Largest Mountain Loop campground with 28 sites, an accessible salmon fry viewing boardwalk, and easy hiking near Lake 22 — no on-site water, bring your own.
Gold Basin is the largest developed campground on the Mountain Loop Highway, with 28 sites accommodating RVs from 22 to 45 feet. The signature attraction is the 0.5-mile wheelchair-accessible boardwalk at Gold Basin Pond — a salmon fry viewing area where kids can watch young fish in a clear-water habitat. Important: there is no potable water on site; fill tanks before leaving Granite Falls. Vault toilets and fire rings are provided. The Lake 22 trailhead is just minutes away for a stellar family hike.
Gold Basin Campground sits in the South Fork Stillaguamish River valley at the western entrance to the Mountain Loop Highway scenic corridor, surrounded by Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest old-growth forest and within sight of the North Cascades foothills. The South Fork Stillaguamish supports important Chinook salmon spawning runs, and the Gold Basin Pond — a small pond adjacent to the campground — was created specifically to allow viewing of salmon fry from an accessible boardwalk, with thousands of juvenile fish visible in spring. The Mountain Loop Highway above the campground climbs through spectacular Cascade scenery to Barlow Pass, with access to the Monte Cristo ghost town, Glacier Basin hiking, and the rugged Glacier Peak Wilderness — one of the most remote in Washington — just beyond.
Sourced from first-hand visits, park ranger notes, and RV community reports. Updated when conditions change.
Largest campground on the Mountain Loop Highway. Riverside sites 1–30 along the Stillaguamish River are most scenic and fill first. Loop B sites (40–60) offer more shade on hot days. The resident campground host provides excellent local trail knowledge — worth a conversation on arrival. Paved internal roads make this the most RV-accessible campground on the Mountain Loop.
| 📍 Nearest Town | Granite Falls, WA |
| ⛽ Gas Station | 14 mi |
| 🛒 Grocery Store | 14 mi |
| 🏪 Costco | 35 mi |
| ☕ Starbucks | 30 mi |
| 🏕️ Nearest State Park | 18 mi |
Stock up in Granite Falls, WA before heading out — services get limited near the campground.
Ready to book?
Check availability online. Reserving 6 months in advance.