There are drive-in, boat-in, and hike-in campgrounds available for visitors wishing to spend a night or two beneath the starry sky at North Cascades National Park in Washington State. Some campgrounds are open year-round, while others are open seasonally, anywhere from mid-to-late May through early-to-mid September. Some campgrounds require a backcountry permit, others do not.

All drive-in campgrounds along State Route 20 are on a reservation system through recreation.gov. Campground reservations are accepted during the specified season dates on the recreation.gov website. Campgrounds may be open before or after the reservation season on a first-come, first-served basis.

Drive-In Campgrounds

There are five drive-in campgrounds and one drive-in group campground. Below is a quick rundown of each.

A site at Newhalem Creek Campground, North Cascades National Park / Paisley Dandenault

Newhalem Creek Campground offers 107 sites (13 tent-only, 2 ADA-accessible) as well as 2 group campsites (max. 25 people per site). RV/Trailer maximum length is 50 feet (15.2 m). Standard sites are $24 per night. Group sites are $75 per night. Open May 19, 2025 – September 6, 2025.

Surrounded by forest, this campground is near Newhalem and the Skagit River. Drinking water, dump station, trash, and flush toilets are available seasonally. Cell service is year-round. Each campsite has a campfire ring, grill, and picnic table. There are no hookups.

Reservations are made through recreation.gov.

Gorge Lake Campground offers 8 sites, all tent-only. Considered a limited-development campground, there are no specifically-designated ADA-accessible sites, although recreation.gov indicates Site #8 provides better accessibility than the other sites. The sites are small although some sites might accommodate an RV or trailer of 35 feet (10.7 m) or smaller. During peak season, sites are $20 per night. All other times of the year, sites are $10 per night.

Gorge Lake Campground is located on the bank of Gorge Lake, next to the cascading Stetattle Creek. There is no drinking water available. Each site has a fire ring with grill and a picnic table. Vault toilets are available year-round.

Open year-round, reservations are accepted during the peak season of May 19, 2025 – September 6, 2025. All other times of the year are first-come, first-served.

Goodell Creek Campground is open year-round, offering 19 sites (no ADA-accessible sites). The sites are small but RVs and trailers up to 20 feet (6.1 m) might be able to fit. Sites are $20 per night and reservations are required through recreation.gov May 19, 2025 – September 7, 2025. Advance reservations may be made from 6 months to 7 days in advance. The remainder of the year, sites are free and first-come, first-served. Year-round cell service and vault toilets. Trash and drinking water are seasonal.

Goodell Creek Campground is situated in lush, old growth forest on the banks of the Skagit River. Nearby recreational opportunities include a raft/kayak launch on the Skagit River and fishing on the Skagit and its tributaries.

Lower Goodell Group Campground offers 2 group sites and is a convenient campground on the banks of Goodell Creek. Each group site has 5 tent pads, a pavilion with picnic tables, and a fire grate. Maximum capacity is 50 people and 20 vehicles per site. Lower Goodell sites can accommodate RVs up to approximately 30 feet (9 m). Vault toilets and garbage service are provided. There are no hook-ups or potable water.

Open May 19, 2025 – September 7, 2025, each group site is $75 per night. Reservations are required through recreation.gov and may be made 12 months in advance.

Colonial Creek North Campground offers 38 sites (6 tent-only), with three ADA-accessible sites available over both Colonial Creek North and South Campground, next door. RV/trailer maximum length is 25 feet (7.6 m).

Open May 19, 2025 – September 7, 2025, sites are $24 per night. Reservations are required through recreation.gov and may be made 6 months to 7 days in advance.

This campground is surrounded by old-growth and located on Diablo Lake, on the north side of State Route 20 near mile marker 130. Flush toilets, vault toilets, trash, and drinking water are available seasonally. Each site has a food storage locker, picnic table, and grill.

Colonial Creek South Campground is next door to Colonial Creek North Campground and offers 93 sites (19 tent-only), 3 ADA-accessible sites (shared between North and South campgrounds), and 1 group site (max. number of people unknown). Vault toilets available year-round, flush toilets, drinking water, dump station, and trash are seasonal.

Open May 19, 2025 – September 7, 2025, standard sites are $24 per night and group site is $75 per night. Reservations are required through recreation.gov and may be made 6 months to 7 days in advance. Ten sites #64 - #73 (walk-in, tent-only) remain open during winter months and are fee-free with no water, services, or fees. Vault toilets available. Please carry out all trash. Snow may be on ground during winter months.

Recreational opportunities include a fully accessible fishing pier and boat launch on Diablo Lake, as well as hiking opportunities for various abilities on Thunder Creek and Thunder Knob trails.

Boat-In Camping

Canoes loaded for some boat-in camping at Diablo Lake, North Cascades National Park Complex / David Snyder

There are 25 boat-in camps spread along Ross Lake, Diablo Lake, and Lake Chelan. Some camps have docks while others do not. A backcountry permit for overnighting at these sites is required for some boat-in camps, but not all.

Lake Chelan Boat-In Camps

There are three boat-in camps and these are accessed from the Stehekin region. All are first-come, first-served. A federal dock permit is required May 1 to October 31 at these camps for motorboats.

