Olympic National Park Boondocking Locations Lyre River Dnr
Address
Elevation: 574
Management: State Park
The road in is Dirt and .1 mile miles from a paved road. Sadie Creek Campground is open April 1st Dec 1st. There are 6-15 campsites at this location and the maximum RV length is 25 feet. You may stay 7 days at Sadie Creek Campground.
Best Review:
Brand new developed campground managed by DNR. Sadie Creek Multi-Use area has provided off-road trails since 1972. 6 official campsites just finished construction 1 week ago mainly for ATV campers, but RVs under 30ft allowed up to 7 days per 30 days with Washington State Discover Pass Vault toilet provided, fire rings and picnic tables.
What Should I Pack For My Olympic National Forest Camping Trip
Some pieces of outdoor gear are essential regardless of your camping location. These include a robust tent, a sleeping bag that will protect you from the bugs and the cold, and even a set of comfortable camping chairs if youre staying with a group.
Here are some other items youll want to pack for your dispersed camping trip in the Olympic National Forest:
- Portable water containers These are essential if you plan staying at a dispersed campground camping instead of a developed campground.
- Camping stove To prepare delicious campsite breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, you will need a quality camping stove.
- Cooler Keeping your drinks and provisions cool while camping is essential. A portable and practical camping cooler can significantly help in that regard.
- Map To learn more about your surroundings, thoroughly explore the area around your campsite, and ensure that youre camping on public land, you will need a good map. The ones made by National Geographic are often the best.
The Best Established Campsites In Olympic National Forest
There are 17 established campsites located throughout Olympic National Forest. To make navigation easier, Ive separated the campsites into several distinct clusters.
To find an Olympic National Forest campsite that matches your personal needs and requirements, youll need to consider several factors. Some of these are the type of camping setup and the area youd like to explore.
Fortunately, there are phenomenal campsites for every style of camping RV, trailer, tent, and everything in between. And while Ive covered each of these places in great detail later in the article, Ive also highlighted the ones that are best for several specific styles of camping:
- Best for Families Seal Rock Campsite
- Best for Seclusion Gatton Creek Campsite
- Best for RV Camping Satsop Center Campsite
- Best for Tent Camping Dungeness Forks Campsite
- Best Free Campsite Campbell Tree Grove Campsite
Without further ado, lets take a closer look at the best established campsites in Olympic National Forest:
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West Side Valleys + Rain Forest
Queets Campground. Photo by Tyson Gillard.
Favorite:
Queets Campground. The setting along the Queets River, with towering old-growth surrounding the campsites, this campground defines the notion of being in the remote wilderness. With the adjacent Sams River Trail you will be able to keep busy, but be sure to bring provisions you won’t find amenities or potable water for miles. Oh, and did we mention that it rains almost every day for 8 months.
In the Park, From South to North:
Overflow Camping:
Lodging:
Heart O The Hills Campground
Located smack dab in the middle of an old growth forest, Heart O the Hills is a popular Olympic National Park campground for family camping.
Kids love the fun summer ranger programs. Plus, the campground is just a few miles from Port Angeles, making it one of the most easily accessible in the park.
But the real draw of Heart Othe Hills is its close proximity to Hurricane Ridge. The breathtaking destination is located a short 14-mile drive away.
Heart O the Hills is open year round. However, the area receives heavy snow in the winter, making it walk-in only when snow is on the ground.
There are 105 non-reservable campsites. The campground is RV friendly . Flush toilets, running water, and an RV dump station are available.
Learn more about Heart O the Hills Campground.
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Sequim Bay State Park
Dont like the rain? Sequim Bay State Park is located just outside of Sequim, one of the driest towns on the Olympic Peninsula. The scenic, peaceful campground boasts 45 primitive campsites plus 15 campsites with partial RV utilities. A handful of sites accommodate RVs over 30 feet. Reservations are accepted.
Learn more about Sequim Bay State Park.
Backcountry Campsites For Beginner Backpacking
Olympic National Park has hundreds of backcountry campsites on the edges and interior of the park. These sites require hiking into and carrying all necessary overnight gear. It helps to make these overnight endeavors for the first time with an experienced friend, but anyone is welcome to enjoy the Olympic Wilderness overnight. Backcountry reservations are required and can be booked six months in advance.
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Olympic National Park & Forest Recreation Map
Description:
Covering the Olympic Peninsula, including the Olympic National Park and Forest areas, this topographic recreation map highlights all the access roads, multi-use trails for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, cross-country skiers and snowshoers, motorized trails for ORVers and snowmobiles, fishing lakes and rivers, recreation areas, campgrounds, day-use areas, viewpoints, backcountry campsites, backcountry huts and cabins and more. No other map for the area provides you with this level of recreational or value added information in one place. Special features include federal BLM, regional and DNR state owned land, private land and national forests, countless roads, trails and recreational Points of Interest. Using 1:24,000-1:66,000 scale water and road data, this map covers 8,493 square miles and includes Clallam Bay, Forks, Hoodsport, Jamestown, La Push, Neah Bay, Port Angeles, Norwood, Oil City, Ozette, Sequim, Skokomish, Olympic National Park & Forest, and much more!Get a printed version of this map at www.backroadmapbooks.com
Price: $ 4.99 USD
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Eastern Valleys + Hood Canal
Putting in on Bear Creek Inlet, Lake Cushman at Skokomish Park North Camp. Photo by Tyson Gillard.
