National Park Service · Ross Lake National Recreation Area · WA

Colonial Creek South Campground

View of a lake with lush trees on either side, highway bridge and a mountain in the background with blue skyPhoto · NPS / MICHAEL FRICKE
Not publishedStatus
ReservableAccess
94Sites
43 ftMax rig

The place

Colonial Creek South Campground requires reservations during the peak season, from late May through early September of each year. Important changes to booking windows: To better serve visitors, Colonial Creek South Campground will release campsites in two staggered block releases. These block releases will be 6 months in advance and 7 days in advance. Campsites #64 - #95 and #116 - #164 are available for reservations 6 months in advance. Campsites #96 - #113 are available for reservations 7 days in advance. Keep reading

Any sites not reserved during the peak season are available same-day as first-come, first-served for 1 night only and can only be claimed in person at the campground. Colonial Creek South Campground may be open as first-come, first-served after the peak season until most of the campground closes for the year, typically in mid to late September. Ten walk-in, tent-only campsites (#64 - #73) are open as first-come, first-served before and after the peak season, from January through late May, and early September through December of each year. The campground is remote, yet bustling and is nestled in old-growth forest. Located on the south side of State Route 20 near milepost 130, there are 93 campsites that are surrounded by forest and located on Diablo Lake. Colonial Creek South Campground can accommodate a variety of camping, whether it’s drive-in camping, or walk-in tent camping. The campsites vary in size from small to medium. Most of the campsites do not accommodate large trailers or RVs. Recreation Campers can access the Thunder Creek Trailhead from the South Loop. The Thunder Knob Trailhead is on the north loop across State Route 20. Fishing is allowed in Diablo Lake with a Washington State Fishing license, the nearest location to purchase a license is in the town of Marblemount, WA. Follow Washington State Fishing Regulations when recreating. Black bears are active in this campground and the surrounding trails. Be aware of your surroundings while hiking, picnicking, and camping. Use the provided bear boxes in your campsite to store coolers, cookware, and other odorants when not in use. If you encounter a bear around the campground or on a trail, inform campground staff or go to the North Cascades Visitor Center and fill out a bear report. Facilities The campground is located on the southern side of State Route 20, with some campsites along the lakefront of Diablo Lake. The entire facility offers drinking water, flush toilets, garbage and recycling, RV dump station, and some paved parking spaces, but most sites have uneven gravel parking. Each campsite offers a picnic table, bear box, and campfire ring. Natural Features Colonial Creek South Campground is surrounded by a forest of western redcedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, red huckleberries, and other native vegetation. The campground has easy access to Diablo Lake for recreating. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (360) 854-7200. Nearby Attractions Traveling west on State Route 20: The North Cascades Visitor Center is 11 miles (18 km) west on State Route 20 from Colonial Creek South Campground, operating seasonally, typically from May to September. Campers can find the passport stamps, exhibits, park film, park store, and much more. Traveling east on State Route 20: Diablo Lake Overlook is 1.5 miles (2 km) east on State Route 20. the turquoise lake can be viewed safely from this area and there is ample day use parking and vault toilets. Ross Lake Overlook is 5 miles (8 km) east on State Route 20, this is a less developed vista point. There are two pull off areas with interpretive way sides and with views of the Ross Dam and Ross Lake.

The sites · 94

LoopSiteTypeMax rigElectricADA
Colonial Creek South Campground064walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground065walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground066walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground067walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground068walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground069walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground070walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground071ADAwalk toyes
Colonial Creek South Campground072walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground073walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground074walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground075walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground076standard nonelectric38 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground077standard nonelectric25 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground078walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground079walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground080walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground082walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground083walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground084walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground085walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground086walk to21 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground087walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground088walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground089standard nonelectric25 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground090walk to22 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground091standard nonelectric43 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground092walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground093walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground094walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground095standard nonelectric23 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground096standard nonelectric37 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground097standard nonelectric24 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground099walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground100walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground101walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground102walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground103standard nonelectric28 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground104standard nonelectric23 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground106standard nonelectric16 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground108standard nonelectric24 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground110standard nonelectric25 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground111standard nonelectric23 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground112standard nonelectric25 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground113ADAstandard nonelectric30 ftyes
Colonial Creek South Campground114management30 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground115management30 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground116ADAstandard nonelectric40 ftyes
Colonial Creek South Campground117management23 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground118standard nonelectric22 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground119standard nonelectric19 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground120standard nonelectric30 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground121standard nonelectric28 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground122standard nonelectric23 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground123standard nonelectric21 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground124standard nonelectric23 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground125standard nonelectric23 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground126standard nonelectric23 ft
Colonial Creek South Campground127walk to
Colonial Creek South Campground128hike to

SHOWING 60 OF 94 SITES

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

Your representative

This campground sits in WA-02. This member’s public-lands record →

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