Easy hike. Beautiful!!! The turquoise water is incredible! Came here with another couple and their…read morebaby - they were able to hike with the baby in a body carrier. Not stroller friendly.

Easy loop hike. A little bit of up then down then up kinda stuff. Its beautiful nature but really…read morenot much real view until the waterfall. Compared to skyline loop it isn't much. But its easy and quick.

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.

Nice little stop over on the way to Mt Rainier or if you are exploring the area…read more We went on a weekday in the fall so parking was plentiful and it was very quiet. The weather was also clear enough to see the lake, with a dock to walk around and stretch our legs. I didn't see much else to do aside from exploring the lake and whatever other water activities are involved like fishing, kayaking, etc. The restrooms are actual flush toilets with soap and water, and they were pretty clean aside from the hard water stains on the toilet bowl that is inevitable with park bathrooms. Still a better option that pit toilets. Fun Fact: The code name for Intel's 12th gen desktop processors was based on this lake.

There are two elements for me when it came to camping. One is the campground facility itself, the…read moresecond one is the campers demography, or mainly the neighbors. For the campground facility I'd say this park checked all the boxes for me. There's natural water body, clean toilet (even with shower, although I didn't use it), and I got to see deers! There's also a convenient store right outside the campground. What I hate was my neighbor. To be specific, the group of people check in later on the 5th of July at the campsites of 66 and 65. I've never seen campers this obnoxious in my life. Not only they arrived late and make a scene, they also kept their boring unseasoned music all the way til almost 1am! Like what kind of etiquette was that? Who raise those people? And they also had kids too. Yeah so besides these annoying neighbor I actually find this campground quite nice.

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.

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!

Making reservation for pontoon boat lady works there is great very easy to make reservation and…read moreshe explained everything cant wait to catch a big one

8/12/25 - The lady at the booth was nice at first and let us drive in to check out the campsites…read more it was around 7 PM. We found a spot and sat at the picnic table to discuss whether we wanted to stay. The neighboring campers had two dogs tied up to the picnic table where we would camp and their group was quite loud. We were trying to figure out if we wanted to set up camp there given the lack of privacy. After about 40 minutes, the same lady approached us again, this time very rudely. She told us this wasn't a day use area and that we needed to either choose a site or leave immediately. Her tone was unwelcoming and unnecessarily harsh, especially since we were just trying to decide. We hadn't booked anything online since it was a spontaneous visit. I had come to the area to visit my dad's grave across the road. In the end, none of the sites felt secluded, and the overall atmosphere didn't feel inviting. We decided to leave and definitely wouldn't recommend camping there based on how we were treated.

The Glacier Basin Trail is utterly magical in every sense of the word. I must have taken hundreds…read moreof pictures and several videos while hiking this trail. This hike has everything that your little heart could ever desire! A forest full of giant trees. Vibrantly green shrubs. Waterfalls at practically each turn. Majestic views of not only the snow covered mountains, but the gorgeous aqua hues of the White River down below. The rushing river running parallel. Rampant wildlife. Colorful wildflowers. Inclines and elevation galore. I mean, shall I go on?! Just stunning. Glacier Basin is located near the White River entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The trail begins just behind the White River Campgrounds. It's starts off mildly inclining through a lush forest, but the incline picks up speed and continues to incline until you reach the camp. It's about roughly 9 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation in total if you add in the the detour to the Emmons Lorraine Trail. Do it! It will add another 1.5/2miles to the hike, BUT... this is where you'll find that incredible view of the Inter Fork White River. It's funny that it's called the "white river" because it's stunningly aqua from the top of Emmons Lorraine. The Emmons Lorraine trail is a turn off that's about a mile into the Glacier Basin Trail and includes a river crossing and a steep incline up a narrow hill. It looks a bit intimidating, but it's really not. Just sit on your bum for the really gnarly parts coming down (at least that's what I did). Continuing on the Glacier Basin Trail, it's basically a straight shot up the hill for another 3 miles until you reach the top. There are a few spots with some switchbacks, but it's mostly a ridge-like trail. AllTrails has rated this hike as moderate, but it's definitely on the harder side of moderate if not difficult. What makes this hike so enjoyable though is the fact that there's so much scenery. Every time I took a break, I was either greeted by a beautiful mini waterfall or vibrant wildflowers. The views are very motivating and it keeps you going. Once you reach Glacier Basin Camp, you'll be met with the most stunning views of snow covered Mount Rainier and the rushing waters of the White River right next to it. This hike took me about 5 hours in total to complete (including breaks, lunch, and detours). It's definitely a day hike, so bring enough food and water to keep yourself nourished. Also, make sure you have some really comfortable hiking shoes/boots and hiking poles for the way down if you have bad knees. Coming down can be just as tough as hiking up because of the steepish downhill for 3 miles straight. This one is definitely going in the books as one of my favorite National Park hikes and my favorite Washington state hike thus far. If you're looking for a challenge and a great way to see the beauty of Mount Rainier National Park, Glacier Basin Trail is a great option.

As a Seattle native, I can say that this is my favorite hike I've ever been on. The hike has a fork…read moreabout a mile in. If you fork left, there is a relatively short (~30 min) but steep trail that leads to the glacier basin. The water is a bright teal with mountains in the background, one of the best views I've ever seen. My friends and I went swimming in the basin, which was very cold but also very fun. If you stay on the main trail, it is an additional 6 miles that is moderate-difficult and took about 3 hours to get up. At the top, there is a really pretty meadow and campground. You will need a Mt. Ranier National Park pass ($50 annual or $30/week) to enter. I went on a weekday in the morning and had no trouble finding parking. The main trail was quite empty, but the left fork had a couple other groups. However, we more or less had the place to ourselves. Overall, 10/10 would reccomend!

I'm an avid camper, and the experience I had at this campground with the host was ABSOLUTELY THE…read moreWORST ever. We arrived at the campground early to find the best spot as we were planning to take some outdoor wedding photos at the campsite the day after. It was not a busy season, so there were only a couple of sites occupied. We carefully selected a spot, paid for it, and posted the receipt on the site clip. I took a photo of both the envelope and the receipt clipped at the site. After exploring the national park, we arrived at the campground at around 9pm. Most of the campsites were still unoccupied. To our surprise, when we arrived at our reserved spot, there was a group of people who took our campsite! They already put up their tent and a canopy as well. When I checked the pole where I clipped the receipt, it was GONE & REPLACED by someone else's!! When I talked to those people who took our campsite, there were already drunk and were at the verge of becoming hostile. But they did tell us that the host "allowed" them to take the spot. Right then and there, we went to the host and explained the situation, and the host said (1) we never paid and that (2) there was no receipt clipped at the site. When I told him that that wasn't true, he proceeded to tell me that the information I wrote on the clip let him know that we were checking out today. So, for a second, I thought maybe I wrote either the # of nights spent or check-out date incorrectly. But then, I remembered I took pictures of both the envelope and the receipt!! I showed the photos to him, then, of course, he could not lie his way out of this. There was no apology, and he simply proceeded to tell us to sleep at one of the other available campsites. We were super furious because we had NEVER experienced this kind of rudeness, lies, and brazen behavior. As anyone can imagine, we did not want to spend another second there, so we demanded a refund, and "MIRACULOUSLY", the envelope (still glued) with our payment was found in his RV. I'm reporting the host to the US Forest Service.

Over kill on the camp ground rules and they NEVER update the fire ban online so you might drive…read morereally far and by the time you get there they might let you know randomly oh by the way we have a FIRE BAN RUINING YOUR WHOLE ENTIRE CAMP TRIP now you spend hours or an hour driving and spend your whole time just to be told you CANNOT HAVE A FIRE WTF! why don't you update that shit everyday!!! I read of playing a con game like a dirty car salesman man!

This is a beautiful park and campground. I have been going here yearly for the past four years…read more There are lots to explore. Morton, WA is only about a ten minute drive and has a "Loggers weekend" in August. They have a parade, a chance to see and learn about the mill, among other events.

I was so excited about this place. This was my first full hook ups with our TT. We drove through…read moreand then when we found our spot we realized that we were not going to have much privacy. Well, we were not too worried since the site next to us had no campers (July 2) and the one on the other side stayed in their TT. ... THEN the 3rd arrived. UGH! The quiet people left in the morning and were replaced by two families and the other side had a good size group. They were overall quiet but the double, if not triple family site decided to make this their grand central. They had friends from different sites visit and stay. Midnight came and went and they were still loud but I thought, well, at least the music stopped. Kind of wish the music would turn back on because they got louder and louder. 3:45 AM and they were LOUD! I didn't want to start trouble so put my DVD player on. What would have helped if knowing that 10PM or 11PM was quiet hour, why wouldn't the host drive around at midnight to check on the noise level? This was what upset me. Let me tell you that the place was nice and I'm learning that when you camp with hookups they are closer together. Okay, that would be fine, but even more reason for the host to keep an eye on the party people. The place itself is clean and neat. Don't plan on launching your boat from here (or kayak) but there is a place just 2 minutes from here where you can. That's where we went in. The lake is nice, too. --- Let me take that back, if you are brave and more experienced than me, you may be able to launch kayak. I need a boat ramp or beach. ;) The place would have seriously gotten a 5 star if not for the lack of consideration I felt that the hosts had by not checking the spots after quiet hours. BTW, yes, I know it was a holiday weekend, but come on! 3AM!!!!???!!! FYI: I would recommend this on a quieter weekend or weekday.

Check in was super easy and the staff was nice. Campsite was clean and picnic table and fire pit…read morewere in good condition. The prices in there store were comparable to those in our town (with exception of the ice cream). They definitely don't price gouge unlike most campground stores. Store also had useful items, not just novelty junk, which was a huge plus. Bags of ice and firewood costs were extremely reasonable. Had ice cold pop and sunburn cream, both which turned out to be necessities. Campsite was clean and so were the Portapotties and bathrooms. It was also quiet at night which was a huge plus. Staff was around if you have questions or concerns. Also felt safe staying there, which is again a huge plus. Don't get the Riffe Lake campground confused with the MossyRock park run by Tacoma power. This place (Riffe Lake campground) is much more family friendly and quiet. There is not boat access and it is a steep walk down to the water, just be aware. They do rent boats and kayaks if you didn't bring your own. Very short drive to Stofford pond for fishing. Had multiple black tail deer sightings, several just walking carefree through the campground. Was an amazing sight to see. Also was a great place to see eagles. We had lots of close sightings of eagles right over our campsite, which was super cool. Plus for our trip there were no mosquitos (July 2021). Plan to stay here again and highly recommend it for anyone camping in the area. Not a tourist trap, it is a nice honest family owned/ran facility, clearly!

Lovely, quite campground. Hosts are extremely friendly and helpful. Would've been a 5/5 if not for…read morethe having to pay for a shower. Took awhile for water to actually warm, 6min goes by fast.