Washington State - Camping Along the Mountain Loop Scenic Byway Near Seattle

Looking for that perfect weekend camping and hikingcampground, Wiley Creek, a favorite of scouts, has
getaway trip from Seattle? Only one hour's drivethree Adirondack shelters which are open-air rustic
away you could experience the Mountain Loop Sceniccabins with open-plank bunks and attics where
Byway, one of Washington State's most populargroups can spread out sleeping pads.
scenic drives. There you'll drive past three wildernessOne of my favorite campgrounds is Red Bridge
areas, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, snow-cappedbecause of its 16 campsites, half are right above the
mountain peaks, thirteen U.S. Forest Service (USFS)river's edge. From Red Bridge campsites you can also
campgrounds, and wild and scenic rivers. Wildlifeget glimpses of snow-capped peaks as you peer
enthusiasts would be interested in the fact thatthrough the dense evergreen forests on the far side
eagles, beavers, black bears, mountain goats,of the Stilly.
black-tailed deer, and barred owls make homes here.If you continue driving past Barlow Pass you'll find
The Mountain Loop Scenic Byway, one of 11 scenicthat the rest of the campgrounds are situated next
byways in the state, traverses through the Mt.to the Wild and Scenic Sauk River. The Sauk is one
Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the westernof the best kept whitewater and scenic rafting trip
section of the Cascade Range. It's paved for 34secrets in the Cascades. As the river tumbles out of
miles from Granite Falls to a low mountain pass,the pristine Glacier Peak Wilderness, the clear,
Barlow Pass, where it becomes an unpaved road. Atfree-flowing Sauk River is considered exceptional by
Barlow Pass, you'll see mountain peaks on either sidewhitewater enthusiasts.
of you and a stream running alongside that make forYou can camp next to the Sauk River at Bedal and
a gorgeous setting and a feeling that you're inClear Creek campgrounds. Bedal is one of my
another world. After 13 miles of bumpy driving, afavorite Washington State campgrounds. With the
paved surface resumes for the remaining 9 miles tosound of the river in the background and set in an
the town of Darrington. Portions of the unpavedold-growth forest, it offers a more primitive
section are narrow and rutted but are drivable in aout-of-the-way experience. If you choose to camp
passenger car.there you may see groups of kayakers using the
Campgroundsspot as a launch point for a day's whitewater outing.
Of the 13 USFS campgrounds, the largest is GoldHiking
Basin with 83 sites for tents or RVs, and even anHiking in the area includes easy jaunts such as one
amphitheater. You'll appreciate the convenience ofalong the old Monte Cristo Railroad bed, a nature trail
showers and piped water, a rarity in most USFSfor the wheelchair-bound, short and steep hikes to
campgrounds. All the campgrounds between Granitehigh lakes, an easy one-mile hike to the unusual Big
Falls and Barlow Pass are situated very close to theFour ice caves and even treacherous, cross-country
South Fork Stillaguamish River, or "Stilly", where skilledtraverses through untamed wilderness.
anglers can catch summer steelhead, cutthroat troutThe Mountain Loop Scenic Byway loops almost
and whitefish.entirely around the Boulder River Wilderness, which
Most of the campgrounds along the Mountain Loopnot many people venture into. This is mainly due to
Scenic Byway are more rustic than Gold Basin, butthe fact that there are few trails and it has some
many campsites are literally a few feet from a river'svery steep ascents. If you want to go explore, do
edge. Even though most of the campgrounds aresome orienteering and cross-country travel, that's a
within earshot of the highway, the placid sounds ofgood place to do it.
the moving water over river rock create anFor technical climbers, the Sloan and Bedal peaks in
ambiance that overshadows the sounds of passingthe Jackson Wilderness offer sheer rock challenges.
cars.The next time you visit Seattle, if you want to
Half of the campgrounds are "group camps" andexperience some of the best of Washington State
available for reservation by organizations such ascamping, try to find time for a weekend drive to the
church groups, scout troops, and family reunions. OneMountain Loop Scenic Byway!