NPS · North Cascades National Park · Washington

Colonial Creek North Campground

Colonial Creek North 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. Campsites #1 - #35 are available for reservations 6 months in advance. Campsites #36 - #43 are available for reservations 7 days in advance. Any sites not reserved during the peak season are available same-day as first-come, first-served for 1 night only and can only be claimed in person at the campground.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Tent pad, picnic table, fire grate and bear box at campsite.Tent pad, picnic table, fire grate and bear box at campsite.Entrance to Colonial Creek North Campground.Colonial Creek North Campground
Photos courtesy of NPS Photo, NPS / Astudillo · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups31
Walk-in6
Host/management3
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

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

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
01Walk-in125PartialNo / –8 / 1YesStandard
02Walk-inPartialNo / –8 / 1YesStandard
03Walk-inPartialNo / –8 / 1YesStandard
04Walk-inPartialNo / –8 / 1YesStandard
05Walk-inPartialNo / –Lakefront8 / 1YesStandard
06Walk-in99PartialNo / –Lakefront8 / 1YesStandard
07Standard22PartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
08StandardBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
09StandardBack-in40GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
14Standard22GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

8 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length30 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite 30 is listed accessible

The campground is located on the northern side of State Route 20. The entire facility offers drinking water, flush toilets, garbage and recycling, and some paved parking spaces, but most sites have uneven gravel parking. Each campsite offers a picnic table, bear box, and campfire ring. An RV dump station is located in the South Loop.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Colonial Creek North Campground30°40°50°60°70°January: 12.25 inches of precipitation, 12.2 inches of snowFebruary: 7.38 inches of precipitation, 9.9 inches of snowMarch: 8.16 inches of precipitation, 4.2 inches of snowApril: 4.60 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowMay: 2.71 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 2.25 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.25 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.41 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 8.64 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 13.66 inches of precipitation, 3.1 inches of snowDecember: 11.57 inches of precipitation, 16.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 34.0°F averageFebruary: 36.7°F averageMarch: 41.1°F averageApril: 47.4°F averageMay: 55.2°F averageJune: 59.8°F averageJuly: 65.8°F averageAugust: 66.4°F averageSeptember: 60.1°F averageOctober: 49.5°F averageNovember: 39.8°F averageDecember: 34.2°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Diablo Dam, 3 miles from the campground at 891 feet, station USC00452157 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 77 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 46 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Colonial Creek North Campground is located near milepost 130 on State Route 20. From Burlington, WA, drive 70 miles (113 km) east on State Route 20. From Twisp, WA, drive 71 (114 km) miles west on State Route 20.

Coordinates48.6910° N, 121.1010° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Luna

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

  • Wildfire
    Border 2

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

  • Wildfire
    Sisi

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

  • Wildfire
    Ptarmigan

    28 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 ↗32.5 mi
RV sales & serviceCottonwood RV Sales and Service ↗51 mi

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

Explore

Video

(4K UHD) REVIEWING EACH CAMPSITE @ Colonial Creek North Campground | Diablo Lake | North C

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

Colonial Creek North Campground is forested with western redcedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, red huckleberries, and other native vegetation. The campground has easy access to Diablo Lake for recreating.

Recreation

Campers can access several trails from within the facility, such as Thunder Knob Trail located in the North Loop and Thunder Creek Trail from the South Loop. Fishing is allowed in Diablo Lake with a Washington State Fishing license, the closest location to purchase a license in the town of Marblemount, WA. 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.

Nearby

Traveling west on State Route 20: The North Cascades Visitor Center is 11 miles (18 km) west on State Route 20 from Colonial Creek North Campground, operating seasonally, typically from May to September. Campers can find the passport stamps, exhibit, park film, park store, and much more. Traveling east on State Route 20: Diablo Lake Overlook is 1.5 miles (2 km) east on State Route 20, the turquoise lake can be viewed safely from this area and there is ample day use parking and vault toilets. Ross Lake Overlook is 5 miles (8 km) east on State Route 20, this is a less developed vista point. There are two pull off areas with interpretive displays and with views of the Ross Dam and Ross Lake.

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 Colonial Creek North Campground?

Sites at Colonial Creek North Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Colonial Creek North Campground?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Colonial Creek North Campground have?

40 sites, including 31 standard sites without power and 6 walk-in sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

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

The entire facility offers drinking water, flush toilets, garbage and recycling, and some paved parking spaces, but most sites have uneven gravel parking.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Colonial Creek North Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Colonial Creek North 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 Colonial Creek North Campground?

Site 30 is 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 Colonial Creek North Campground?

Campers can access several trails from within the facility, such as Thunder Knob Trail located in the North Loop and Thunder Creek Trail from the South Loop. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Colonial Creek North Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Colonial Creek South Campground (0.2 mi, partly first-come), Gorge Lake Campground (2.9 mi), and Newhalem Creek Campground (7.4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is Colonial Creek North Campground in?

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

Source: North Cascades National Park