Easy hike. Beautiful!!! The turquoise water is incredible! Came here with another couple and their…read morebaby - they were able to hike with the baby in a body carrier. Not stroller friendly.

Easy loop hike. A little bit of up then down then up kinda stuff. Its beautiful nature but really…read morenot much real view until the waterfall. Compared to skyline loop it isn't much. But its easy and quick.

In August 2019, our family stopped by La Wis Wis Campground, which is about 4 miles east of…read morePackwood, WA on U.S. Route 12. We were searching for the Blue Hole Swimming Area, based on a spectacular picture I found in a Washington state travel magazine. Inside La Wis Wis Campground, the blue swimming hole has a cliff where bold teenagers can jump into the deep, glacially cold water below. The campground is somewhat difficult to find, but once you enter the complex, it's best to ask campers where the Blue Hole Swimming Area is located. When we arrived, the rocky area on the beach felt a bit painful on the feet - if you have water slippers, it might be more comfortable. The river is pristine but frigid (the water comes from a glacier) and has a pretty indigo (light aqua color) from above. My 14 year old son and 12 year old son jumped from the cliff into the blue swimming hole and were cheered by.a crowd of families on the opposite shore! This is a fun and memorable activity if you're visiting Mt. Rainier National Park and would like to do something fun on a hot afternoon with teenage kids. But it's not for the faint of heart. We stayed for about 45 minutes before continuing on to Packwood.

Legitimately the worst campground I've ever been to. Our campsite looked huge in photos on the…read morestate site, in reality it was scarcely more than a table on the side of the road through the campground. It's fortunate we were sleeping in a rooftop tent, as there wasn't enough space on the ground for a tent. Almost zero space between your campsite and that of your neighbors, guaranteeing that you will listen to the oblivious hordes of campers slamming their car doors and beeping their automatic car alarms all night long. Reserved a whole weekend here, left after the first night. Happily lost the campground fee for an actual night of sleep.

we camped here two nights and it is such a great area and spot if you're going to Mt Rainier! we…read morecamped at Osprey and we had to park then walk to our campsite, but the parking area is very close. there are lots of clean showers (pay with quarters) throughout the campground. it's an easy walk down to the water and there are also playgrounds and lots of open area to relax.

Great stay for big rigs, but a few small things…read more I stayed here in October with my 46ft fifth wheel, and campsite 73 fit it comfortably with no issues at all. The site features a full hookup that worked perfectly. Just a heads up for big rigs, the sites only have 30 amp service and they pump the water from the lake itself so if you don't have a filter on your rv just know it's dirty. You can take a white 5 gallon bucket and fill it with water, you'll see right away it's dirty. Since it was October, the price was $45 a night, plus an extra $15 a night for an extra vehicle. It felt a little expensive for the off-season, but whatever. They charged $180 for 3 nights. A few things to note about the facilities and amenities: * Bathrooms/Showers: The bathrooms kinda smelt bad, but they were definitely usable. The showers work fine, but keep in mind they are coin-operated and you have to pay 50 cents every 5 minutes. * The Lake & Recreation: The lake itself is really nice. They have a boat launch, a dock you can fish off of, and nice trails along the water where you can walk. Biking around the campsites is also really nice. * Fishing: The salmon catch is good here, but some days it's very slow, like 2 fish in 8 hours. Some guy next to me caught two 4.5lb bass. I caught a ton of smaller bass and trout myself (though rarely trout, I think I only got 1). If you are looking for a great day trip, the Skyline Trail hike is about an hour away and it is absolutely amazing. I would 100% recommend doing that hike at any time of day!

