Leavenworth Camping Beta

I'm going out to the Leavenworth area for the first time this summer, from July 20 - August 20ish. I'm looking for somewhere to camp that has enough space for two people to camp and cook, access to water, and ideally some semblance of a bathroom. But I don't want to go broke paying for a fancy site with amenities I don't care about. Any info?

There are plenty of campsites to stay at that run about $20 a night.  8-mile is right in the middle of everything.  Bridge Creek is a little further down, a little less busy.  Johnny Creek is even further down Icicle Creek but one of my favorites due to traffic.  Either way all these fill up really quick and you should plan accordingly.  There is a climbers camp in a parking lot off Icicle Creek road.  Also, very busy and fills up rather quick.  There are a few bum campsites around but I'm not going to promote those. Good luck - what are you trying to get on?

Options are free with no amenities (pack it out!), or $20/night for water and a toilet. no showers - just suck it up and jump in the river if you're too grimy. 

Ill DM you some coordinates with free camping.  Conor is likely referring to the Forest Lands lot as the "climbers" camp ground.  If you are crashing in your car or van, I think this option is ok, however you should not set up tents or have fires here as it is clearly marked not to do so.

There us 8-mile campground and Bridge Creek Campground on Icicle Creek Road. Expect these to be full on the weekends.  $20/night.  As mentioned no showers.   There will be plenty of water from the creek but it needs to be treated.  You will be a 15-20 min drive to town where every amenity is available. 

Its going to be very warm that time of year.  Plenty of cool air the higher you go in elevation, but condition down low will not be optimal for climbing.  

Have fun. 

It's gonna be sooo hot at that time of year just FYI. My cousin lives there and he said it hit 100 regularly this past summer with tons of smoke from fires.

I hope I’m wrong but the smoke will most likely be heinous during those dates. You don’t want to be here if it’s like it’s been the past two years. 

Briggs Lazalde wrote: Unfortunately listen to the last few posts. We frequented Leavenworth last summer and those dates were unbearably hot we had to bail. Are you open to some travel and exploration? I could recommend a few cooler places

I'll be in that area the preceding two weeks and would love some beta on cooler spots :)

Justin Laursen wrote:

I'll be in that area the preceding two weeks and would love some beta on cooler spots :)

Darington, Squamish or Washington Pass/ Mazama would be my recommendations for cooler temps at that time of year. What style of climbing are you looking to do? WA Pass has some of the best multi pitch trad routes in the state IMO.

Jacob Wolniewicz wrote:

Darington, Squamish or Washington Pass/ Mazama would be my recommendations for cooler temps at that time of year. What style of climbing are you looking to do? WA Pass has some of the best multi pitch trad routes in the state IMO.

Thanks! We'll be in Squamish for the American/Canadian holiday bonanza and then some bouldering and camping around the PNW afterwards. We have a little tike en tow, so shorter approaches and areas not near drop offs/raging rapids are always welcomed.

Justin Laursen wrote:

Thanks! We'll be in Squamish for the American/Canadian holiday bonanza and then some bouldering and camping around the PNW afterwards. We have a little tike en tow, so shorter approaches and areas not near drop offs/raging rapids are always welcomed.

If you'll be around I'd just see how temps are.

Leavenworth might have some cooler temps around then, but unlikely. If they do then def worth checking out.

Vantage and Tieton will be swealtering.

For short approaches Mazama has a lot of short sport climbing approaches, WA Pass right outside of it has most of its trad multi pitch at a 1-2 hour approach. Darington has 30 min (to extremely long) approaches but is a bit out there, very few crowds but I wouldn't want to spend 2 weeks there. Maybe just a day or two at a time.

There also is Mt. Erie right on the puget sound going south on I-5.

Have a great time out here!

Resurrecting this thread to ask about early season camping. The forest service site says that 8-Mile doesn't open up until May 10th but I was hoping to get out there end of April. Would we be locked out of the campground or is it open/accessible but no water or toilets?

Josiah Ferguson wrote: Resurrecting this thread to ask about early season camping. The forest service site says that 8-Mile doesn't open up until May 10th but I was hoping to get out there end of April. Would we be locked out of the campground or is it open/accessible but no water or toilets?

You can park along the road then camp in the campground. Just no water + toilets as you called out. Plenty of people do it.

Jacob Wolniewicz wrote:

You can park along the road then camp in the campground. Just no water + toilets as you called out. Plenty of people do it.

There is a creek on the other side of the campground from the road.  You could filter for water easily if needed. 

Dan Cooksey wrote:

Cross the bridge at bridge creek campground,  signs for  Stuart Lale trail head.  Maybe 50 to 100 yds passed the bridge, turn left down a small dirt road.  Free camping back there.

Why do people do this.. 

H Lue wrote:

Why do people do this.. 

Like its a secret and not a well known shit show every weekend............

Its called helping people out.  Guy asked for a place to camp.

Dan Cooksey wrote:

Like its a secret and not a well known shit show every weekend............

Its called helping people out.  Guy asked for a place to camp.

Exactly it's crowded enough as it is. I'm all for helping people out, send it in a PM so it's not plastered online. 

Briggs Lazalde wrote:

^posts this to MP while handing credit card over to the marriot hotel.

Different strokes for different folks. That's why

Briggs how could you 

Just buy a house in Leavenworth.  There, camping problem solved.  But keep this beta on the DL! We don't want to ruin this cute little Bavarian village 

Alright that little snip it of MP history is gone....................

Jplotz wrote: Just buy a house in Leavenworth.  There, camping problem solved.  But keep this beta on the DL! We don't want to ruin this cute little Bavarian village 

Putting a down payment on this one.  

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Leavenworth-WA/pmf,pf_pt/120146178_zpid/5584_rid/globalrelevanceex_sort/47.553475,-120.683184,47.536007,-120.719705_rect/14_zm/

Gorgeous!

You going to allow camping?