rockport state park quite frequently. We have driven through Colonial Creek, but with our unit it appears to be a bit snug so have stayed away. Just West of New Halem there are a couple of small Federal parks on the Skagit river for dry camping that look kinda tight but nice none the less. Can't really remember the names of those though. I agree with all of you, North Cascades is a beautiful pass.



Clay