Camping for Every Comfort Level in Northeast Washington

Your perfect campsite is waiting

Looking for the perfect camping spot in Northeast Washington? Whether you’re into glamping, primitive camping, or something in between, this region has a campsite for every comfort level- from lakeside RV hookups to backcountry solitude deep in the Colville National Forest.

This guide covers where to camp, what amenities to expect, and insider tips to help you find your ideal spot.

Primitive Camping: Bring Your Own Everything

If your idea of bliss is disconnecting completely, primitive camping in Northeast Washington might be your style. You’ll need to pack in (and pack out) your own food, water, and supplies. In return, you’ll get starry skies, quiet forests, and the kind of stillness that’s hard to find anywhere else.

The Colville National Forest offers more than 1.5 million acres of camping opportunities, including dispersed sites down forest roads. South Huckleberry Mountain is great for overlanding and wildlife viewing on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) timber land. Bring bear-resistant storage and use GPS to confirm you’re not on private property.

Pro tip: Learn and follow the seven Leave No Trace principles to keep these areas wild and welcoming.

Simple Campgrounds: Just the Basics

If you prefer a picnic table and potentially neighbors within sight, try one of Northeast Washington’s many developed campgrounds. Here are a few to consider:

• Boundary Dam Reservoir (Forebay Recreation Area)  fee-free, first come, first serve campground in Pend Oreille County with tent pads, fire rings, and bear-proof containers.

• Pend Oreille County Park (40 minutes north of Spokane)- 26 first-come, first-serve sites with tables, fire pits, water spigots, and vault toilets. Seven miles of hiking trails wind through the forest.

• Big Meadow Lake (Colville National Forest)- 17 free lakeside campsites, perfect for kayaking, fishing, and canoeing. You’ll find vault toilets, but bring your own drinking water.

• Sullivan Lake Campgrounds (near Metaline Falls)- East and West Sullivan Campgrounds feature secluded and waterfront sites with potable water, vault toilets, and garbage service. The lake includes a boat launch, making this a prime spot for paddling or swimming. Reserve your campsite at recreation.gov.

• The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) also manages several campgrounds where you can stay for up to seven days with a Discover Pass.

RV Camping: Park and Play

If you’re exploring the region on wheels, Northeast Washington has RV-friendly campgrounds from off-grid boondocking to full-service hookups.

• Edgewater Campground– on the banks of the Pend Oreille River, with large RV sites, vault toilets, drinking water, and firewood for sale. Ideal for boaters and anglers.

• Sherry Creek Campground–  a DNR site near Little Pend Oreille Lake and the 78-mile Little Pend Oreille Trail System. No hookups, but trailer-friendly (up to 35 feet) with vault toilets.

• Curlew Lake State Park (Republic)- standard, partial, and full hookup sites with showers, restrooms, dump station, and access to fishing, swimming, and two miles of hiking trails.

Hike-In Cabin Camping: Snow Peak Cabin

If you want to earn your stay, Snow Peak Cabin in Ferry County offers one of the most rewarding camping experiences in the region.

Accessible only by hiking, skiing, or horseback (3-6 miles in), this one-room log cabin sits at 6,400 feet with sweeping views of the Cascades and Canadian peaks. It’s part of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail and surrounded by motor-free wilderness.

Inside, you’ll find four cots with pads, a propane cook stove, cookware, a wood stove (firewood included), solar lighting, and an outhouse. Outside, there’s a spring-fed water trough and corrals for horses. You’ll need to bring your own drinking and cleaning water.

Snow Peak Cabin can be reserved online, with new dates opening on a six-month rolling basis, at recreation.gov.

Plan Your Wonderfully Wild Adventure

From deep-forest solitude to lakeside comfort, Northeast Washington offers camping for every kind of explorer. Check the Colville National Forest, Washington DNR, BLM, and Washington State Parks websites for maps, reservation links, and seasonal conditions before you go-  then pack your sense of adventure and enjoy the wild side of Washington.