Host staff warm and welcoming. We stayed one night for July…read more4th. It was a last minute decision but I was able to find one ada spot available but it was right next to the restroom. People walking through the campsite at all hours of the night thinking it wasn't a site as it isn't clearly visible that it is. So if you don't want that don't get one directly next to the restrooms, but if you are a people person and enjoy talking that would be a great spot if you're disabled. This year for July 4th we found a better site a bit farther away because of my dog. There are lots of trees and great water access for fishing and swimming. A very family friendly place! On the day after July 4th, the local fire department goes through the campground and hands out stuff for the children. It was fun watching before we had to leave . This was a great place to camp to get away from the noise of fireworks too. I definitely will be camping here in the future! Cons: no showers and bring a roll of toilet paper with you in case there isn't any in the restroom in the middle of the night

Great campground. Lots of trees. Has a beach spot for swimming. Huge parking loar for boat access…read moreor extra parking. No showers though.

Merrill Lake Campground is a pretty awesome spot. Awesome enough that I honestly hemmed and hawed…read moreover whether to even add it to Yelp. Although my better Yelp humanitarian judgment has won out here, I still hope you read this, enjoy it, and camp somewhere else. Why? This little campground only has about 9 sites. It's free but you need a discovery pass. There is a camp host and there are surprisingly clean pit toilets on-site, but no potable water. The sites fill up fast in the summer time, but have a 3-day limit that's enforced by the friendly but vigilant camp host. I don't want it to fill up even faster now that I'm sharing this, since I do plan to hit this spot at least one more time before summer is over. There are no reservations (first-come, first-served) and the campsites are designed to work for larger groups - some of them could easily fit 7-10 tents. Each site is spaced decently well away from the others, and offers a picnic table, fire ring and places to pitch. The sites don't really offer views of the lake, they're set back in the trees, but there's plenty of shade Not too dusty, but some sites are heavy with gravel. While it's car camping, you don't drive right in to your site but park in a common lot, then walk in (the farthest you'll have to walk is about 50 yards). So no car noise up close to your site. This little campground sits just by Merrill Lake, a nice smaller lake that does not (thankfully) allow motorized boats and fishing is restricted to fly only, catch + release. For these reasons the water is calmer, cleaner, and dotted with fly fishermen and specific times of the day. At the mid-July mark the lake was warm and clear... perfect for swimming and canoeing. There are some excellent trout holes around the edges of the lake, however I'm not a fly fisherman and don't believe in torturing anything I'm not able to then eat (so catch + release is not for me). However I can see how this would be an attractive spot for a fly fisherman. This campsite is a great place to get away from PDX. Only about 1h 35m in no traffic, and the drive (especially if you come up the 503) is a nice one. Very pastoral, windy road. Get out of your house this summer and sleep under the stars. Just do it at some other campsite since this one is mine.

We stayed for two nights-three days last weekend for my niece's birthday. We usually stay at a…read morecampsite at Lake Berryessa in California, but most of my family now lives in Vancouver so we opted for somewhere near there. Plus, the lakes in California don't even amount to the lakes in Washington/Oregon. My parents went to Merrill Lake Campground on Thursday to secure us a spot which was first come first serve. They managed to get a campsite (#4) that had a direct path to the lake (not the day use where most of the guests would walk to)! It was really big, the only downside was the hill which isn't ideal with little kiddos. Also, that we couldn't have a campfire due to Washington's high alert for fires. It just wasn't the same. You do need a discovery pass which we got at a store that was twelve minutes from the campsite- Lakeside Deli. It was $11 for a day use. The scenery was amazing. It wasn't hot at all where the campsite was. It was surrounded by trees. The water was so clear and clean. The weather was perfect once we made it out of the campsite, through the trail, and to shore. Oh god, and the drive. The drive up the mountain was the scariest I've ever seen. It was beautiful, but so scary. It was a great stay (for free at that!). I recommend this lake!

Making reservation for pontoon boat lady works there is great very easy to make reservation and…read moreshe explained everything cant wait to catch a big one

8/12/25 - The lady at the booth was nice at first and let us drive in to check out the campsites…read more it was around 7 PM. We found a spot and sat at the picnic table to discuss whether we wanted to stay. The neighboring campers had two dogs tied up to the picnic table where we would camp and their group was quite loud. We were trying to figure out if we wanted to set up camp there given the lack of privacy. After about 40 minutes, the same lady approached us again, this time very rudely. She told us this wasn't a day use area and that we needed to either choose a site or leave immediately. Her tone was unwelcoming and unnecessarily harsh, especially since we were just trying to decide. We hadn't booked anything online since it was a spontaneous visit. I had come to the area to visit my dad's grave across the road. In the end, none of the sites felt secluded, and the overall atmosphere didn't feel inviting. We decided to leave and definitely wouldn't recommend camping there based on how we were treated.

The Glacier Basin Trail is utterly magical in every sense of the word. I must have taken hundreds…read moreof pictures and several videos while hiking this trail. This hike has everything that your little heart could ever desire! A forest full of giant trees. Vibrantly green shrubs. Waterfalls at practically each turn. Majestic views of not only the snow covered mountains, but the gorgeous aqua hues of the White River down below. The rushing river running parallel. Rampant wildlife. Colorful wildflowers. Inclines and elevation galore. I mean, shall I go on?! Just stunning. Glacier Basin is located near the White River entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The trail begins just behind the White River Campgrounds. It's starts off mildly inclining through a lush forest, but the incline picks up speed and continues to incline until you reach the camp. It's about roughly 9 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation in total if you add in the the detour to the Emmons Lorraine Trail. Do it! It will add another 1.5/2miles to the hike, BUT... this is where you'll find that incredible view of the Inter Fork White River. It's funny that it's called the "white river" because it's stunningly aqua from the top of Emmons Lorraine. The Emmons Lorraine trail is a turn off that's about a mile into the Glacier Basin Trail and includes a river crossing and a steep incline up a narrow hill. It looks a bit intimidating, but it's really not. Just sit on your bum for the really gnarly parts coming down (at least that's what I did). Continuing on the Glacier Basin Trail, it's basically a straight shot up the hill for another 3 miles until you reach the top. There are a few spots with some switchbacks, but it's mostly a ridge-like trail. AllTrails has rated this hike as moderate, but it's definitely on the harder side of moderate if not difficult. What makes this hike so enjoyable though is the fact that there's so much scenery. Every time I took a break, I was either greeted by a beautiful mini waterfall or vibrant wildflowers. The views are very motivating and it keeps you going. Once you reach Glacier Basin Camp, you'll be met with the most stunning views of snow covered Mount Rainier and the rushing waters of the White River right next to it. This hike took me about 5 hours in total to complete (including breaks, lunch, and detours). It's definitely a day hike, so bring enough food and water to keep yourself nourished. Also, make sure you have some really comfortable hiking shoes/boots and hiking poles for the way down if you have bad knees. Coming down can be just as tough as hiking up because of the steepish downhill for 3 miles straight. This one is definitely going in the books as one of my favorite National Park hikes and my favorite Washington state hike thus far. If you're looking for a challenge and a great way to see the beauty of Mount Rainier National Park, Glacier Basin Trail is a great option.

As a Seattle native, I can say that this is my favorite hike I've ever been on. The hike has a fork…read moreabout a mile in. If you fork left, there is a relatively short (~30 min) but steep trail that leads to the glacier basin. The water is a bright teal with mountains in the background, one of the best views I've ever seen. My friends and I went swimming in the basin, which was very cold but also very fun. If you stay on the main trail, it is an additional 6 miles that is moderate-difficult and took about 3 hours to get up. At the top, there is a really pretty meadow and campground. You will need a Mt. Ranier National Park pass ($50 annual or $30/week) to enter. I went on a weekday in the morning and had no trouble finding parking. The main trail was quite empty, but the left fork had a couple other groups. However, we more or less had the place to ourselves. Overall, 10/10 would reccomend!

came here June of 2020. I had site 2. I was so glad to have found this place! a great alternative…read moreto staying inside the park! Nice and convenient to have the town so close in case you need some civilization, also great cell reception to stay in contact with family. Site 2 was right along the creek and had its own little access to an area where you could possibly swim (if it's hot, alas it was in the 40s when we went). Our spot was fairly private, and had a good amount of space. pit toilets, but dayam, cleanest pit toilets I've ever been to. Be sure to bring hand sanitizer or your own hand washing station. Would definitely come back and stay here again.

