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

Shannon Creek Campground

Shannon Creek Campground is nestled along the western shore of Baker Lake in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on the west side of the Cascades. The area is one of the most spectacular in the country, showcasing glacier-covered peaks, broad mountain meadows and old-growth forests.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov20 sites70 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Shannon Creek CampgroundShannon Creek CampgroundShannon Creek CampgroundShannon Creek Campground
Photos courtesy of CLM Staff · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Luna · 19 mi away · 8,553 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups14
Tent-only4
Host/management2
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 36 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
001StandardBack-in36GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
002StandardBack-in36GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
003StandardBack-in26GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
004StandardBack-in36GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
006StandardBack-in30GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
007StandardBack-in36GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
008StandardBack-in22GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
009StandardBack-in36GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
010StandardBack-in36GravelPartial6 / 1YesStandard
011StandardBack-in36GravelPartial6 / 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 length70 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Shannon Creek Campground offers single and double-family sites for both tent and RV camping. Picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets and drinking water are provided. No electrical hookups are available.

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.
ForestMt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
FeesView Recreation.gov for Fee Information and for open season dates.
RulesDuring Sockeye fishing season boat ramp use is limited to Shannon Creek campers only.

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Shannon Creek Campground30°40°50°60°70°January: 15.31 inches of precipitation, 13.1 inches of snowFebruary: 8.80 inches of precipitation, 10.6 inches of snowMarch: 10.42 inches of precipitation, 3.4 inches of snowApril: 6.70 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowMay: 4.52 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 3.32 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.78 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.92 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.83 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 10.52 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 15.97 inches of precipitation, 2.2 inches of snowDecember: 14.15 inches of precipitation, 12.9 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.4°F averageFebruary: 35.8°F averageMarch: 39.9°F averageApril: 45.8°F averageMay: 52.8°F averageJune: 57.2°F averageJuly: 62.6°F averageAugust: 63.3°F averageSeptember: 57.9°F averageOctober: 48.2°F averageNovember: 39.0°F averageDecember: 33.6°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Upper Baker Dam, 7 miles from the campground at 690 feet, station USC00458715 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 98 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 42 inches a year on the same inches scale.

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 for 23.3 miles to the sign for Shannon Creek Campground on the right.

Coordinates48.7404° N, 121.6005° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Luna

    19 mi from the campground · 8,553 acres · 42% contained

  • Wildfire
    Border 2

    32 mi from the campground · 9,108 acres · 74% contained

  • Wildfire
    Sisi

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

  • Wildfire
    Ptarmigan

    47 mi from the campground · 25,566 acres · 90% contained

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

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗16.2 mi
Outdoor gearMt. Waddington's Outdoors ↗30.1 mi
RV sales & serviceCottonwood RV Sales and Service ↗33 mi

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

Explore

Video

Baker Lake Shannon Creek Campground Tips and Review plus bonus Zombie scene at the end

Worth a stop

Hike in the mountains above the lake in the Mt. Baker National Recreation Area or Mt. Baker Wilderness, 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.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 1 mi
    Noisy Creek
    1 mi trail · hiking
  • 1.4 mi
    Shuksan Lake
    2 mi trail · hiking
  • 2 mi
    Shannon Ridge
    3.9 mi trail · hiking
  • 2.2 mi
    Baker River ↗
    1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse · national_scenic_or_historic
  • 2.6 mi
    Baker Lake ↗
    14 mi trail · hiking, horse · national_scenic_or_historic
  • 3.5 mi
    Baker Hot Springs
    0.3 mi trail · hiking

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 →

Mount Baker Wilderness begins about 1.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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

Rugged peaks, scenic rivers and abundant wildlife define the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and surrounding designated wilderness areas. On a clear day visitors can see Mt. Baker, which rises to an elevation of 10,781 feet. The active volcano is perpetually snow-capped. Mt. Baker's summit, Grant Peak, is actually a 1,300-foot-deep mound of ice, which hides a massive volcanic crater. Wildlife in the area ranges from mountain goats in the higher elevations to pine marten and porcupine on the forest floor. Migratory birds and native fish find ample habitat in the varied ecosystems as well.

Recreation

The surrounding area is a prime location for hiking, climbing, boating, fishing, picnicking and horseback riding in summer and early fall, and snowmobiling in the winter months. Baker Lake is a popular destination for boating, water skiing, canoeing, fishing and swimming. Anglers cast for a number of fish species. The nearby Baker Lake and Baker River Trails are family friendly hikes that wind through majestic old growth Douglas Fir and western red cedar trees. The Baker Lake trail contours above the eastern shoreline of Baker Lake. The Baker River Trail leads to North Cascades National Park.

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 Shannon Creek Campground?

Sites at Shannon Creek 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 Shannon Creek Campground?

View Recreation.gov for Fee Information and for open season dates.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Shannon Creek Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Shannon Creek Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Shannon Creek Campground have?

20 sites, including 14 standard sites without power and 4 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Shannon Creek Campground?

The longest site here provides 70 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 Shannon Creek Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Shannon Creek Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Shannon Creek Campground?

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. During Sockeye fishing season boat ramp use is limited to Shannon Creek campers only.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Shannon Creek Campground?

The surrounding area is a prime location for hiking, climbing, boating, fishing, picnicking and horseback riding in summer and early fall, and snowmobiling in the winter months. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Shannon Creek Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Swift Creek Campground (2.8 mi), Park Creek Campground (3.1 mi), and Panorama Point Campground (3.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby