U.S. Forest Service · Colville National Forest · Hyrum, WA

South Skookum Lake

South Skookum Lake Campground is a beautiful campground situated next to South Skookum Lake. It is heavily forested and plenty of shade and seclusion from other campers. The boat ramp is small and unimproved. Two docks, one of which is accessible, are located near the launch area and provide fishing opportunities. South Baldy lookout, which is still staffed during the summer months, is visible from the campground and is a popular day trip.

More like this: reservable in Washington · big rigs in Washington · pets allowed in Washington

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
South Skookum Lake and mountain sideFishing dock on South Skookum LakeSouth Skookum LakeA person stands silhouetted at the end of the dock at South Skookum Lake Campground.
Photos courtesy of Austin Smith, Scenic Canyons Recreational Services, inc · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups24
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 38 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

24 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
01Back-in36GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard
02Back-in34GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard
03Back-in34GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard
04Back-in36GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard
05Back-in32GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard
06Back-in22GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard
07Back-in32GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard
08Back-in36GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard
09Back-in38GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard
10Back-in35GravelPartial8 / 2YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Campground map of South Skookum Lake
Campground map published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to U.S. Forest Service. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length54 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Each site has a table and fire ring. The campground has vault toilets, drinking water, animal resistant garbage containers, and animal resistant food storage boxes. No place to fill recreational vehicles only water jugs so be prepared to come with your rig full prior to arriving.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 24 to September 16
ForestColville National Forest
BookingSites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
FeesCamping: $29/single site. Extra vehicle: $10 (Overflow Parking). Day use: $10. Season Day Pass for Colville and Idaho Panhandle: $52
RulesWashington state fishing license required. Use of lead weights or lead jigs are prohibited. Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campfire in developed fire ring only. Fireworks are prohibited. Pets must be on leash. OHV use prohibited in the campground. Maximum length of stay: 14 days.

Colville National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near South Skookum Lake20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 3.00 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.95 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.21 inches of precipitationApril: 2.29 inches of precipitationMay: 2.24 inches of precipitationJune: 2.26 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.03 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.81 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.16 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.83 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.52 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.19 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.0°F averageFebruary: 30.8°F averageMarch: 38.0°F averageApril: 45.3°F averageMay: 54.6°F averageJune: 60.4°F averageJuly: 67.3°F averageAugust: 66.1°F averageSeptember: 57.3°F averageOctober: 45.1°F averageNovember: 34.3°F averageDecember: 27.5°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Newport, 16 miles from the campground at 2,162 feet, station USC00455844 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 27 inches a year. The shaded span is the published season, May 24 to September 16.

Getting there

From Newport, WA follow State Highway 20 north for 15 miles to the town of Usk. Cross the bridge over the Pend Oreille River on the east edge of town and follow the Kings Lake Road (County Road 3389) 8 miles to the junction of Forest Road 5032350 (Kings Mountain). Follow Kings Mountain for 0.5 mile to the campground entrance.

Nearest townHyrum, Washington
Coordinates48.3938° N, 117.1857° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • The lake is relatively small and is not suitable for boats exceeding 20 feet.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Lpr Rx - Paulke

    24 mi from the campground · 331 acres

  • Prescribed
    Sl Rx - Ione

    27 mi from the campground

  • Wildfire
    Silver

    29 mi from the campground · 2,593 acres · 30% contained

  • Wildfire
    Parker Lake

    42 mi from the campground · 1,531 acres · 1% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗22.5 mi
Outdoor gearNorth 40 ↗30 mi
RV sales & serviceParkway RV ↗34 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Video of South Skookum Lake Campground, WA from Marcus K.

  • 0.1 mi
    South Skookum Lake
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    South Skookum Lake (dragonfly)
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3 mi
    Browns Lake
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.6 mi
    South Baldy-Solo
    3.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

A beautiful forested landscape with South Skookum Lake beside it. Most of the campground looks into the Colville National Forest and the lake can only be seen once you crest a small hill which overlooks the lake.

Recreation

Camping, fishing, bicycling, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, & swimming make this a favorable place to visit.

Guidebooks for Washington

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Washington
    Ellie Kozlowski, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Washington camping
    Tom Stienstra, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Waterfalls in Washington
    Sawyer Scheer, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at South Skookum Lake?

Sites at South Skookum Lake are reservable on Recreation.gov. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at South Skookum Lake?

Camping: $29/single site. Extra vehicle: $10 (Overflow Parking). Day use: $10.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at South Skookum Lake?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is South Skookum Lake open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 24 to September 16.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does South Skookum Lake have?

25 sites, including 24 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at South Skookum Lake?

The longest site here provides 54 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at South Skookum Lake?

Yes, pets are allowed at South Skookum Lake. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at South Skookum Lake?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Washington state fishing license required.

Source: Fire nearby

What is the nearest town to South Skookum Lake?

Hyrum, Washington.

Source: Getting there

What if South Skookum Lake is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Browns Lake Campground (3 mi, first-come), Panhandle (8.9 mi), and Pioneer Park (13.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby