NPS · North Cascades National Park · Washington

Lower Goodell Group Campground

Lower Goodell Group Campground requires reservations when the campground is open from late May to early September each year. Reservations can be made 12 months in advance. Lower Goodell Group Campground is comprised of 2 group sites, each with 5 individual areas for tents or small RVs, near the town of Newhalem, along the Skagit River. It is surrounded by forest and is situated on the banks of Goodell Creek. It is private and secluded, yet the town of Newhalem, North Cascades Visitor Center, additional campgrounds, and other amenities are close by.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Photo of shelter at group site with picnic tablesPhoto of Goodell Creek from group site with trees and boulder-strewn creekPhoto of shelter at group site with picnic tablesParking area with restroom and picnic shelter
Photos courtesy of NPS / MICHAEL FRICKE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

group shelter nonelectric2
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

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

SiteEntrySurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
APull-throughGravelPartial50 / 25Yes
BPull-throughGravelPartialRiverfront50 / 25Yes

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 length30 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesThere is no discount for group campsites.

The campground has 2 group sites, which can each comfortably fit 12 to 20 people each; the capacity is 50 per site. Within each site there are cleared areas for tents or small RVs. Each cleared area has a bear box for food storage. Both sites have a picnic shelter, vault toilet and trash can. There is no potable water. Water is available at the main Goodell Creek campground on the south side of State Route 20.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Lower Goodell Group 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

Lower Goodell Creek Campground is located at mile 120 on State Route 20. From Burlington, WA, drive 60 miles (97 km) east on State Route 20. The west entrance to the park is at milepost 112. From Twisp, WA, drive 82 miles (132 km) west on State Route 20.

Coordinates48.6733° N, 121.2658° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Luna

    11 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 ↗0.3 mi
Outdoor gearGoat's Beard Mountain Supplies ↗39.7 mi
RV sales & serviceCottonwood RV Sales and Service ↗46.2 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

The North Cascades Visitor Center is nearby and operates seasonally, typically from late May to September. Visitors can find the passport stamp, exhibits, park film, gift store, and much more. The town of Newhalem is a short walk from the campsites, there visitors will find a general store and information center operated by Seattle City Light.

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

The campground is situated on the banks of Goodell Creek and has a shaded forested canopy with western redcedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, wild red huckleberries, and other native shrubs. 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. The river drains cold, clean glacial meltwater from the mountains of British Columbia and northern Washington. Bald eagles return to its shores every winter.

Recreation

Multiple recreation opportunities for campers including hiking, fishing and rafting are a short drive or walk away. Short hiking trails can be found at Newhalem Creek Campground. Fishing and rafting access for the Skagit River are available at Goodell Creek Campground. 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 Lower Goodell Group Campground?

Sites at Lower Goodell Group 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 Lower Goodell Group Campground?

There is no discount for group campsites.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Lower Goodell Group Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Lower Goodell Group Campground have?

2 sites, including 2 group shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Lower Goodell Group Campground?

The longest site here provides 30 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 Lower Goodell Group Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Lower Goodell Group Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Lower Goodell Group 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

What is there to do at Lower Goodell Group Campground?

Multiple recreation opportunities for campers including hiking, fishing and rafting are a short drive or walk away. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Lower Goodell Group Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Upper Goodell Group Campground (under 0.1 mi), Goodell Creek Campground (0.1 mi), and Newhalem Creek Campground (0.2 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is Lower Goodell Group Campground in?

Lower Goodell Group Campground is a North Cascades National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.

Source: North Cascades National Park