Horseshoe Cove Campground
Horseshoe Cove Campground is nestled under a canopy of forest along the banks of Baker Lake. Located in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest which stretches along the west side of the Cascade Mountains between the Canadian border and Mt. Rainier National Park, this area is one of the most spectacular in the country, showcasing glacier-covered peaks, wide mountain meadows and old-growth forests.
More like this: reservable in Washington · big rigs in Washington · pets allowed in Washington · group sites in Washington
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 37 |
| Group sites | 3 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
40 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 003 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 004 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 005 | North Loop | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 006 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 007 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 008 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 009 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | 56 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 010 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 011 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
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
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 60 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 008, 010, 011 are listed accessible |
There are 39 campsites at Horseshoe Cove Campground, including three large group sites. With several sites located at the lake's edge, and others in close vicinity, this campground offers visitors the ideal opportunity to camp near the shoreline or under a canopy of trees. A boat ramp, large sandy swim beach, trail, firewood are available at the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest |
| Fees | View Recreation.gov for Fee Information and for open season dates. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Seattle, go north on I-5 to Burlington. Take Exit 230 on State Highway 20. Go past the Mt. Baker Ranger District Office in Sedro-Woolley and follow State Route 20 east for 16 miles to milepost 82. Turn left (north) on the Baker Lake Highway (Forest Service Road 11). Continue 15.1miles. Turn right at the Horseshoe Cove Road junction.
| Coordinates | 48.6719° N, 121.6764° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireLuna
24 mi from the campground · 8,553 acres · 42% contained
- WildfireBorder 2
37 mi from the campground · 9,108 acres · 74% contained
- WildfireSisi
45 mi from the campground · 4,615 acres · 34% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 13.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Morgan Creek Outfitters ↗ | 28.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Country Motorhomes ↗ | 35.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
(4K UHD) REVIEWING EACH CAMPSITE @ Horseshoe Cove Campground! | Baker Lake | Mt. Baker-Sno
Worth a stop
Hike in the mountains above the lake in the Mt. Baker National Recreation Area, or take some time to visit North Cascades National Park. This unique park is like no other place on earth. It features a deep blue lake surrounded by sheer, 2,000' cliffs, two picturesque islands and a violent volcanic past. Hiking trails, a visitor center and educational programs are available.
- 2.8 miWatson Lakes Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.7 miPark Butte Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miHorseshoe Cove0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miBayview Loop1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miAnderson Point0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.2 miMaple Grove0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.8 miBaker Lake ↗14 mi trail · hiking, horse · national_scenic_or_historic
- 1.8 miAnderson Creek Snowmobile 1107 ↗15 mi trail · motorcycle, ATV, e-bike, snowmobile and 2 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.8 miBaker Lake Trailhead ↗Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- 2.8 miWatson Lakes Trailhead ↗Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
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
Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness begins about 4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 4 miNoisy-Diobsud Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 14,266 acres
- 4.7 miMount Baker Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 119,966 acres
- 6.5 miStephen Mather Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 638,173 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Koma Kulshan Ranger StationBuilding · Concrete · 1.9 mi
- Park Butte LookoutStructure · Sedro Wooley · 8.8 mi
- Lower Baker River Hydroelectric Power PlantHistoric district · Concrete · 9.1 mi
Natural features
From the lake on a clear day visitors will see Mt. Baker, the most prominent feature of the Mt. Baker Wilderness. Rising to an elevation of 10,781 feet, the active volcano from which the forest takes its name is perpetually snow-capped and mantled with an extensive network of creeping glaciers. Mt. Baker's summit, Grant Peak, is actually a 1,300-foot-deep mound of ice, which hides a massive volcanic crater.
Recreation
In addition to being a prime location for boating, fishing, swimming, and picnicking, hikers and backpackers are especially fortunate to have access to a variety of spectacular trails along the lake and in the nearby Mt. Baker National Recreation Area. The Baker Lake and Baker River Trails are family friendly hikes that are a short drive from the campground. The Baker Lake trail starts on the south end of the lake in a stand of Douglas fir and travels 13 miles above the eastern shoreline of Baker Lake. Anderson Point with views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan is 2.5 miles from the trailheadand is a popular boat in camp, backpacking destination and lunch spot. The Baker River Trail starts at the north end of the lake and follows the river 2.25 miles upstream, through large old-growth into North Cascades National Park.
Guidebooks for Washington
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Horseshoe Cove Campground?
Sites at Horseshoe Cove Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Horseshoe Cove Campground?
View Recreation.gov for Fee Information and for open season dates.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Horseshoe Cove Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Horseshoe Cove Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Horseshoe Cove Campground have?
41 sites, including 37 standard sites without power and 3 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Horseshoe Cove Campground?
The longest site here provides 60 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 Horseshoe Cove Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Horseshoe Cove Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Horseshoe Cove 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
Are there accessible sites at Horseshoe Cove Campground?
Sites 008, 010, and 011 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Horseshoe Cove Campground?
In addition to being a prime location for boating, fishing, swimming, and picnicking, hikers and backpackers are especially fortunate to have access to a variety of spectacular trails along the lake and in the nearby Mt. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Horseshoe Cove Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bayview Campground (0.2 mi), Boulder Creek Campground (3.1 mi), and Panorama Point Campground (3.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby