[Updated for 2016 — See “30 places to camp for National Bike Travel Weekend“]
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission launched its new “interactive” website last week at www.parks.wa.gov.
Carter Creek campsites in Iron Horse State Park
I immediately tested its “search” function for a topic near-and-dear to my heart — bike/hike campsites. Happily, I discovered that more than a dozen of Washington’s 100 state parks host campsites that are set aside for those who arrive under their power.
The predecessor website never revealed this information.
Bike-hike campsites are commonly first-come first-served, reduced rate campsites reserved for those who arrive at the park by bicycle, by foot, or by kayak or canoe.
Here’s a list of bicycle-friendly and biker – hiker campsites in Washington state parks :
Bogachiel State Park — 2 hiker/biker campsites
Camano Island State Park — 2 hiker/biker campsites
Deception Pass State Park — 5 hiker/biker campsites
Fairholme Campground (National Park Service) – 88 campsites; first-come
Fay Bainbridge Park (operated by Bainbridge Island; not a state park) — 15 tent sites
Fort Townsend State Park — 4 hiker/biker campsites
Fort Worden State Park — 5 hiker/biker campsites in Upper Forest Campground
Green Mountain Horse Camp — primitive tent sites maintained by horsemen’s association
Illahee State Park — 5 hiker/biker campsites
Iron Horse State Park — 4 small campgrounds on John Wayne Pioneer Trail (in addition to 2 hiker/biker sites at Lake Easton):
Alice Creek — Milepost 2127
Carter Creek — Milepost 2123
Cold Creek — Milepost 2113
Roaring Creek — Milepost 2109
Isput Creek Campground (Mount Rainier National Park) — 28 campsites (all first come; wilderness permit required)
Joemma Beach State Park — 2 hiker/biker/kayaker campsites
Lake Easton State Park — 2 hiker/biker campsites
Lewis and Clark State Park — 1 hiker/biker campsite
Manchester State Park — 3 hiker/biker campsites
Middle Fork Campground (US Forest Service) — 39 tent campsites (closed for 2016 season due to road work)
Rainbow Falls State Park — 3 hiker/biker campsites
Rasar State Park — 3 hiker/biker campsites
Spencer Spit State Park — 7 hiker/biker/kayaker campsites
Tolt MacDonald (King) County Park — 22 campsites (reservation and 1st come) and six yurts (reservation)
Twin Harbors State Park — 4 hiker/biker campsites
As you can see, the campsites are concentrated in western Washington. Many other Washington state parks have camping facilities; these are the only ones listed with biker/hiker campsites.
Advantages
One advantage of biker/hiker campsites is that people traveling under their own power can’t always predict how far they’ll get in one day. If one campground is full, it’s not always possible to pedal through the night to the next site.
Also, many of the bike-hike campgrounds are communal, so there’s always room for one more traveler.
They should be easy enough build. You just need some flat spaces, a fire ring and a picnic table or two. You don’t need a 400-square-foot pad to park a recreational vehicle or electrical hook-ups.
I’d like to see all the state campgrounds have a couple of biker-hiker spots. Virginia, for instance, has a policy that all state campgrounds set aside an area for bicyclists to pitch their tents, even when the campground is otherwise full. The Virginia Bicycling Federation explains the details.
Although Washington state doesn’t have such an official policy, I was assured by a parks customer service specialist several years ago that “they would do their best not to turn away any camper arriving under their own power (hiking or biking) but would find a site even if it was just for the night.”
Other states where parks offer “guaranteed camping” policies include Oregon, California, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota.
Also, see the Kansas Cyclist Bicycle Camping Resources by State.
The National Forests of Washington also are available for primitive camping.
Colville National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Olympic National Forest
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There are more Washington state parks to add to this list: Fort Casey, South Whidbey Island, Scenic Beach, Battle Ground Lake, and Seaquest all have hiker/biker sites.
Author
Thanks. Those on the list were the only ones identified on the state website with hike/bike campsites. I’m glad there are others.
The Dungeness State Park near Sequim had a nice collection of hiker/biker campsites, but that facility is now run by Clallam County. Glad to say the hiker/biker sites are still there.
If anyone else knows of others, please pass the info along.
Fort Ebey State Park has a few
Please cite where you found that Indiana’s state parks guarantee camping. I ask this because last night, I was turned away from Indiana Dunes State Park on my bike during a bike overnight, looking for a campsite. I explained that I had learned Indiana has a no-turn-away policy, and no one there knew what I was talking about, including the attendant, the head of security at the park, and a ranger.
Author
I’m very sorry that happened, Nick. I double-backed and tried to find the information regarding Indiana and couldn’t. I first reported that back in 2012, when Virginia instituted its “guaranteed camping” policy for cyclists. I can only think it appeared in a comment or forum discussion at the time, but that no longer exists online. I emailed the Indiana DNR to confirm that they don’t have such a policy, and I’ve stricken it from this website.
Sequim Bay SP and Salt Creek further west both have hiker/biker sites.
Author
Thanks, Mike. Good to know for anyone bicycling the Discovery Trail on the Olympic Peninsula. Altho not directly on the trail, those parks are within riding distance if I recall.
Thanks for this post, Gene. Do you know if hiker/biker sites cost the same as other campsites?
Author
The hiker/biker sites are less expensive. Primitive campsites are $12 per night, while standard campsites are $25 to $35 a night. Camp sites tricked out with electricity are up to $45 a night during the summer.
All the details are here: http://parks.state.wa.us/166/Camping-Fees
Larabee state park on chuckanut drive whatcom county also has several bike in hike in only sites.
I noticed they are not listed… perhaps add them?
Washington State law provides the opportunity for the park ranger to accommodate a hiker/biker that shows up to a full campground. It would be nice if it was mandatory, but this is at least a start.
Chapter 352-32 WAC Definitions
“Emergency area” is an area in the park separate from the designated overnight camping area, which the park manager decides may be used for camping when no alternative camping facilities are available within reasonable driving distances.
352-32-030 WAC
Camping.
Section 12
Emergency camping areas may be used only when all designated campsites are full and at the park ranger’s discretion. Persons using emergency areas must pay the applicable campsite fee and must vacate the site when directed by the park ranger.
We were just turned away from Fort Warden, apparently their H/B sites aren’t communal and filled up. A nice lady overheard this and has let us sleep on the edge of her site. Womp womp. I’ve grown so accustomed to not having to worry about arrival time at a space that claims to be Hike/bike. I wish theee were clear expectations laid out.
9/15/18
Wanapum Dam State Park has two such sites
Squiem outside of Port Angeles has 3 hike or bike sites w/ fire pits, $6 for wood. I was there a year or so ago. Squiem also has a beautiful hiking trail that leads you to a long dock where you can hang out and watch the sunset.
As of June 2023, Fay Fainbbridge Park has removed its hiker biker sites entirely.
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