|
11-09-2013, 10:01 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Washington for now
Posts: 125
|
Boondocking near Mt. Rainier?
Hello folks. Looking to see if anyone can point me in the right direction for free rv camping near Mt. Rainier. Can't do logging roads in a 32' motorhome, but would love to find somewhere to take my family for free weekend trips. I just moved out here so any advice would be greatly appreciated. In fact, I'm open to any advice for boondocking anywhere in WA, I just live closer to the west side of Rainier.
__________________
2013 Fleetwood Storm 32BH, cheap handling fix, 5-Star tuned, custom cut Tempurpedic mattress, LED'd out, and custom mounted dog kennel. 14' JKU Willys Wheeler toad, SMI Stay-n-Play brakes, Demco Commander tow bar, Roadmaster brackets
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
11-09-2013, 10:15 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Kent, WA
Posts: 1,092
|
You are going to be hard pressed to find anything near Mt. Rainier that can handle a 32' MH. Most everything up that way won't take much over a 25' or 26' rig. Very old National Parks there. Try going to the National Parks website and pulling up their locations.
__________________
Arnold
2006 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40 PAQ
2017 Ram 2500 Big Horn 6.4 Hemi
|
|
|
11-09-2013, 10:39 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Washington for now
Posts: 125
|
Yeah, I did. Found a few seasonal spots that can accomodate just outside of the natl park. Hoping for some hidden gem or primitive spot like I found over the years of living in the South. There were tons of old hunter's camps and state forest boondocking spots down there. I'd never found any via Internet. Had to go out and find them the old fashioned way. I'm going to take a drive today and start looking toward the West of Mt. Rainier. And although the internet says seasonal, I'm going to take a peek at Evans creek cg. And anything along the way.
__________________
2013 Fleetwood Storm 32BH, cheap handling fix, 5-Star tuned, custom cut Tempurpedic mattress, LED'd out, and custom mounted dog kennel. 14' JKU Willys Wheeler toad, SMI Stay-n-Play brakes, Demco Commander tow bar, Roadmaster brackets
|
|
|
11-09-2013, 11:44 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 112
|
While it's not Mt. Rainier, there's a neat spot for boondocking on Observatory Road leading up to the (you guessed it) U of W Observatory on Manashtash Ridge. We've had our 37' Tropi-cal in there. You'll want a toad for exploring past the campground and on up to the observatory. Great views from there!
Manastash Ridge Observatory Homepage
__________________
Doc
'99 Trop-i-cal 6370 37' / Ford V-10
'92 GMC Sonoma 4.3L 4WD toad
|
|
|
11-09-2013, 01:34 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: seattle, wa.
Posts: 413
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clark Savage Jr
While it's not Mt. Rainier, there's a neat spot for boondocking on Observatory Road leading up to the (you guessed it) U of W Observatory on Manashtash Ridge. We've had our 37' Tropi-cal in there. You'll want a toad for exploring past the campground and on up to the observatory. Great views from there!
Manastash Ridge Observatory Homepage
|
Good info....
__________________
1999 National Dolphin
1995 Range Rover County SWB.
Sailor, Dickens, Zooki, Koko.
|
|
|
11-18-2013, 05:52 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 625
|
The National Forest CGs In that area are a great place to camp in that area. Not free but they won't break the bank either.
__________________
John, Pat and the cat named Missy
2011 Winnebago VIA T
HONDA 2015 PILOT in tow
|
|
|
11-18-2013, 06:44 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 298
|
I want to get up that way in two years. Good info !
|
|
|
11-20-2013, 12:11 PM
|
#8
|
Junior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: North Northern Idaho
Posts: 13
|
Iron Creek NF is a great place to camp!
Iron Creek CG 8 miles or so south of Randle on Rt 12 southwest of Mt Rainer NP is a great campground. Not free but paved and very low National Forest rates. The road it is on allows you to go to the east side of Mt St Helen's. Much better views than west side of park. You can see right into the volcano.
We drove there for a mini family reunion from New Mexico this summer. We have been camping there for 20+ years. We love the 800+ year old trees, over 285 feet high.
You won't regret it.
|
|
|
11-20-2013, 03:23 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Port Hadlock, Washington
Posts: 2,855
|
Welcome to Washington!
I'm a dyed-in-the-wool boondocker and have some favorite places to share. My rig's smaller than yours, but I'll try to suggest places where you might fit...
As stated, boondocking places near Mt. Rainier are sort of sparse, especially on the west side. Much of the public land in that area is National Park, so camping's only allowed in regular campgrounds. East of the mountain, there are a few places along the American River where one can boondock for free. I've never had much luck finding them empty, though.
You don't say exactly where on the west side you are, but here's my choice for best boondocking opportunities within a hundred miles east or so of Seattle: The Cle Elum River. There's a whole section up there between the top of the lake and Salmon La Sac that's wide open for boondocking, and much of it's accessible to rigs your size.
Side note:
Though a west-side dweller myself, my favorite boondocking places are on the east side of the Cascades, and I'd be happy to share more of those if you're interested.
|
|
|
11-20-2013, 08:23 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 143
|
Not really much on this side. But welcome to Washington. There are a few, Off hgy 12
on the Cowlitz river there are a couple, think they are corp of eng. parks. Mostly for
the fishing crowd.
Capitol Forest here in Oly has some but I think closed for season.
|
|
|
11-24-2013, 11:42 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Washington for now
Posts: 125
|
Thanks so much for the replies. I'm in Orting and am looking for any of the less expensive or free (off the beaten path) sites. But I'll take any advice or campground recommendations in the state of Washington. Close is good, but it's looking like I may have to drive a few hours anyway. Probably doing our first trip in December!
__________________
2013 Fleetwood Storm 32BH, cheap handling fix, 5-Star tuned, custom cut Tempurpedic mattress, LED'd out, and custom mounted dog kennel. 14' JKU Willys Wheeler toad, SMI Stay-n-Play brakes, Demco Commander tow bar, Roadmaster brackets
|
|
|
11-25-2013, 11:34 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 949
|
We camped at Iron Creek for a few days on way back from Alaska in 2008. It is beautiful but not a place for solar. We still remember those trees as huge. But then we are from New Mexico and any trees are huge, any trees period.
Reed and Elaine Cundiff
|
|
|
11-25-2013, 11:43 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 949
|
We camped at Iron Creek for a few days on way back from Alaska in 2008. It is beautiful but not a place for solar. We still remember those trees as huge. But then we are from New Mexico and any trees are huge, any trees period.
There are some very nice Forest Service CGs on east side of Mount Hood. One had excellent sites along the river. We stayed at Sherwood Forest for four nights but the Forest Service has a lot of dispersed camping sites as well. the first one that we were told to try was some very touristy lake that is an absolute zoo.
Reed and Elaine Cundiff
There are some great
Reed and Elaine Cundiff
|
|
|
05-09-2017, 09:06 PM
|
#14
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 22
|
Sorry to revive such an old thread, but it was literally the first link to show for my search. Any updates to this question? Any new spots or experiences from anyone?
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|