NPS · North Cascades National Park · Washington

Upper Goodell Group Campground

Upper Goodell Group Campground is a quiet, remote facility for tent camping on the banks of Goodell Creek in North Cascades National Park. The campground is the perfect place to relax while watching the rushing creek cascade over its rocky course. The area is more remote and up a slightly steeper road than nearby Lower Goodell Group Campground. The elevation is 500' above sea level. Both Upper and Lower Goodell Group Campgrounds are convenient hubs for day trips to the visitor center, hiking trails and the nearby town of Newhalem.

Reservable · Recreation.gov1 site22 ft maxPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in Washington · tent only in Washington · pets allowed in Washington

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Boulders in creek with water rushing byShelter provided rain and sun protection to several picnic tables located underneath. Campfire ring and food storage lockers in foreground.Shelter, fire rings, picnic tables, and food-lockersCampsite
Photos courtesy of NPS / MICHAEL FRICKE · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Luna · 11 mi away · 8,553 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length22 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesThere is no discount for group campsites.

The facility has a picnic shelter and pit toilet for visitors' convenience. No potable water. Water is available at the main Goodell Creek campground on the south side of State Route 20. The campground has one group site, which can comfortably fit 12 to 20 people with a maximum capacity of 30.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Upper 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

Upper Goodell Group Campground is located at mile marker 119 on State Route 20. From Burlington, WA, drive 60 miles east on State Route 20. From Twisp, WA, drive 82 miles 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 campground is a short drive or a long walk to the visitor center, and the nearest store is in Newhalem.

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 site lies among lush ancient forests of western redcedar, western hemlock and Douglas-fir trees. The creek's headwaters begin in the surrounding mountains, pick up cold, clean glacial meltwater along the way, and eventually empty into the Skagit River. The creek provides a sampling of the colorful crystalline rocks of the North Cascade Core, which formed deep underground and is now revealed in the rugged terrain of the North Cascade Range.

Recreation

Nature abounds in the Goodell Gorge, where visitors enjoy exploring the scenery, viewing wildlife and birding. Black bears inhabit the area, so caution must be taken while hiking, picnicking or camping. Many miles of hiking trails are within a short drive. The creek and nearby Skagit River offer fishing for trout, salmon and steelhead. There is no boating or swimming at the site.

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 Upper Goodell Group Campground?

Sites at Upper 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 Upper Goodell Group Campground?

There is no discount for group campsites.

Source: Recreation.gov

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

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Upper Goodell Group Campground have?

1 site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Upper Goodell Group Campground?

The longest site here provides 22 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 Upper Goodell Group Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Upper 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 Upper Goodell Group Campground?

Nature abounds in the Goodell Gorge, where visitors enjoy exploring the scenery, viewing wildlife and birding. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Upper Goodell Group Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Lower 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 Upper Goodell Group Campground in?

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

Source: North Cascades National Park