Favorite:
Skokomish Park North Camp. Just outside of the park’s boundaries, the campground is ideally located on the eastern shore of Lake Cushman and has by far the largest and most private established campsites on the entire peninsula.
In the Park, From North to South:
Overflow Camping:
Lodging:
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Where To Stay On The Olympic Peninsula
With Olympic National Park at the heart of the peninsula, youll find an array of beautiful campsites. In addition to the national park, check out our area state parks or stay in one of our county parks in Clallam or Jefferson Counties. Visit our Lodgings page and filter by RV Parks & Campgrounds to view all the campsites on the Olympic Peninsula. Make reservations as early as possible since parks are often full during peak season. If you cant get into a place you had your heart set on, try reserving it for the fall. Travel mid-week instead of a weekend or go boondocking or dry camping . To that point, there are places in Olympic National Forest for dispersed camping.
Seal Rock Campground in Olympic National Forest sits right on the shores of Hood Canal.
Whatever destination and activity suits you and your family best, hit the road in your RV for an action-packed time, interspersed with relaxation, and create a lifetime memory together. Youll fall in love with Mother Nature all over again.
What About Reservations Fees And Permits
As mentioned above, there are 17 established campsites in the Olympic National Forest.
Of these, 14 are first come, first served. Youll need to make a reservation to stay at the three remaining campgrounds. These are Coho, Willaby, and Falls Creek.
The camping spots at all three campsites can be reserved through Recreation.gov. Heres a link for each of them:
No fees or permits are required for dispersed camping in Olympic National Forest.
Still, its never wrong to do quick online research and get the most up-to-date information on staying in these areas. An even better solution would be contacting the relevant USFS Ranger District.
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Permits Fees & Reservations For Olympic National Forest Camping
Out of the 17 developed campgrounds in Olympic National Forest all but three are first-come, first served. The three campgrounds that accept reservations are Falls Creek, Willaby, and Coho. These campgrounds can all be reserved via Recreation.gov at the links below:
For dispersed camping in Olympic National Forest there are no permits or fees required, but we always recommend checking with the relevant USFS Ranger Districts for the most up to date regulations.
Paid Accommodations And Dining Near Olympic National Park National Park
1. While visiting Olympic National Park, here are the places you can stay and dine2. Log Cabin Resort is located at 3183 East Beach Road in Olympic National Park.3. Quinault Lodge is located at 345 South Shore Road, Quinault.4. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort along Sol Duc Road.5. Kalaloch Lodge is located at 157151 Highway 101, Forks.6. Quileute Oceanside Resort7. Quillayute River Resort
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What To Pack For Your Visit To Olympic National Park
Here are the gears that you should bring with you if you are an outdoor enthusiast and planning for an outdoor expedition in Olympic National Park.
Rain jacket. You will use it for protection from drizzles and downpours while in the Pacific Northwest in Olympic National Park.
Park maps. You should download or have a detailed map while touring Olympic National Park to help in direction purposes, save you time, and prevent you from getting lost.
Tide Chart, Topographic map and watch. These gears will help you if you are planning to explore the coastline and the tide pools.
Sturdy, hard-soled water shoes. This will help your feet from getting hurt by sharp rocks and barnacles in Olympic National Park.
Hiking boots. The boots should have traction. The boots will help in keeping your feet dry and comfortable when hiking.
Binoculars. Olympic National Park is full of animal life. This gear will help you have excellent views of whales, seals, bald eagles and other animals while in the park.
Water bottles or hydration system. Although Olympic National Park tends to be wet while exploring the park, you may get dehydrated, and this may help prevent any headaches and severe conditions like heat cramps and heatstroke.
Headlamp. For easy visibility at night
Sunglass and sun hat. For protection against direct sunlight
For complete photos and videos of our trip visit our photos on our page
Elwha Ecosystem Restoration Project
The Elwha Ecosystem Restoration Project is the second-largest ecosystem restoration project in the history of the National Park Service after the Everglades. It consisted of removing the 210-foot Glines Canyon Dam and draining its reservoir, Lake Mills and removing the 108-foot Elwha Damand its reservoir Lake Aldwell from the Elwha River. Upon removal, the park will revegetate the slopes and river bottoms to prevent erosion and speed up ecological recovery. The primary purpose of this project is to restore anadromous stocks of Pacific Salmon and steelhead to the Elwha River, which have been denied access to the upper 65 miles of river habitat for more than 95 years by these dams. Removal of the dams was completed in 2014.