I'm an avid camper, and the experience I had at this campground with the host was ABSOLUTELY THE…read moreWORST ever. We arrived at the campground early to find the best spot as we were planning to take some outdoor wedding photos at the campsite the day after. It was not a busy season, so there were only a couple of sites occupied. We carefully selected a spot, paid for it, and posted the receipt on the site clip. I took a photo of both the envelope and the receipt clipped at the site. After exploring the national park, we arrived at the campground at around 9pm. Most of the campsites were still unoccupied. To our surprise, when we arrived at our reserved spot, there was a group of people who took our campsite! They already put up their tent and a canopy as well. When I checked the pole where I clipped the receipt, it was GONE & REPLACED by someone else's!! When I talked to those people who took our campsite, there were already drunk and were at the verge of becoming hostile. But they did tell us that the host "allowed" them to take the spot. Right then and there, we went to the host and explained the situation, and the host said (1) we never paid and that (2) there was no receipt clipped at the site. When I told him that that wasn't true, he proceeded to tell me that the information I wrote on the clip let him know that we were checking out today. So, for a second, I thought maybe I wrote either the # of nights spent or check-out date incorrectly. But then, I remembered I took pictures of both the envelope and the receipt!! I showed the photos to him, then, of course, he could not lie his way out of this. There was no apology, and he simply proceeded to tell us to sleep at one of the other available campsites. We were super furious because we had NEVER experienced this kind of rudeness, lies, and brazen behavior. As anyone can imagine, we did not want to spend another second there, so we demanded a refund, and "MIRACULOUSLY", the envelope (still glued) with our payment was found in his RV. I'm reporting the host to the US Forest Service.

We have been camping at Taidnapam every year for quite a few years. It is one of our favorite…read moreplaces to camp. The sites are roomy enough and it is easy to get our RV in. We really enjoy searching for the tree faces every year as well. It used to be a lot more fun before they lowered Riffe Lake. However, being in such close proximity to Mt Rainier, there are still a lot of other things to do in the area. We usually take a day trip up to the National Forest and drive around looking at the scenery. The showers at Taidnapam are individual rooms and they are clean. They take quarters..... it's like 50c for three minutes or something like that.

This is a beautiful park and campground. I have been going here yearly for the past four years…read more There are lots to explore. Morton, WA is only about a ten minute drive and has a "Loggers weekend" in August. They have a parade, a chance to see and learn about the mill, among other events.

Check in was super easy and the staff was nice. Campsite was clean and picnic table and fire pit…read morewere in good condition. The prices in there store were comparable to those in our town (with exception of the ice cream). They definitely don't price gouge unlike most campground stores. Store also had useful items, not just novelty junk, which was a huge plus. Bags of ice and firewood costs were extremely reasonable. Had ice cold pop and sunburn cream, both which turned out to be necessities. Campsite was clean and so were the Portapotties and bathrooms. It was also quiet at night which was a huge plus. Staff was around if you have questions or concerns. Also felt safe staying there, which is again a huge plus. Don't get the Riffe Lake campground confused with the MossyRock park run by Tacoma power. This place (Riffe Lake campground) is much more family friendly and quiet. There is not boat access and it is a steep walk down to the water, just be aware. They do rent boats and kayaks if you didn't bring your own. Very short drive to Stofford pond for fishing. Had multiple black tail deer sightings, several just walking carefree through the campground. Was an amazing sight to see. Also was a great place to see eagles. We had lots of close sightings of eagles right over our campsite, which was super cool. Plus for our trip there were no mosquitos (July 2021). Plan to stay here again and highly recommend it for anyone camping in the area. Not a tourist trap, it is a nice honest family owned/ran facility, clearly!

Lovely, quite campground. Hosts are extremely friendly and helpful. Would've been a 5/5 if not for…read morethe having to pay for a shower. Took awhile for water to actually warm, 6min goes by fast.