Weaver Point – Across from Stehekin Landing by boat, or via the 3.5-mile (5.6 km) Stehekin River Trail. There are 16 sites with picnic tables. No backcountry permit is required.

Flick Creek - Located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Stehekin Landing along the northeast shore of Lake Chelan. There are 2 sites, including a large shelter. Flick Creek is also along the Lakeshore Trail. Hikers may also camp overnight at Flick Creek. No backcountry permit is required.

Manly Wham - Located approximately 3 miles from Stehekin Landing on the southwest shore of Lake Chelan near Bridal Veil Falls. There is one site. No backcountry permit is required. 

Ross Lake Boat-In Camps

There are 19 boat-in camps at Ross Lake, and all of these require a backcountry permit for camping. Refer to Boating on Ross Lake for information on access, special regulations and tips for the backcountry.

A list of Ross Lake boat-in camps, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, North Cascades National Park Complex / NPS file

Diablo Lake Boat-In Camps

There are three boat-in camps and they are considered the most easily-accessible of the boat-in campgrounds. There is a boat launch at Colonial Creek Campground on State Route 20. None of these boat-in sites have a boat dock, and they all require a backcountry permit.

Buster Brown – Located 2.8 miles (4.7 km) from Colonial Creek Campground, there are 3 sites.

Hidden Cove – Located 2.6 miles (4.3 km) from Colonial Creek Campground, there is one site.

Thunder Point – Located 2.0 miles (3.3 km) from Colonial Creek Campground, there are 3 sites.

Hozomeen

Hozomeen is located at the northern-most end of Ross Lake. It’s a remote section of the park  complex.

Hozomeen Campground offers 75 first-come, first-served designated sites, and facilities include pit toilets, potable water, picnic tables, and fire grates. Guests must pack out all trash.
Drive-in campgrounds are on a first-come, first-served basis. Campsites located in the Upper Loop are closed until further notice due to hazard trees.

During the 2024 season, the gate at Hozomeen will remain closed to vehicle access from Canada. Winnebago Flats and the upper Hozomeen campgrounds will remain closed. The Hozomeen boat launch may be inaccessible due to low lake levels. Foot traffic across the border and trail use is allowed around the Hozomeen area. Backcountry permits for trips starting in Hozomeen will be issued remotely via email, [email protected]. See the news release for more information.

Camping In The Stehekin Area

Since there are no roads leading in to Stehekin, camping at the three campgrounds there require some minimal amount of walking.

A site at Harlequin Campground at Stehekin, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, North Cascades National Park Complex / Rebecca Latson

Harlequin Campground offers 7 sites located 4.5 miles (7.2 km) up the Stehekin Valley Rd from Stehekin Landing, 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the public airstrip, and 6.5 miles (10.5 km) from High Bridge. Situated along the Stehekin River, all sites are walk-in, though some have limited parking. First-come, first-served during the winter; summer reservations are required and can be made up to 6 months in advance through recreation.gov. Open year-round, during July 1, 2025 – September 7, 2025, the cost is $20 per night. The remainder of the year these sites are fee-free. Vault toilets are available year-round and trash collection is seasonal.

Purple Point Campground offers 6 sites and is located at the head of Lake Chelan, a 10-minute walk from the boat dock at Stehekin Landing. All sites are walk-in sites for small to medium-sized tents. First-come, first-served during the winter; summer reservations are required and can be made up to 6 months in advance through recreation.gov. Open year-round, during May 19, 2025 – September 7, 2025, the cost is $20 per night. The remainder of the year these sites are fee-free. Potable water and garbage service are available from Memorial Day weekend through mid-September but not during the rest of the year.

Lakeview Campground offers 9 sites and is a 5-minute walk from the boat dock at Stehekin Landing. All sites are walk-in sites for small to medium-sized tents. First-come, first-served during the winter; summer reservations are required and can be made up to 6 months in advance through recreation.gov. Open year-round, during May 19, 2025 – September 7, 2025, the cost is $20 per night. The remainder of the year these sites are fee-free. Vault toilets are available year-round. Flush toilets, drinking water, and trash collection are seasonal.

Backcountry Camping

According to park staff:

Backpacking options in the park run the gamut from short, one-night trips along a river or to a lake or high point, to multi-day treks up valleys and over multiple passes. The region is also known for the multitude of mountaineering opportunities, also from short climbs to lengthy bushwhacking and climbing epics.

Within the trail corridors, there are almost 140 designated sites. Learn more about these sites on our Wilderness Trip Planner page. Camping in the trail corridors is allowed only at these camps, which are designed to provide a safe and low-impact camping experience. Most camps are located off the main trail, to provide privacy and a sense of solitude for passing hikers. Each camp has a flat tent pad area, pit or composting toilet, and access to water. Designated camps at lower elevations also have an established fire ring.

For more detailed information about backcountry hiking and camping, click on the Backcountry Camping title above.

While you are planning your camping trip, it’s a good idea to check the North Cascades National Park Complex summer operation updates pertaining to campgrounds and roads within the  complex.