NPS · North Cascades National Park · Washington

Newhalem Creek Campground

Newhalem Creek Campground requires reservations during the peak season, from late May through early September of each year. These block releases will be 6 months in advance and 7 days in advance. A and C loop campsites are available for reservations 6 months in advance. B loop campsites are available for reservations 7 days in advance. Group sites remain on the same booking window and are available 12 months in advance.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Dirt trail through old-growth forest with big trees at Newhalem Creek CampgroundPlacid river bordered by lush forests with tall mountains in the distanceNewhalem Creek CampgroundPlacid river bordered by lush forests with tall mountains in the distance
Photos courtesy of NPS / MICHAEL FRICKE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups92
Hike-in13
group shelter nonelectric2
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

107 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001Loop AStandardBack-in38PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
002Loop AStandardPull-through50PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
004Loop AStandardBack-in55PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
005Loop AStandardPull-through46PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
006Loop AStandardBack-in53PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
007Loop AStandardBack-in42PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
008Loop AStandardBack-in42PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
009Loop AStandardPull-through77PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
010Loop AStandardBack-in42PavedPartial8 / 2YesYes
011Loop AStandardBack-in36PavedPartial8 / 2Yes

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
FeesThere is no discount for group campsites.
AccessibilitySites 010, 102 are listed accessible

Newhalem Creek Campground has accessible facilities that provide flush toilets, drinking water, dump station, trash/recycling, paved roads, and campsite driveways. Each campsite includes a picnic table, fire ring, and most sites have tent pads.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Newhalem Creek Campground30°40°50°60°70°January: 12.40 inches of precipitation, 10.2 inches of snowFebruary: 7.16 inches of precipitation, 7.7 inches of snowMarch: 8.36 inches of precipitation, 2.8 inches of snowApril: 4.65 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowMay: 3.01 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 2.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.40 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.68 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.55 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 8.78 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 13.58 inches of precipitation, 2.4 inches of snowDecember: 11.70 inches of precipitation, 6.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 36.2°F averageFebruary: 38.3°F averageMarch: 42.2°F averageApril: 48.7°F averageMay: 56.1°F averageJune: 60.2°F averageJuly: 65.8°F averageAugust: 66.4°F averageSeptember: 60.6°F averageOctober: 50.3°F averageNovember: 41.2°F averageDecember: 36.0°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Newhalem, 1 mile from the campground at 525 feet, station USC00455840 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 79 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 30 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Newhalem Creek Campground is located at milepost 120 on State Route 20. From Burlington, WA, drive 60 miles (97 km) east on State Route 20. From Twisp, WA, drive 82 miles (132 km) west on State Route 20.

Coordinates48.6750° N, 121.2611° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Luna

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

  • Wildfire
    Border 2

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

  • Wildfire
    Sisi

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

  • Wildfire
    Ptarmigan

    35 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 ↗0.2 mi
Outdoor gearGoat's Beard Mountain Supplies ↗39.5 mi
RV sales & serviceCottonwood RV Sales and Service ↗46.2 mi

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

Explore

Video

Newhalem Creek Campground Review | Best Place to Camp in North Cascades National Park

Worth a stop

The North Cascades Visitor Center is one-half mile (1 km) away and operates seasonally, typically from May to September. Campers can find passport stamps, exhibits, park film, park store, and much more. The campground is surrounded by forested short, informative hikes that connect to the North Cascades Visitor Center and the town of Newhalem, Washington, one mile (2 km) east.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Stephen Mather Wilderness.

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

Newhalem Creek Campground is a forested campground surrounded by western redcedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, red huckleberries, and other native vegetation. Nearby is Newhalem Creek and the Skagit River. The river is the largest river that flows into the Puget Sound area and provides critical habitat for all species of Pacific salmon which return to the river seasonally. There are salmon-viewing areas along the River Loop Trail and in the town of Newhalem.

Recreation

Campers can enjoy easy access to several of the Newhalem area hiking trails and connect to the town of Newhalem, Washington. Fishing is allowed in the Skagit River with a Washington State Fishing license. The nearest location to purchase a license is outside of the park in the town of Marblemount. Follow Washington State Fishing Regulations when recreating. Black bears are active in this campground and the surrounding trails. Be aware of your surroundings while hiking, picnicking, and camping. Use the provided bear boxes in your campsite to store coolers, cookware, and other odorants when not in use. If you encounter a bear around the campground or on a trail, inform campground staff or go to the North Cascades Visitor Center and fill out a bear report.

Guidebooks for North Cascades National Park and Washington

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

  • Your Guide to North Cascades National Park
    Michael Oswald, 2012
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Day Hike! North Cascades
    Mike McQuaide, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Tent Camping: Washington
    Ellie Kozlowski, 2018
    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 Newhalem Creek Campground?

Sites at Newhalem 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 Newhalem Creek Campground?

There is no discount for group campsites.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Newhalem Creek Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Newhalem Creek Campground have?

108 sites, including 92 standard sites without power, 13 hike-in sites, and 2 group shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Newhalem 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 there showers or a dump station at Newhalem Creek Campground?

Newhalem Creek Campground has accessible facilities that provide flush toilets, drinking water, dump station, trash/recycling, paved roads, and campsite driveways.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Newhalem Creek Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Newhalem 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.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Newhalem Creek Campground?

Sites 010 and 102 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 Newhalem Creek Campground?

Campers can enjoy easy access to several of the Newhalem area hiking trails and connect to the town of Newhalem, Washington. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Newhalem Creek Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Lower Goodell Group Campground (0.2 mi), Upper Goodell Group Campground (0.2 mi), and Goodell Creek Campground (0.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is Newhalem Creek Campground in?

Newhalem Creek Campground is a North Cascades National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.

Source: North Cascades National Park