Lynnwood Times’ 2023 Campsite Guide for Snohomies

With summer months and warmer weather in sight, the time at last has come to withdraw from our glum Winter and rainy Spring hibernation to experience our state's greatest gem: its nature! Last year, around this time, the Lynnwood Times compiled a list of great hiking locations but this year we’re focusing on all things camping.

In this special Lynnwood Times camping story, you’ll find a complete comprehensive guide to recharging from your desk jobs and computer screens for some much needed, spiritual, reset. Whether you’ve just moved to the Pacific Northwest, have lived here for years but haven't dove into outdoor recreations, or a seasoned veteran, this campsite guide is sure to spark some ideas on how to tackle the 2023 Washington State camping season.

Kayak Point: Previously listed as a great beach location, Stanwood's Kayak Point also offers a great campsite opportunity. What better way to experience a great beach then to call it home for a few days? After a day of fishing at the beach walk back to camp to throw your fresh catches over the fire or explore the surrounding nature trails for your morning exercise.

Wenberg: Also, near Stanwood's waterfront is the award-winning Wenberg Park campsite which offers splendid opportunities for picnicking, sunbathing, and boating across 45 acres. The park has 70 campsites spread out across three loops, three picnic shelters, an enclosed swim beach with rinse shower, and 1,140 feet of freshwater shoreline with a two-lane concrete boat launch for all your water works.

River Meadows: Arlington's 150-acre River Meadows campsite, 20416 Jordan Road, rests on open meadows and forests along the banks of the Stillaguamish River. You can fish along the mile-long riverbank, camp in the summer or rent a yurt year-round, picnic, hike, geocache, bird watch, or play catch in the meadow. The park's expansive meadows offer a great location for large events, such as family reunions, scout jamborees, weddings, and community celebrations.

Flowing Lake: Flowing Lake Regional Park, also known as Leckie's Beach, is an immensely popular park that offers a variety of recreational activities. The day-use area provides access to the beach and amenities which include a boat launch, fishing dock, playground, picnic tables, picnic shelters and an amphitheater. For those that wish to stay a little longer, the park includes a campground with a mix of cabins and campsites and a heated restroom with showers. A nature trail encompasses a portion of the campground for those seeking a little solitude. The park and campsite is located at 17900 48th Street Southeast in the city of Snohomish.

Lake Roesiger: This beautiful campground is located on the southeast end of Lake Roesiger (across the road from Lake Roesiger County Park), densely wooded and perfect for scout, church, educational groups or family reunions. There are 10 walk-in campsites that can host a total of up to 50 people and all sites are walk-in only with guests carrying their belongings to the sites from the nearby parking lot. While the hike to each of the campsites is short it is also steep and may be strenuous for some. However, a ADA site is also available to those who need it.

Squire Creek: Just outside the Town of Darrington, at 41415 State Road 530, enjoy a peaceful camping experience among the trees. Squire Creek offers camping among the beautiful moss-laden trees of an old-growth forest. The park is a perfect staging area for adventures into the Mount Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest, hiking to the base of Whitehorse Mountain, or participating in the Bluegrass Festival in Darrington and the Summer Meltdown Festival (see Summer events). Access to the Sauk River is just five minutes away at Backman Park and two large picnic shelters are located near the crystal clear waters of Squire Creek.

Whitehorse: Also located just outside the Town of Darrington, Whitehorse Regional Park Campground becomes the ultimate "gate-a-way" in Snohomish County, with close access to the Whitehorse Trail, North Mountain bike trails, and other DNR and Forest Service lands. 15 of the 18 spacious sites have water, 50 amp power, and sewer connections.

Mount Rainier's Ohanapecosh Campground : Only a 30-minute drive from Mount Rainier's Paradise and Sunrise resorts, respectively, and located in the Mount Rainier National Park proper, Ohanapecosh is surrounded by old growth and crossed by an exceptionally beautiful snow-fed river. The campground has plenty of hiking trails, from Silver Falls; Grove of the Patriarchs; to natural hot springs. At an elevation of 1,914 feet the 14,411-foot Mount Rainier dominates the skyline for hundreds of miles.

Deceptions Pass’ Bowman Bay Campground: Washington's jaw-dropping Deception's Pass is iconically home to gorgeous beaches, island views, and the titular bridge gapping Whidbey and Fidalgo islands (which is pedestrian friendly by the way). There's no shortage of things to do here from hiking Goose Neck or Lighthouse Point, to searching for marine life in the numerous tide pools, to taking a charter boat through Skagit Bay. Really you can't go wrong anywhere you choose to camp here (Cranberry Lake is a notable second) but Bowman Bay is a beach-front campground with oceanside views. Its beach access, trails leading to a variety of hikes, and large park with picnic and recreational opportunities, it's worth paying it a visit whether you plan to camp overnight or not.

Swift Forest Campground near Mount St. Helens: What used to be a contender for Pacific Northwest giant, until it blew its top off in 1980, Mount St. Helens is still an amazing spectacle to behold. Swift Forest Campground is a relatively easy jumping-off point to the numerous hikes available (including summiting St. Helens if you are up for a challenge, although much more approachable than climbing Rainier or Adams). With hot springs, the molten-carved underground Ape Caves (arguable one of the most unique hikes in Washington), or the Mount Saint Helens Visitor's Center, there's really no shortage of activities at your disposable at this, oftentimes, more overlooked volcano than the more famous Rainier.

Like most recreational activities, being prepared can be the difference between a good time and a bad time. When it comes to camping, nothing is worse than driving several hours out to your camping location, which often may be miles from the closest store, only to realize you forgot to pack something, didn't realize you needed something, or wish you had something. While most of this comes with experience, the below list may, at least, be a good place to start.