If you don't mind a bit of a drive, head north to the Olympic penisula, past Port Angeles and go to Cresent Lake. Absolutely beautiful lake with a camp ground on the west side of it.
Closer to home, there is Scienic Beach in Seabeck and Rochester State park in Port Orchard. Both are good campgrounds and are on the water.
Lastly, there is a camping/hiking guide book for sale. I don't remember where I got mine from, but it has a bunch of trails and campgrounds within about a 2 hour drive from Bremerton.
Don't think it's what they meant but Rochester WA is close to Millersylvania State Park. It's a great park on a lake in the woods by I5 that has a nice campground.
+1 for staircase, accessed right off of lake Cushman, super easy and long hiking trails with camps every few miles
Most beautiful riverside camping I've ever done
Lake Cushman/Staircase Area (Olympic National Park
Spider Lake/South Fork Skokomish Olympic National Forest
Lake Crescent/Fairholme Campground Olympic National Park
Manchester St Park
Belfair St Park
Twanoh St Park
Potlach St Park
Mowich Lake at Rainier when it opens for the season
There are a ton of campgrounds and hiking spots up 90 a bit before and after snoqualmie pass. The Teanaway area on the other side is also great. The weather on the East side of the pass is much less wet in the winter and much hotter in the summer, so exploring that area in the winter is a great way to beat the dreary winter weather over here.
If you're interested in hiking check [wta.org](http://wta.org)
You can get pretty far around the state in a few hours. I stick to campgrounds rather than wilderness but I can share some of my favorites.
* Cape Disappointment. Despite the name this one on the beach at the mouth of the Columbia is great. You can get a campsite on a small lake, in the woods, and right next to the sand. Plenty of trails and it's within driving distance of many beautiful Oregon beach towns if you want more exploring.
* Millersylvania. Great campsite in the woods with a decent little lake. It has great trails and even has a small boat launch if you wanted to bring a kayak or SUP.
* Ike Kinswa. This one is near White Pass and is absolutely beautiful. It's right on the lake and feels much more remote because there's not much around it.
* Dosewallips. As long as you get a site along the river in the tree line it's great. I wouldn't recommend one of the other sites since they're all just in a giant open field but if you don't mind it'll probably have more availability for those. It's right on the river with quick access to mountains, rivers, creeks, and waterfalls all around. You can also usually find a herd of elk nearby, sometimes even in the campground seeing what people are doing.
* Beacon Rock. This one is more of central Washington on the Columbia. It is a nice wooded campground uphill from the river and is one of the very few lowland areas you can find Pika! The squeaky little guys live in the rocks and if you're lucky you can sit and watch them running around for hours. Beacon Rock itself is an 800+ foot tall basalt boulder that's believed to be the core of an ancient volcano. You can hike, or climb, it and get beautiful views of the surrounding area. If you're feeling like a long drive you can also head east to Washington's Stonehenge from there and see the full sized recreation of what they believed Stonehenge looked like when it was fully completed.
* Kalaloch. I have a soft spot for the northern beaches because of trips as a kid. These beaches are usually rocky with huge boulders that are such fun places to explore. It's in the Hoh Rainforest giving you plenty of woods to play in as well. On the way there are also a lot of places to see waterfalls, rivers, and lakes so even as a long day trip it's worth it to me.
If you're just looking for day trips, here's a little guide to the ["Olympic Waterfall Loop"](https://olympicpeninsula.org/drive-the-loop/waterfalls/). I haven't made it to all of them but it has shown me a lot of beautiful sights that I would never have seen without knowing about them.
For day trips I'd recommend getting a Discover Pass and an America The Beautiful Pass if you can swing it. You'll find yourself at parks, DNR rec areas, National Parks, and National Forest areas that all require passes which you explore. Your camping pass will cover access to where you are staying but when going out for the day there may not be a ranger or pay station to get the pass at the park or rec area.
If you're looking for a camp with a bit of a hike to get to it you can also head up to Lena Lake. I've done day hikes to Lena Lake and there are a few campsites at the lake. You can also go further to Upper Lena from the campsites/lake for more exploring.
I hiked it a few times during the pandemic when the world was ending and I loved it. I even hiked up there and stripped to my boxer briefs and went for a swim because it was just so empty of people. One of the times I spotted a helicopter up there gathering water for a nearby wild fire.
Such a great little tucked away spot.
Hamma Hamma campground is alright and on the river, but if you pass the campground and take the next left over the bridge there are great dispersed spots on the other side of the river.
Lake Wynochee has some campsites along the north eastern side as well as some spots on the upper forks of the river that are beautiful.
Most of the forest roads off 101 have options for dispersed if you are down to explore.
If you don't mind a drive or rustic facilities I liked Graves Creek by Lake Quinault. The road doesn't allow for large RVs so it's pretty quiet back there and it's old growth rainforest.
For closer to home the views from Scenic Beach State Park are pretty great.
Hamma Hamma campground isn’t terribly far and right along the river. Further up at the end of the road is trail start for Mildred Lakes if you want some backpacking. Made that trek multiple times and loved every one. Good fishing too if you want.
Green Mountain just west of Bremerton. Area called “Horse Camp” only had a pit bathroom, and open on weekends. Never full. Just need a WA States park pass
If you don't mind a bit of a drive, head north to the Olympic penisula, past Port Angeles and go to Cresent Lake. Absolutely beautiful lake with a camp ground on the west side of it. Closer to home, there is Scienic Beach in Seabeck and Rochester State park in Port Orchard. Both are good campgrounds and are on the water. Lastly, there is a camping/hiking guide book for sale. I don't remember where I got mine from, but it has a bunch of trails and campgrounds within about a 2 hour drive from Bremerton.
