Goodell Creek Campground is located in North Cascades National Park Complex in Washington State, right off State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway).
Goodell Creek Campground - North Cascades National Park
Goodell Creek Campground is located in the heart of North Cascades National Park and is one of my favorite campgrounds in the National Park System!
Goodell Creek Campground and Hoh Rainforest Campground in Olympic National Park are the two best examples of forests that most visitors from out of state think of when they think of Washington State.
Campers will experience dense old-growth forests with moss growing around the trunks of the trees. The nice shaded forested canopy is filled with Western Redcedar, Western Hemlock, Douglas-Fir, wild red huckleberries, and other native shrubs.
The icing on the cake is falling asleep to the sound of the Skagit River in the background! The Skagit River is the largest river that flows into the Puget Sound Area. This river provides critical habitat for all species of Pacific salmon. Check with the visitor center and see if you are at the right time of year to potentially see salmon returning up the river. If so, make sure to go to the salmon-viewing station along the river loop trail in the town of Newhalem.
The other part I like about this campground is that you are close to several nearby attractions/activities in the park. You will be near a boat launch for rafting and kayaking on the Skagit River, fish on the Skagit and its tributaries, go canoeing or kayaking on Diablo Lake
Several surrounding trails are nearby, from a short walk to all-day treks. After visiting the North Cascades Visitor Center and watching the park film, try the Sterling Munro Boardwalk for a short stroll. It has several great displays and an incredible view with a fireplace. You can also opt for a longer 1.8-mile River Loop Trail that also starts at the park's visitor center.
- Make sure to check the National Park Service Website for any alerts of wildfires, fire restrictions, road closures, and if any campfire bans are in effect before making reservations and before you visit North Cascades National Park. This park has a high-elevation mountain pass, snowy winter conditions in the winter and the potential for extreme wildfires in the summer.
North Cascades National Park Entrance Fee
North Cascades does not require an entrance fee and is a fee-free park. Camping fees still apply.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Goodell Creek Campground Map
Goodell Creek Campground Camping Fees
Campsite Cost:
Nightly Rate/Fee - $20.00/Night
Senior/Access Camping Fee: $10.00
Goodell Creek Group Sites - $75.00/night for reservations.
Goodell Creek Campground Reservations
Are Campground Reservations Available? Yes
Phone Number? 1-877-444-6777
Online? Recreation.gov
How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Individual sites at this campground operate on a 6-month rolling basis
First Come, First Served? Sites that are not reserved are available on a first-come, first-served basis and usually fill by late morning, especially on weekends.
Due to limited phone access, there is no way to check the availability of first-come, first-served sites. You must physically be in the campground to claim a site if it is open.
Group Camp Reservations can be made 3-360 days in advance at www.recreation.gov or by phone at 1-877-444-6777.
Campground Information
Season: Goodell Creek Campground is open year-round, with vault toilets available. Potable water and garbage service is available from Memorial Day through mid-September.
Number of Sites: 19 individual campsites for tents or small rvs.
Location in the park: Located south of SR 20 at milepost 119. 13 miles (21 km) east of Marblemount, 74 miles (119 km) west of Winthrop.
Accessible Sites: We did not see any ADA Accessible Campsites.
Location in the park:
Goodell Creek Campground Amenities
Bathroom available: there are not flush toilets available at Goodell Creek Campground, only Vault Toilets are available.
Hot Showers: No
Laundry: No
Is there WIFI available? No
Is there Cellular Phone Service Available? No
Campground Host on site: No
Firewood: You will need to bring your own firewood to the campground. The nearest store is in Newhalem.
Is there a food storage locker/Bear Box in the campsite/area?
Black Bears are active in the North Cascades and this campground. Make sure to store all of your coolers, cookware, and place any other odorants inside the provided bear boxes/food storage lockers provided on-site when not in use.
Also, inform park/campground staff if you encounter a bear.
Dump Station: No, Dump Stations are available at Newhalem and Colonial Creek Campgrounds.
Payphone: No
Amenities at each campsite:
Is there a Fire pit/fire ring available at each site? Yes
Is there a Picnic Table available at each site? Yes
Potable Water? Safe drinking water is available during peak season
Don't forget to pack
Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.
Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!
Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!
Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.
RV Camping at Goodell Creek Campground
RV Length: Maximum Length 22 feet
Generators: 8 am to 8 pm
Hook-Ups: There are no hook-ups within the campground
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
How to get to Campground
Located south of SR 20 (North Cascades Highway) at milepost 119. Thirteen miles (21 km)east of Marblemount, 74 miles (119 km) west of Winthrop.
Campground Regulations
The maximum number of people in a campsite: 8 people, 3 tents and 2 vehicles limit per campsite.
The number of cars per campsite: 2
Checkout time: 12 pm
Quiet Hours: 10 p to 6 am
Wildlife frequents the area. All food must be stored in animal-resistant food lockers or hard-sided vehicles until use.
Camping is limited to 14 days from July 1 through Labor Day (first Monday in September) and to 30 days the rest of the year.
Pets Allowed:
Pets must be on a maximum 6-foot leash in the campground.
Pick up waste after your pet and put it in a receptacle.
Do not leave pets unattended.
Pets are not allowed on trails in North Cascades National Park.
Pets are allowed on trails Pets are allowed on trails in Ross Lake National Recreation Area and the PCT.
Upper and Lower Goodell Group Camps
Lower Group sites maximum 50 people, 25 vehicles per site.
Upper Group maximum 30 people, 10 vehicles per site.
Group campsite Check-out time is noon.
Don't forget to Pack
Lodging Options
Lodging options outside the park from both the West and East sides of the park
From the West end of the park in Concrete, WA.
Mt. Baker Hotel—This is a 2.5-star, 8-room hotel with Air Conditioning, free parking, and free Wi-Fi. There is no elevator, some rooms are upstairs, and no pets are allowed.
On the east side of the Park
Park Ranger John Pro Tip:
Mist visitors traveling from the east end up spending some time in both Winthrop and Twisp. Both towns are a destination in themselves and most people wish they had allotted more time to explore these small western towns! It is here where you will find the town general store, gift store, restaurants, bakeries, and gift shops for everything.
Some of the highlights include the Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop and Blue Star Coffee Roasters in Twisp!
Sun Mountain Lodge is a popular hotel in the Winthrop area. It has a 4.5/5 star rating and breathtaking views of the North Cascades and the Methow Valley. The hotel includes free parking, free internet, a pool and fitness center, bicycle rentals, and more!
Additional information on North Cascades National Park
Complete Guide to North Cascades National Park - Your complete guide to planning your trip to North Cascades.
Where to go car camping in North Cascades National Park—This is your complete camping guide for North Cascades National Park, including reservation information and more!
Gorge Lake Campground - This is your complete campground guide, including photos of the campground, site amenities, reservation information, and more!
Colonial Creek Campground - This is your complete campground guide, including photos of the campground, site amenities, reservation information, and more!
Newhalem Creek Campground - This is your complete campground guide for Newhalem Campground, including photos of the campground, site amenities, reservation information, and more!
National Park Sites near North Cascades National Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park
Minidoka National Historic Site (Washington and Idaho)
Make sure to check out all of Washington's National Parks, Oregon National Parks, and Idaho National Parks.
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
Leave a Reply