U.S. Forest Service · Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · Washington

Gold Basin Campground

Gold Basin Campground sits near the banks of the tranquil South Fork of the Stillaguamish River, close to several wilderness areas and hiking trails, offering visitors opportunities to experience both the serene and wild aspects of the Cascade region. Gold Basin features 39 primitive campsites and vault toilets.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Gold Basin CampgroundGold Basin CampgroundGold Basin CampgroundGold Basin Campground
Photos courtesy of Vista Recreation · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups37
Tent-only1
Host/management3
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 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
020StandardBack-in22GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
052StandardBack-in27GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
054StandardBack-in30GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
055StandardBack-in40GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
056StandardBack-in32GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
057StandardBack-in35GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
058StandardBack-in35GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
059StandardBack-in36GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
060StandardBack-in35GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
061StandardBack-in35GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length45 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Gold Basin features 29 primitive campsites and vault toilets.

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 to September
ForestMt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Gold Basin Campground30°40°50°60°70°January: 12.75 inches of precipitationFebruary: 8.58 inches of precipitationMarch: 9.31 inches of precipitationApril: 5.58 inches of precipitationMay: 3.70 inches of precipitationJune: 2.86 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.32 inches of precipitationAugust: 1.71 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.39 inches of precipitationOctober: 8.49 inches of precipitationNovember: 13.24 inches of precipitationDecember: 12.13 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 35.3°F averageFebruary: 37.7°F averageMarch: 42.3°F averageApril: 48.4°F averageMay: 55.6°F averageJune: 60.3°F averageJuly: 65.7°F averageAugust: 66.3°F averageSeptember: 59.6°F averageOctober: 49.0°F averageNovember: 40.2°F averageDecember: 34.9°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Darrington RS, 14 miles from the campground at 550 feet, station USC00451992 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 83 inches a year.

Getting there

From Seattle, Washington, go north on I-5 to Everett. Take exit 194 onto Highway 2, then turn north at Highway 204 toward Lake Stevens. Turn north on Highway 9 then east on Highway 92 to Granite Falls. The campground is located 13.5 miles east of Granite Falls.

Coordinates48.0776° N, 121.7380° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Little Giant

    41 mi from the campground · 172,912 acres · 95% contained

  • Wildfire
    Sisi

    46 mi from the campground · 4,615 acres · 34% contained

  • Wildfire
    King

    48 mi from the campground · 3,427 acres · 36% contained

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

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearRerouted ↗15.3 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗18.5 mi
RV sales & serviceOpen Road RV ↗19.4 mi

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

Explore

Video

Gold Basin Campground, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington Campsite Photos

Worth a stop

Visitors enjoy the North Cascades and Mt. Rainer National Parks, where interpretive programs and exhibits offer education about the diverse landscape and history of the area. The spectacular Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), one of the world's premier National Scenic Trails, showcases some of North America's most fantastic scenery, winding its way its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington, and is accessible near the campground.

  • under 0.1 mi
    Gold Basin Mill Pond ↗
    0.3 mi trail · hiking
  • 0.4 mi
    Lake 22
    3.9 mi trail · hiking
  • 1.3 mi
    Pinnacle Lake
    3.3 mi trail · hiking
  • 1.6 mi
    Schweitzer ↗
    10.5 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
  • 1.7 mi
    Heather Lake
    2.8 mi trail · hiking
  • 1.7 mi
    Pilchuck ↗
    5.5 mi trail · snowshoe, ski

Trailheads within three miles

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

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Old-growth forests of cedar, fir and hemlock line the wide, gently-flowing Stillaguamish River and tower over trails winding through moss-covered rocks. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support an abundance of wildlife. A multitude of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles make their homes here, and the area sustains more rare species like lynx, moose, wolves and wolverine.

Recreation

In addition to being a prime location for hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking and horseback riding in summer and early fall, Gold Basin offers excellent skiing and snowshoeing in the winter months. A large, open field offers opportunities for sports and group activities. For visitors wanting to learn more about the natural and cultural history of the area, the Gold Basin Mill Pond interpretive trail is located across the street from the campground. This interpretive site includes a short, barrier-free trail that passes by mill relics and ends on a floating viewpoint. Interpretive signs discuss the history of the mill and the wildlife in the area.

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 Gold Basin Campground?

Sites at Gold Basin Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Gold Basin Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Gold Basin Campground open right now?

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

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Gold Basin Campground have?

41 sites, including 37 standard sites without power and 1 tent-only site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Gold Basin Campground?

The longest site here provides 45 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 Gold Basin Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Gold Basin Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Gold Basin Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Gold Basin Campground?

In addition to being a prime location for hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking and horseback riding in summer and early fall, Gold Basin offers excellent skiing and snowshoeing in the winter months. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Gold Basin Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Wiley Creek Group Camp (1.1 mi), Esswine Group Camp (1.9 mi), and Verlot Campground (2 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby