Top 10 Camp Sites in the Pacific Northwest

For those looking to explore the great outdoors here are the top 10 camp sites in the Pacific Northwest stretching from Alaska to Northern California.

Alaska
Encompassing over 80 percent of Southeast Alaska, the Tongass National Forest is home to mountain meadows, glacial rain forests and over 400 species of wildlife. Endless bays and inlets offer kayaking or canoeing while fishing for salmon and halibut.

Washington
Lower Falls Campground in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest offers a view of six of the major waterfalls on the Lewis River. Backcountry hiking, horseback riding and a wheelchair loop provide stunning views of the cliffs along the river.

Mossyrock Park is set on the southwestern shore of Riffe Lake and offers boating and great trout fishing. Adjacent to the 14,000-acre Cowlitz Wildlife Area, trails along the lake offer viewing of bald eagles, ospreys and other species of wildlife.

Pacific Beach State Park is the lone state-park campground in Washington that offers a view of the ocean from your camp spot. A great spot long walks with over 2,000 feet of shoreline.

Second Beach in Olympic National Park is surrounded by rugged peaks with natural arches at each end. Easily reachable by a quick 1/2-mile hike from the parking area, you can pitch a tent and view seals, sea lions, eagles and six surf-battered islands.

Oregon
Camp Sherman sets at the headwaters of the Metolius River in the Deschutes National Forest and offers some of the most stunning scenery anywhere in Oregon. The area offers plenty of trails and numerous species of fish and wildlife.

The Cape Blanco cabins, at Port Orford, Oregon, offer trails along bluffs with breathtaking ocean views. Four cabins provided the bare basics of beds with mattresses, a covered porch and a fire ring.

Fall Mountain Lookout in the Malheur National Forest offers comfort camping in fire towers with electricity, appliances and windows looking in every direction, providing and unobstructed view of the John Day Valley and mountains.

Northern California
Goldfield, Hayfork is a great place for hikers with a trail just inside the boundary of the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area. The trail leads to Boulder Lake and is one of the easiest backpacking excursions in all of California.

Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park offers trails through the redwood forest along meandering streams and a half-mile of beach bordered by brilliant tide pools. The two-mile trail to the campground from the U.S. 101 access road has just over a 900-foot rise.

I was so excited writing this that I had to add a few more, but I decided to just make it a whole ‘nother blog post. Check it out 10 Majestic Camp Sites along the Pacific Northwest Trail here

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