Newhalem Creek Campground is located in North Cascades National Park in Washington State, right off State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway).
Newhalem Creek Campground - North Cascades National Park
Campers will appreciate that the Newhalem Campground is a short walking distance to the North Cascades Visitor Center and a couple of its hiking trails. This means you can park at your campsite and then not have to worry about finding a parking space at the visitor center!
The campground is also located along the Skagit River, the largest river that flows into the Puget Sound Area. This river provides critical habitat for all species of pacific salmon. Make sure to check with the visitor center and see if you are at the right time of year to potentially see salmon returning back 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 campground has great cover and is located in a lush forest surrounded by Western Hemlock, Douglas-Fir, and the incredible smell of Western Redcedar!
I would highly suggest trying to get a reservation in loops A or B as there are more trees and understory that will give you a buffer between sites.
You can tell that there was a fire at one point in loop C, and there is much less understory. This means it is easier to see and hear your neighbors. Of course, on the bright side, you would see more sunlight.
Don't forget that there are great canoeing and Kayaking opportunities on Diablo Lake and epic hiking trails like Thunder Creek Trail, Cascade Pass, and Thunder Knob Trail, which is a 3.6-mile trail with epic views and crosses several forest types in the area!
- Make sure to check the National Park Service Website for any alerts of wildfires, 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.
Newhalem Creek Campground Map
Newhalem Creek Campground Camping Fees
Campsite Cost:
Nightly Rate/Fee - $24/night for reservations.
Senior/Access Camping Fee: $ 12.00
Newhalem Creek Group Sites: $75.00
Newhalem Creek Campground Reservations
Are Campground Reservations Available? Yes
Phone Number? 1-877-444-6777
Online? online at www.recreation.gov
How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Campsites are reservable up to six months in advance.
Are there any First-Come, first-served campsites available? Yes.
Unreserved sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis when the campsite placard reads "OPEN". A First-come, first-served group must leave a site when a reservation is scheduled to arrive.
For First-come, first-served sites, first, select a site and leave something to show occupancy. Then, return to register. Go back and clip the registration tag on the post in the campsite and set up camp.
Campground Information
Season: Newhalem Creek Campground is open seasonally, typically from late May to mid-September each year.
Number of Sites: 107
Number of Group campsites: 2
Campground Address:
Newhalem Creek Campground
C/O North Cascades National Park Service Complex
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
Location in the park: Located south of SR 20 at milepost 120. 14 miles (23 km) east of Marblemount, 73 miles (117 km) west of Winthrop just west of the town of Newhalem.
Newhalem Creek Campground Amenities
Bathrooms Available: Flush toilets are available seasonally.
Hot Showers: No
Laundry: No
Is there WIFI available? no
Is there Cellular Phone Service Available? Yes, cell service varies depending on your carrier. No service provider provides good/reliable service that I know of in North Cascades. I have t-mobile and had poor service, but I know others with verizon, and at&t had better luck.
Campground Host on site: Yes, there is a seasonal camp host.
Firewood: Firewood is available outside of the park in Newhalem.
Is there a food storage locker/ Bear Boxes in the site/area: Yes
Dump Station: Yes, seasonal
Amenities at each campsite:
Is there a fire pit/Fire ring available in the site? Yes
Is there a Picnic Table in the site? Yes
Potable Water: Yes, seasonal
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 Newhalem Creek Campground
RV Length: Max RV Length is 50 feet. Driveway lengths for RVs vary (see www.recreation.gov for lengths).
Generators: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Dump Station: Yes, Seasonal
Hookups: No
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 at milepost 120. 14 miles (23 km) east of Marblemount, 73 miles (117 km) west of Winthrop just west of the town of Newhalem.
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 vehicles
Checkout time: 12 pm
Quiet Hours: 10 p to 6 am
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.
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 is Winthrop, Wa.
Most people who drive through Winthrop end up stopping and spending some time here! Yes, this is a tourist town, and it has an undeniable appeal, with an old West feel and wooden walkways between buildings.
I personally really like Winthrop, especially the Old Schoolhouse Brewery. It has good food and pretty good beverages too! As far as Lodging goes, there are several options.
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!
Goodell Creek Campground - This is your complete campground guide, 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
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
Make sure to check out all the National Parks in Washington, National Parks in Oregon, and National Parks in Idaho.
Additional Photos of Campground
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