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Olympic National Park Boondocking Locations Fs2480 Clear Cut
AddressElevation: 869
Management: State Forest Service
Free Dispersed Camping -> No Reservations. The road in is Gravel and 3.3 miles from a paved road. There are 1-5 campsites at this location and the maximum RV length is 45 feet.
Best Review:
Short spur road dead ending in a couple of year old clear cut. Firm gravel road. View to Hood Canal to the east. Little shade, but lots of room. Plenty of firewood. Sun and moon rises are beautiful. Take Jorsted Creek Rd/FS24 off of US101, bearing right at FS2480, around 3.3 miles. The logged area has been replanted, but the saplings are mostly a foot or less in height.
Other Places To Camp For Free On The Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic National Forest and DNR-managed land are far from the only places to camp for free on the Olympic Peninsula.
The Hoh River Trust is another excellent option, although quite its a trek to reach. Its a beautiful area though . Its best for tent camping as the unpaved road into the campsites is quite rough.
Additional options for RV boondocking can be had at the Walmart in Port Angeles as well as the Walmart in Sequim. As far as Im aware, overnight parking is still allowed at both locations, although its always wise to call ahead to double check as rules can change in an instant.
Casino boondocking is another option for RVers. Seven Cedars Casino in Sequim offers free overnight RV parking .
Although its not completely free, boondocking at Quinault Beach Resort & Casino costs just $10 Sunday through Thursday . Its located at the far southwest end of the Olympic Peninsula near Ocean Shores. The beach is just a short walk away from the overnight RV parking lot.
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Other Campground On The Olympic Peninsula
Just because you want to visit Olympic National Park, doesnt mean you have to camp in the national park itself.
There are several amazing campgrounds near Olympic National Park. Many are just minutes outside of its boundaries. Some of these are small and remote to help you avoid crowds while others are full-blown RV parks.
Here are a few more of our favorite campgrounds on the Olympic Peninsula!
Staying Outside The Park
If youre looking for full-hookup RV camping outside of the park, here are some great additional options.
- Elwha Dam RV Park: Located less than 10 miles from the park entrance, this campground has 51 full hookup sites, along with cabins and tent space.
- Eagle Tree RV Park: Located in Poulsbo, WA. This park is about 1.5 hours from the park entrance and boasts 53 full-hookup RV sites.
- Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman: Located in Hoodsport, WA. This park boasts 30 lakefront campsites and provides great access to Olympic National Forest.
- Gilgal Oasis RV Park: Located about a half-hour drive from the Olympic National Park visitors center, this campground has 25 paved, full hookup sites.
- John Waynes Waterfront Resort: Located about a half-hour drive from the park, this campground has 31 full hookup sites.
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Dispersed Camping Near Olympic National Park
Dispersed camping is another option for camping near Olympic National Park.
Also known as wild camping, dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground.
This means you wont have any normal campground amenities such as running water or bathrooms. Remember to always follow the leave no trace principles .
Dont forget that camping is only allowed in certain areas. On the Olympic Peninsula, its generally restricted to the Olympic National Forest.
The best thing about dispersed camping? Its free!
Another option for free camping on the Olympic Peninsula is to stay at a DNR campground.
There are 12 DNR campgrounds on the Olympic Peninsula. Each requires a Discover Pass which costs just $30 per year. Other than that, they are free to use.
Check out our in-depth camping guides to learn more about dispersed camping and free camping.
Sol Duc Campground Sol Duc
Sol Duc Campground is centrally located between the Sol Duc Falls trailhead and the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. It features two loops and nearly 100 spacious sites. Most sites at Sol Duc are reservable ahead of time, which is a recommended approach during the summer season. The best sites to vie for are the ones adjacent to the Sol Duc River.
The nearby resort is accessible by a hiking trail and has a general store with camping supplies. The resort’s mineral pools can also be utilized with a small day-use fee. Accessible via a hiking trail or short drive in the other direction, the picture-worthy Sol Duc Falls Trail is perfect for a family day hike. Flushing toilets and potable water are available at the campground.
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Olympic National Park Boondocking Hotspots Nf
Address
Free Dispersed Camping -> No Reservations.
Best Review:
This site we stayed overnight is way up the mountain! We passed a lot of pullouts on the way up, but they were all right alongside the road, which isnt our vibe. We kept going up and up and FINALLY found an actual campsite set back from the road which was perfect! This ended up being right below the upper Mt. Elinor trailhead which is helpful if youre hiking it, and also because theres a vault toilet there.
Just be aware that if you do drive all the way to the top , its a long way. Maybe 20-30 mins each way from the bottom, depending on how fast you drive. This site has a gorgeous view of the Mt. Elinor ridgeline, and wide open sky in the other direction. A bit too far back to see much at the bottom, but if you are up high on your rig or something you can spot the lake and city lights.