By Alex Day, Marketing/Communications & Database Director
Camping in Washington state is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, often leaving visitors with life-long memories of exploring the heart of our state’s wildest places. The kind of tranquility you can access when you’re willing to hike into the wilderness – and sleep overnight in it – is unrivaled. But for those who are new to our state, or visiting from out of town, figuring out how to get started might feel overwhelming.
Backcountry Beginners is your guide to all things backcountry camping in our all-time favorite locations: Washington’s three largest national parks, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic. Whether you’re a first-timer wondering how to secure a spot or a Washington veteran interested in planning a large group backpacking weekend, we’re here to help.
First things first: what’s the difference between frontcountry and backcountry camping?
According to the National Park Service, “Most camping that occurs in parks is considered frontcountry camping, where visitors drive to an established campground. It’s commonly referred to as car camping.” These campgrounds are usually made up of camping loops (roads shaped in an actual loop), and each loop has camping sites established to accommodate tents, and in some cases, towed campers and RVs. They can be a little noisy at times since you might be sharing the campground with other campers, and they often feature amenities like check-in stations, tent pads, RV sites, restrooms, and potable water.
Some popular frontcountry campgrounds in the parks are Cougar Rock at Mount Rainier, Heart O’ the Hills at Olympic, and Newhalem campground at North Cascades.
Reserving sites at most frontcountry campgrounds can be done through Recreation.gov; alongside the park-provided resources about frontcountry campgrounds, Recreation.gov will be a reliable resource for the most up-to-date status on campsites.
Compared to frontcountry camping, backcountry camping is a more rugged camping experience. The National Park Service explains:
Are you ready for the full outdoor experience? To become one with nature? Imagine a trip with just you, your pal, your tent, and the great outdoors. Take the plunge, and adventure past the campground and lot attendant. Rely on your own skills to survive on anything nature throws your way. Of course, you’ll want to visit the How to Camp section first for the vital, in-depth info you need to make it in the wilderness. But once you head out, you just might find yourself hooked on the natural wonders and solitude of backcountry camping.
Backcountry camping could look like backpacking, water trips (rafts, canoes, boats), or climbing (rock, mountain, ice). When it comes to backcountry camping, you get to choose the amenities you want to bring with you, though you’ll want to mostly stick to the things you need since you’ll likely be carrying them in and out on your back.
Long story short? If you’re willing to give up the comforts of everyday life in exchange for true solitude, the backcountry might be for you.
If you’re leaning more towards the luxuries of frontcountry camping, you can find more information on the parks’ websites:
For those of you who are enticed by the challenge of purely relying on what’s on your back, then check out other published blogs in the Backcountry Beginners series:
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Cover photo: Camping on the Sulphide Glacier by Kacee Saturay