Ohanapecosh (Mount Rainier National Park)
Located around 125 miles (a 3-ish hour drive) from Seattle, the Ohanapecosh campground in Mount Rainier National Park is a great choice for campers who want it all: plenty of hiking, swimming in the glacier-melt river, and fly fishing. Hikes range in distance from the 0.5mi. Box Canyon Loop Trail to the 26.2mi. Eastside Trail, with many options in-between for those of all levels. Ohanapecosh has 197 individual sites, flush toilets, and drinking water, as well as a grocery store and gas in the nearby town of Packard, WA. Reservations are $20/night and are recommended to ensure campsite availability. The campground is open from early June through late September.
Moran State Park (Orcas Island)
Moran State Park is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts due to its incredible variety of activity choices. It has 124 individual campsites, drinking water, flush toilets, and coin-operated showers. Main attractions include swimming, fishing,
and kayaking in Cascade Lake and Mountain Lake, biking and hiking through the campground trails, and beach exploration. Motor boats are allowed in both lakes, with kayaks and paddleboards available to rent at Cascade Lake’s bait shop. Popular hikes include the Mount Constitution Loop; a challenging 7.1mi. trail trail that leads to two
gorgeous peaks overlooking Mountain Lake, and Cascade Lake Trail; a 2.6mi. loop around Cascade Lake. The park costs $27-$37/night from May 15 to September 15. To get there, take the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island.
Horseshoe Cove Campground (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest)
Located on the shores of emerald-green Baker Lake, Horseshoe Cove Campground is one of the smaller campgrounds, with only 39 individual sites. Several sites are located right at the lake’s edge and have prime access to the campground’s boat ramp and sandy swimming beach. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, firewood, picnic tables, and fire pits. Hiking is incredibly accessible, with the 5mi. Baker River trail traveling North into the North Cascades National Park and the 28mi. Baker Lake trail along the eastern side of the lake. 28 miles may sound like a lot, but don’t worry: with incredible views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan, Anderson Point is only 2.5mi. in! Campsites are
$35/night and book up quickly, so make sure to reserve your site in advance.
