By:
Submission
With all campsites located near the shoreline of glacially carved Lake Quinault, visitors are sure to enjoy the beautiful shoreline and interpretive opportunities in the area. From old-growth trees in the surrounding rain forest to excellent fishing, Willaby Campground's location is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Recreation The forest features 10 miles of hiking trails and many waterfalls within walking distance of the campground. Lake Quinault is part of the Quinault Indian Nation As such,You must have a fishing permit and or boat permit through the Quinault Indian Nation. Both may be purchased through local merchants. Lake Quinault Lodge offers boat and kayak rentals as well as a number of interpretive tours. Facilities There are 21 campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs up to 16 feet in length, however no hook ups are provided. Some sites are in wooded areas and others are not; many of the sites have a view of the lake. The campground has a potable water system. The site also has a barrier-free flush toilet as well as several accessible camp and picnic sites. Natural Features The forested slopes of Olympic National Park provide a scenic backdrop across Lake Quinault. Towering conifers including Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir, western hemlock and western red cedar provide dense shade for this beautiful setting. The forest floor is covered with lush rain forest plants including moss, ferns, false lily-of-the-valley and oxalis. Nearby Attractions Nearby, Lake Quinault Lodge offers a restaurant and gift shop. Short trails in the area include the Big Spruce Tree Trail, Forest Service Nature Trail, Kestner Homestead Trail and the Maple Glade Trail. Explore the ocean beaches close-by as well as the National Fish Hatchery. For a more adventuresome day, drive up the valley to hike along the rivers or climb the 4,200 ft. Colonel Bob Peak for expansive views of the mountains and valleys on a clear day. ADA Access: N
From Seattle Travel on 1-5 south to Olympia, take highway 101 N toward Aberdeen. Take state highway 8, this turns into highway 12 which will get you to Aberdeen. From Aberdeen, WA travel 40 miles north on Highway 101 to South Shore Road. Take South Shore road 1.5 miles to Willaby Campground. Entrance to campground is from the South Shore Road just beyond the Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trailhead.
Extra vehicle fee $5 per vehicle per night.
One of the best campgrounds I have camped in. Place is clean and unique the way campsites are organized. Some off the campsites have best view, sad we couldn't get desirable campsite. Limited campsites, so you know why it fills so fast! Washrooms are clean. Nearby there are good options for food and Merriman Falls was best place to visit. Lot of trails, but we didn't do any this time, because we didn't enough time to admire the place where we camped!
This place is incredible. It's so beautiful and that makes it popular. If you decide to stay here, book early. I had to book my campsite 5 months in advance to get a water-view site, but the wait was worth it. I've been to the Hoh before and this part of WA State is unlike any other place in the country. So of the biggest trees in the world are here including the biggest Sitka Spruce. It rains a lot (155" plus) so plan your trip accordingly and be prepared for rain or to cancel if you aren't. It's $25 a night. The are like 5 sites that are on the water or have water-access. They say you can bring your camper here, but only if it's under 16' and there aren't many sites where you could put it and there are no hook ups, so it's basically a tent only site. The campsites are small, maybe 100 to 200 square feet. There's a fire ring, tent pad picnic table and that's it. If you have a big tent like over 10x18 it might not fit. It had portable water and 2 restrooms with running water and flush toilets. Be warned: the one in the inner camp men's room toilet has a real weak flush and clogs up really easy. Everything was well maintained! The camp is on Lake Quinault which is part of the Quinault Indian Nation, so if you want to boat, fish, SUP, you need to get your watercraft inspected by a Native (you do it at the lodge stores up the road, not the ranger station) and pay the fee. It costs $15 for a boat/ kayak registration ($5 foot each additional boat) and the sticker is good for the year. You have to pay them to fish as well. Jet skis, jet boats, boats are not allowed on the lake, and there's a 25 mph speed limit. No waterskiing or tubing are allowed. That's what's so great about this place...quiet! Nothing like the reservoirs close in. The lake is surrounded by mountains and it gets misty early in the morning and a fog sometimes covers the lake. It's easy to kayak her, but it gets really choppy in the afternoon with white caps, but quiets down in the evening. It rained on our trip and rained hard for hours, like downpour at night. Our neighbors left early! I don't mind the rain though. It was nice! You have tons of hiking, trails, interpretive hikes, huge banana slugs and epic scenery. I give this plax we a thumbs up.
Beautiful campground with lush green surroundings, and of course the lake!
This place has the best restrooms, everything was auto - flush and taps.
Sites 1 and 2 have very little privacy, and I suggest if you are coming through as a group book both of them.
Each site has a table and fire pit, a water spigot is available all around in every two sites.
As you approach the campground look out for signs of sales of firewood, as no firewood is sold at the site itself.
Lake access is via the day area with a fair amount of parking and restrooms.
lots of small trails that lead to waterfalls, and you can spend the time enjoying the water fishing too.
Enjoy
I almost don’t want to tell anyone about this place so we can keep it all to ourselves! This is one of the best campsites we have ever stayed at. First off - site #13 is hands down the best - it is the largest space with good privacy and most of all the best view! You even have direct access down to a small beach and swim spot away from the public day use area. Also the bathrooms are right across from #13 and they are clean and you can’t hear anything. The site has room to park your vehicle up close and sets you back off the road enough. It’s a quiet and peaceful campground (some traffic noise at times). There are beautiful trails and a waterfall within the campground. We were lucky to be there when it was very warm and sunny so the lake was great for swimming but it’s cold on cooler days. This will become a yearly spot for our family for sure - as long as we get site 13.
Beautiful campground with decent space between camp sites, a wonderful day use area, and several hikes within a 10 minute drive of Quinault Lake. Bathrooms are well maintained, campsites are relatively large and some have amazing views. We stayed for three nights and had no issues. Great place to unplug and unwind and only a few hours from both Seattle and Portland. Highly recommend! ✌🏾
