Alta Lake State Park campground
State Park ~2 hr 45 min from Seattle

Alta Lake State Park

Full-hookup mountain lake park near Pateros with 32 sites, a sandy swimming beach, excellent boating, and scenic North Cascades backdrop. Seasonal April–October.

RV Sites
32
total sites
Max Length
38 ft
full hookups
Hookups
Full Hookups
full hookups
Surface
Mixed
site surface
Dump Station
On-site
Available to all registered campers
Reservation
6 mo.
books out fast
Why Visit

Alta Lake State Park

Alta Lake State Park nestles in the pine and fir forest above Pateros on a clear mountain lake with a sandy swimming beach and boat launch. Thirty-two full-hookup sites accommodate RVs up to 38 feet with four restroom buildings (including ADA), twelve individual shower facilities, and a dump station. The scenic setting features towering Cascades peaks above the lake, excellent trout and kokanee salmon fishing, and calm waters perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking. Seasonal operation April through October.

191 Alta Lake Rd, Pateros, WA 98846
~2 hr 45 min from Seattle (165 mi)
Online reservation · Reserving 6 months in advance
Discover Pass required
Campground Specs

Details that matter for your rig

Maneuverability
Moderate
Some tight turns — manageable
Cell Coverage
Good
Service generally reliable
Generators
Restricted
Designated hours only
Site Surface
Mixed
Check conditions at check-in
Dump Station
On-site
Available to all registered campers
Hookups
Full Hookups
Full W+E+S hookups
Things to Do

Activities at Alta Lake State Park

🥾 Hiking 🎣 Fishing 🏊 Swimming 🚣 Kayaking 🏖️ Beach ⛵ Boating 🛝 Playground

On-site & nearby activities

  • Lake swimming from sandy beach
  • Boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding
  • Fishing for rainbow trout and kokanee
  • Picknicking with Cascades mountain views
  • Sunset views over Methow Valley
  • Pateros fruit stand and orchard visits
State Park

Washington State Parks — built for exploration

Alta Lake sits in a glacially carved basin in the Methow Valley foothills, surrounded by ponderosa pine forest at the boundary between the North Cascades' wetter west slopes and the drier Okanogan Highlands plateau. The Methow Valley below Alta Lake is Washington's premier cross-country ski destination in winter and a world-class mountain biking and hiking destination in summer, with the Methow Trails network offering 200 miles of maintained backcountry trails. The surrounding Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest supports one of Washington's largest mule deer populations, and the valley is recognized as critical winter range for deer and elk migrating down from the North Cascades high country.

Facilities

What's on-site

🚻
Toilets
Flush toilets
🚿
Showers
Available
💧
Drinking Water
Available
🔥
Fire Pits
Every site
Flush toilets, showers, and drinking water are all on site. Every site includes a fire pit.
Insider Knowledge

Site recommendations from the field

Sourced from first-hand visits, park ranger notes, and RV community reports. Updated when conditions change.

🗺️

Sites near Alta Lake (1–50) are the most popular — book these for the best water access. Loops B and C provide full hookup sites for longer stays. The lake warms nicely by early August. The park connects to the Methow Valley Trail System — excellent for mountain biking and hiking from camp. Book well in advance for July–August; the Methow Valley is extremely popular in summer.

Logistics

Nearest services

📍 Nearest TownPateros, WA
⛽ Gas Station2 mi
🛒 Grocery Store18 mi
🏪 Costco65 mi
☕ Starbucks45 mi
🏕️ Nearest State Park30 mi

Stock up in Pateros, WA before heading out — services get limited near the campground.

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Ready to book?

Ready to book Alta Lake State Park?

Check availability online. Reserving 6 months in advance.

Reserve a Site
Information sourced from official park agencies and publicly available data. Conditions, fees, and availability change — verify details directly with the campground before your visit.