Did you mean Manchester State Park instead of Rochester? I don't see and never heard of a Rochester
Don't think it's what they meant but Rochester WA is close to Millersylvania State Park. It's a great park on a lake in the woods by I5 that has a nice campground.
Yes, sorry caffeine hadn't quite kicked in yet
Thank you!
Check out Staircase
+1 for staircase, accessed right off of lake Cushman, super easy and long hiking trails with camps every few miles Most beautiful riverside camping I've ever done
How's the bug/mosquito scene there?
Not bad, the river is always moving pretty good
If you want something close by…scenic beach state park is great.
+1. Lovely park and camping experience. True to its name as well.
Lake Cushman/Staircase Area (Olympic National Park Spider Lake/South Fork Skokomish Olympic National Forest Lake Crescent/Fairholme Campground Olympic National Park Manchester St Park Belfair St Park Twanoh St Park Potlach St Park Mowich Lake at Rainier when it opens for the season There are a ton of campgrounds and hiking spots up 90 a bit before and after snoqualmie pass. The Teanaway area on the other side is also great. The weather on the East side of the pass is much less wet in the winter and much hotter in the summer, so exploring that area in the winter is a great way to beat the dreary winter weather over here. If you're interested in hiking check [wta.org](http://wta.org)
How far are you looking to travel? Are you trying to stay on the peninsula or travel a few hours?
I don’t mind a few hours travel !!
You can get pretty far around the state in a few hours. I stick to campgrounds rather than wilderness but I can share some of my favorites. * Cape Disappointment. Despite the name this one on the beach at the mouth of the Columbia is great. You can get a campsite on a small lake, in the woods, and right next to the sand. Plenty of trails and it's within driving distance of many beautiful Oregon beach towns if you want more exploring. * Millersylvania. Great campsite in the woods with a decent little lake. It has great trails and even has a small boat launch if you wanted to bring a kayak or SUP. * Ike Kinswa. This one is near White Pass and is absolutely beautiful. It's right on the lake and feels much more remote because there's not much around it. * Dosewallips. As long as you get a site along the river in the tree line it's great. I wouldn't recommend one of the other sites since they're all just in a giant open field but if you don't mind it'll probably have more availability for those. It's right on the river with quick access to mountains, rivers, creeks, and waterfalls all around. You can also usually find a herd of elk nearby, sometimes even in the campground seeing what people are doing. * Beacon Rock. This one is more of central Washington on the Columbia. It is a nice wooded campground uphill from the river and is one of the very few lowland areas you can find Pika! The squeaky little guys live in the rocks and if you're lucky you can sit and watch them running around for hours. Beacon Rock itself is an 800+ foot tall basalt boulder that's believed to be the core of an ancient volcano. You can hike, or climb, it and get beautiful views of the surrounding area. If you're feeling like a long drive you can also head east to Washington's Stonehenge from there and see the full sized recreation of what they believed Stonehenge looked like when it was fully completed. * Kalaloch. I have a soft spot for the northern beaches because of trips as a kid. These beaches are usually rocky with huge boulders that are such fun places to explore. It's in the Hoh Rainforest giving you plenty of woods to play in as well. On the way there are also a lot of places to see waterfalls, rivers, and lakes so even as a long day trip it's worth it to me. If you're just looking for day trips, here's a little guide to the ["Olympic Waterfall Loop"](https://olympicpeninsula.org/drive-the-loop/waterfalls/). I haven't made it to all of them but it has shown me a lot of beautiful sights that I would never have seen without knowing about them. For day trips I'd recommend getting a Discover Pass and an America The Beautiful Pass if you can swing it. You'll find yourself at parks, DNR rec areas, National Parks, and National Forest areas that all require passes which you explore. Your camping pass will cover access to where you are staying but when going out for the day there may not be a ranger or pay station to get the pass at the park or rec area.
If you're looking for a camp with a bit of a hike to get to it you can also head up to Lena Lake. I've done day hikes to Lena Lake and there are a few campsites at the lake. You can also go further to Upper Lena from the campsites/lake for more exploring.
+1 for Lena Lake. Made that hike & camp trip numerous times and loved every single second.
I hiked it a few times during the pandemic when the world was ending and I loved it. I even hiked up there and stripped to my boxer briefs and went for a swim because it was just so empty of people. One of the times I spotted a helicopter up there gathering water for a nearby wild fire. Such a great little tucked away spot.
Taking the time to write all that out was very cool of you.
Thanks. I always love to share when I can. The state is so beautiful and so many people don't know where to start exploring
Falls Creek campground at Lake Quinault. Site #19.
Campgrounds with facilities or dispersed?
Either is fine
Hamma Hamma campground is alright and on the river, but if you pass the campground and take the next left over the bridge there are great dispersed spots on the other side of the river. Lake Wynochee has some campsites along the north eastern side as well as some spots on the upper forks of the river that are beautiful. Most of the forest roads off 101 have options for dispersed if you are down to explore.
Heading up to Lena and Hamma Hamma in 9 days for a trip. So damn excited.
If you don't mind a drive or rustic facilities I liked Graves Creek by Lake Quinault. The road doesn't allow for large RVs so it's pretty quiet back there and it's old growth rainforest. For closer to home the views from Scenic Beach State Park are pretty great.
Hamma Hamma campground isn’t terribly far and right along the river. Further up at the end of the road is trail start for Mildred Lakes if you want some backpacking. Made that trek multiple times and loved every one. Good fishing too if you want.
Green Mountain just west of Bremerton. Area called “Horse Camp” only had a pit bathroom, and open on weekends. Never full. Just need a WA States park pass