Throughly enjoyed myself and look forward to coming back next year! The hosts are amazing!!read more

Great place to camp and close to the lake for boating. Campground is clean and quiet. Bathrooms…read moreand showers are nice and close. Hosts are great!

Merrill Lake Campground is a pretty awesome spot. Awesome enough that I honestly hemmed and hawed…read moreover whether to even add it to Yelp. Although my better Yelp humanitarian judgment has won out here, I still hope you read this, enjoy it, and camp somewhere else. Why? This little campground only has about 9 sites. It's free but you need a discovery pass. There is a camp host and there are surprisingly clean pit toilets on-site, but no potable water. The sites fill up fast in the summer time, but have a 3-day limit that's enforced by the friendly but vigilant camp host. I don't want it to fill up even faster now that I'm sharing this, since I do plan to hit this spot at least one more time before summer is over. There are no reservations (first-come, first-served) and the campsites are designed to work for larger groups - some of them could easily fit 7-10 tents. Each site is spaced decently well away from the others, and offers a picnic table, fire ring and places to pitch. The sites don't really offer views of the lake, they're set back in the trees, but there's plenty of shade Not too dusty, but some sites are heavy with gravel. While it's car camping, you don't drive right in to your site but park in a common lot, then walk in (the farthest you'll have to walk is about 50 yards). So no car noise up close to your site. This little campground sits just by Merrill Lake, a nice smaller lake that does not (thankfully) allow motorized boats and fishing is restricted to fly only, catch + release. For these reasons the water is calmer, cleaner, and dotted with fly fishermen and specific times of the day. At the mid-July mark the lake was warm and clear... perfect for swimming and canoeing. There are some excellent trout holes around the edges of the lake, however I'm not a fly fisherman and don't believe in torturing anything I'm not able to then eat (so catch + release is not for me). However I can see how this would be an attractive spot for a fly fisherman. This campsite is a great place to get away from PDX. Only about 1h 35m in no traffic, and the drive (especially if you come up the 503) is a nice one. Very pastoral, windy road. Get out of your house this summer and sleep under the stars. Just do it at some other campsite since this one is mine.

We stayed for two nights-three days last weekend for my niece's birthday. We usually stay at a…read morecampsite at Lake Berryessa in California, but most of my family now lives in Vancouver so we opted for somewhere near there. Plus, the lakes in California don't even amount to the lakes in Washington/Oregon. My parents went to Merrill Lake Campground on Thursday to secure us a spot which was first come first serve. They managed to get a campsite (#4) that had a direct path to the lake (not the day use where most of the guests would walk to)! It was really big, the only downside was the hill which isn't ideal with little kiddos. Also, that we couldn't have a campfire due to Washington's high alert for fires. It just wasn't the same. You do need a discovery pass which we got at a store that was twelve minutes from the campsite- Lakeside Deli. It was $11 for a day use. The scenery was amazing. It wasn't hot at all where the campsite was. It was surrounded by trees. The water was so clear and clean. The weather was perfect once we made it out of the campsite, through the trail, and to shore. Oh god, and the drive. The drive up the mountain was the scariest I've ever seen. It was beautiful, but so scary. It was a great stay (for free at that!). I recommend this lake!

This place is great! It was the perfect jumping off point for our Mt Saint Helens climb. The staff…read morewas super friendly, the food is great, and rooms are cute and comfortable. The pool is super clean which is hard to achieve with an outdoor pool. They clearly put a lot of work into updates and maintenance.

The facility does a great job of making things fun and engaging for tourists. Before you even enter…read moreyou are greeted by a Bigfoot that will read you your fortune for a dollar which is pretty cute. Their gift shop is stocked well with items that folks might actually need while going into ape caves or summiting Mt st Helen's. The restaurant portion here has one of the juiciest most flavorful burgers I've had- no joke. It came with shoe string fries that had seasoning (I believe it was rosemary). I also had the huckleberry lemonade and a hot coco and both were excellent. The staff were all very kind, welcoming, quick, and helpful. They even helped us find the weather report for Mt. St. Helens summit the next day and gave us some tips for having a successful hike. We stayed one night in a two twin room. The room was well decorated and clean as well as the beds being decently comfortable. Unfortunately the restroom had some things get missed during the clean. There were baby spiders all over the ceiling and climbing down the walls, it smelled strongly of urine, and there were globs of hair on the floor and in the shower- we had to use a hand towel to tidy up the floor and kill as many of the spiders as we could. This wasn't my first time staying here, so I know the bathroom being like that is not the norm- must have just been missed by accident. If I need to stay in Cougar in the future I would definitely still stay here again.

This is The cutest Back country store you will ever see. Attractive decor, Beautiful live plants…read moreand flowers And picnic tables with umbrellas. This is also an RV Campground

Stopped by for a bathroom break on our way to the Lewis River and SO glad we did. Turns out it was…read morejust before 11am and we were already hungry. We were the first at the window and ordered a couple pizzas. They were ready in 15 minutes and were delicious. The sausage and mama lil's was outstanding, and the pepperoni with black olives was also delicious. The price was reasonable ($22-ish for a pizza) and we ate all of it between the 6 of us. We ate at a nice picnic table outside under an umbrella. We'll definitely be back.

Pretty nice camp spot, this is a small step up from dry camping as the site only has vault toilets…read moreand campsites, no amenities other then that. Bring all the water you need, no onsite that we found. First come first serve only.

Bathrooms smell bad. No running potable water but a good fun time. The falls is nice and has a…read morejumping spot. Since I went on the second to last day of summer I want to go back in early summer.

Host staff warm and welcoming. We stayed one night for July…read more4th. It was a last minute decision but I was able to find one ada spot available but it was right next to the restroom. People walking through the campsite at all hours of the night thinking it wasn't a site as it isn't clearly visible that it is. So if you don't want that don't get one directly next to the restrooms, but if you are a people person and enjoy talking that would be a great spot if you're disabled. This year for July 4th we found a better site a bit farther away because of my dog. There are lots of trees and great water access for fishing and swimming. A very family friendly place! On the day after July 4th, the local fire department goes through the campground and hands out stuff for the children. It was fun watching before we had to leave . This was a great place to camp to get away from the noise of fireworks too. I definitely will be camping here in the future! Cons: no showers and bring a roll of toilet paper with you in case there isn't any in the restroom in the middle of the night

Great campground. Lots of trees. Has a beach spot for swimming. Huge parking loar for boat access…read moreor extra parking. No showers though.

Warning: !!! No signal/Very spotty. Download offline maps before going…read more If you're planning a trip to Lower Falls in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, come prepared. This is one of the most beautiful swimming holes I've visited in Washington, but it's also one of those places where respecting nature--and the journey to get there--is essential. The first thing I want to mention is the drive in, because it's something I wish I had known beforehand. If you have a small or low-clearance car, take your time. The last 1 1/2 to 2 miles are on an unpaved dirt road with potholes, dips, loose gravel, and no guardrails in some sections. The road is narrow enough that it almost feels like a one-lane road, even though traffic travels both directions. There are no center lines, so be mindful of oncoming vehicles and share the road carefully. I highly recommend driving 10 mph or less. There are signs warning about some of the larger dips, and they're there for a reason. If you hit them going 15 mph or faster--especially in a smaller car--your suspension and axles are going to feel it. It's not a difficult drive if you take it slow, but patience is definitely rewarded here. I brought my dog with me, and because of that, I'd personally rate this hike as hard. The trail itself isn't especially long, but getting down to the falls requires navigating steep, uneven terrain, and the final descent can be slippery. When you arrive at the trailhead, make a right and follow the well-worn paths. Eventually you'll come across ropes that help you descend the steeper sections. They're there for a reason--use them. They'll lead you all the way down to the falls. The waterfall itself is stunning. The water is shallow when you first step in, but don't let that fool you. As you move closer to the falls, there's a sudden drop-off. The right side tends to stay a bit shallower, but the rocks throughout the area are incredibly slippery. Water shoes with good grip are an absolute must. Even with them, take your time. I saw people cliff jumping, tubing, swimming, and even fishing (although I didn't notice any fish myself). If you're planning to float, I highly recommend bringing a life jacket. Before you even reach the trail, there's a large warning sign explaining that someone lost their life here after slipping on the rocks. It's a sobering reminder that this beautiful place deserves caution and respect. There's also a rocky, pebble-covered area beside the falls that's perfect for laying out a towel and soaking up the sun. My dog loved splashing around in the water, although it was very cold. If you're bringing your own dog, consider a canine life jacket if they aren't a confident swimmer. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around. A few practical tips: there are restrooms near the entrance, but during my visit there wasn't a handwashing station, and toilet paper can run out. Bring your own toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and baby wipes just in case. The trail also gets muddy because everyone is walking back and forth from the water, so don't wear shoes you're trying to keep spotless. Parking requires a $5 day-use fee, either paid in cash on-site or purchased online before you arrive. Also, keep in mind that the Discover Pass is not valid here because this is a National Forest, not a Washington State Park. Lower Falls is absolutely worth the trip. The emerald water, the sound of the falls, and the surrounding forest make it feel like you've discovered a hidden corner of Washington. Just come prepared, respect the water, take the drive slowly, and you'll have an unforgettable day.

I came here by myself and did not know that you need to make the parking reservation online ($5)…read morethen get a day pass to use ($2), so $7 total. Thank gosh for the super duper helpful and kindhearted camp host who helped me out. Thankful for him! So much so!! I was truly so worried that I could not go here after having driven for 3 hours, but it was all good. I was still able to go and oh my goodness! So beautiful. Not a hard hike and only like 1/8 miles away of a walk from the parking site to the waterfalls. Be watchful of the slippery rocks because you can easily get lost in the rapid waters if you tryna get a super duper cool photo of the waterfalls. No signal when I was in the parking site and on the way to this location for a couple miles out. So, have your offline maps ready.

Back in WA for a wedding and the kids and I HAVE to visit La Wis Wis!! We moved to NC in 2018 and…read moreNOTHING comes close to the beauty of this campground!

In August 2019, our family stopped by La Wis Wis Campground, which is about 4 miles east of…read morePackwood, WA on U.S. Route 12. We were searching for the Blue Hole Swimming Area, based on a spectacular picture I found in a Washington state travel magazine. Inside La Wis Wis Campground, the blue swimming hole has a cliff where bold teenagers can jump into the deep, glacially cold water below. The campground is somewhat difficult to find, but once you enter the complex, it's best to ask campers where the Blue Hole Swimming Area is located. When we arrived, the rocky area on the beach felt a bit painful on the feet - if you have water slippers, it might be more comfortable. The river is pristine but frigid (the water comes from a glacier) and has a pretty indigo (light aqua color) from above. My 14 year old son and 12 year old son jumped from the cliff into the blue swimming hole and were cheered by.a crowd of families on the opposite shore! This is a fun and memorable activity if you're visiting Mt. Rainier National Park and would like to do something fun on a hot afternoon with teenage kids. But it's not for the faint of heart. We stayed for about 45 minutes before continuing on to Packwood.

The campground has been completely redone. The sites are spacious. The facilities 5 star. The…read morecurrent host top notch people. We are heading back for another 5 night stay next week.

I was here during the warm season and usually stay in the A section but since no spaces were…read moreavailable, I stayed in the B section. Our neighbors were up all night. I wish the host would walk around and remind them about quiet time. Overall, there's a lot to do if you have the right toys. We had our bikes and they have a paved road so it was easy to ride on it. We also took our kayaks so that was our other option.

Staff, owners, very friendly helpful, park is beautiful, well maintained, roads are gravel but…read moresmooth well maintained, sites are average sized width, ample enough to easily walk around with slides on both sides out. , site long enough could have stayed hooked up. (truck trailer just shy of 60 ft) site was spotless, and well graveled level. Sites on forested side are cut into the hillside, but cut at an angle from the main road that are easy to back in, just using mirrors, no spotter needed. No off air TV reception, had no problem connecting to WiFi, cell reception. Lots of foliage, birds, etc it was our 29th anniversary, the owners where willing to direct/assist with making sure the delivery driver found our sight. (flowers n basket for wife). the only negatives, I would say are minor, and probably more of my personal preference item: * i like to choose my own site not be assigned, that being said i asked for a wooded, isolated sight,, got wooded and in an area we would have to our self for 4 of our 5 nights, and really enjoyed the sight chosen for us. (we try to isolate we have a dog who barks too much). *i don't like having to pay for showers, the hassle of having to have quarters, i feel like at a certain price point it should be included. * i would prefer to have a private changing area, for privacy and to keep an eye on my stuff. ( i know nobody wants my dirty socks and boxers) the shower timers are accurate or slightly generous, water was hot, bathroom was not drafty, and everything was clean. We camped at Timberlake Campground & RV in a Travel Trailer

At 430pm I came back to the campground to a camper sharpening a chainsaw basically 4 sites down…read morefrom me. At 500pm I went to the front desk to complain. She said if it was disrupting our experience that she would have someone speak to the person. At 530pm, with metal still grinding, I called the front desk. She said that the noise was not loud enough and that the direct neighbors said they were ok with the noise. If I wanted to enjoy the outdoors I could come over to the office and enjoy it there (same distance from metal grinding) and that he would be done. Well, it 600 pm and guess what, he's still sharpening. Won't be back.