U.S. Forest Service · Colville National Forest · Metaline Falls, WA

Gillette Campground

Gillette Campground is located directly across from Lake Gillette, approximately a quarter-mile from the lake's shore and surrounded by a stand of lodgepole pine and tamarack.

Closed for the seasonPartly reservable30 sites55 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Gillette Campground Sign BoardGillette Campground Entry SignGillette CampgroundGillette Campground
Photos courtesy of Scenic Canyons Recreational Services, Inc, Share the Experience, Levi Knowlton · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Sl Rx - Ione (prescribed burn) · 9 mi away
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups29
Host/management1
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 55 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
01Back-in50PavedPartial8 / 2YesStandard
02Back-in50PavedPartial8 / 2YesStandard
03Back-in55PavedPartial8 / 2YesStandard
04Back-in45PavedPartial8 / 2YesStandard
05Back-in50PavedPartial8 / 2YesStandard
06Back-in40PavedPartial8 / 2YesStandard
07Back-in45PavedPartial8 / 2YesStandard
08Back-in50PavedPartial8 / 2YesStandard
09Back-in40PavedPartial8 / 2YesStandard
10Back-in45PavedPartial8 / 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 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length55 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes

Gillette Campground has 29 single sites, vault toilets and drinking water. Bear proof garbage containers are located around the campground loop.

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.
SeasonMay 17 to October 27
ForestColville National Forest
BookingSites are available on a first-come, first-served basis or by reservation at Recreation.gov (1-877-444-6777).
FeesCamping: $29/single site. Camping: $58/double site. Extra vehicle: none. Day Use Fee: $10 This is a concessionaire ran site that requires a day use permit. This permit can be purchased directly from the host.
RulesWashington state fishing license required. Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campfire in developed fire ring only. Fireworks are prohibited. Pets must be on leash. OHV use prohibited in the campground. Maximum length of stay: 14 days. Food and wildlife attractants must be properly stored at all times

Colville National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Gillette Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.20 inches of precipitation, 14.5 inches of snowFebruary: 1.47 inches of precipitation, 5.4 inches of snowMarch: 1.89 inches of precipitation, 2.7 inches of snowApril: 1.53 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowMay: 1.93 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 2.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.83 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.68 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.72 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 2.19 inches of precipitation, 5.6 inches of snowDecember: 2.80 inches of precipitation, 15.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.8°F averageFebruary: 32.9°F averageMarch: 41.1°F averageApril: 48.9°F averageMay: 57.6°F averageJune: 63.4°F averageJuly: 70.5°F averageAugust: 69.7°F averageSeptember: 61.0°F averageOctober: 47.5°F averageNovember: 36.2°F averageDecember: 28.8°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Colville, 19 miles from the campground at 1,554 feet, station USC00451630 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 20 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 43 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, May 17 to October 27.

Getting there

From Colville, WA: Head east on Hwy. 20 for approximately 20 miles to the Colville National Forest campground sign. Turn right onto Pend Oreille Lake Rd. and go 1.2 miles to campground entrance.

Nearest townMetaline Falls, Washington
Coordinates48.6125° N, 117.5342° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Sl Rx - Ione

    9 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Lpr Rx - Paulke

    12 mi from the campground · 331 acres

  • Prescribed
    3R Rx - Coyote

    34 mi from the campground · 841 acres

  • Wildfire
    Silver

    40 mi from the campground · 2,593 acres · 30% contained

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

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearAnacortes Telescope & Wild Bird ↗17.7 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗32.2 mi
RV sales & serviceParkway RV ↗46.5 mi

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

Explore

Video

HYW 20 Campground Review Lake Gillette Campground

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Rufus Spur
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.1 mi
    Springboard
    2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    Ruftac
    1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.8 mi
    Little Pend Oreille ORV ↗
    38.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.1 mi
    Rufus
    3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.4 mi
    Segment 5
    4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more

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 →

Colville National Forest begins about 0.8 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

This forested campground provides shade to many of the campsites. Gillette Lake is nearby and can be accessed by foot from the campground. A covered area with a large tree trunk is an interesting attraction along with access to Rufus and Springboard Trails.

Recreation

Ample recreation opportunities such as hiking, bicycling, swimming and boating in nearby Gillette Lake are popular activities from this campground. OHVs are allowed to drive in and out of this park.

Nearby

Visitors enjoy Gillette Lake, a covered area with a large tree trunk and access to Rufus and Springboard Trails for hikers.

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 Gillette Campground?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Gillette Campground?

Camping: $29/single site. Camping: $58/double site. Extra vehicle: none.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Gillette Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Gillette Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 17 to October 27.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Gillette Campground have?

30 sites, including 29 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Gillette Campground?

The longest site here provides 55 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 Gillette Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Gillette Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Gillette 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. Washington state fishing license required.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Gillette Campground?

Ample recreation opportunities such as hiking, bicycling, swimming and boating in nearby Gillette Lake are popular activities from this campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Gillette Campground?

Metaline Falls, Washington. Visitors enjoy Gillette Lake, a covered area with a large tree trunk and access to Rufus and Springboard Trails for hikers.

Source: Getting there

What if Gillette Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Big Meadow Lake Campground (8.2 mi, first-come), Edgewater Campground (11.5 mi), and Panhandle (13.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby