Lake Chelan / Campgrounds
Grouse Mountain Campground
Free four-site ridge campground reached by dirt forest service road, with spectacular panoramic views of Lake Chelan from every tent site.
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Overview
Grouse Mountain Campground offers four free, first-come campsites on a forested ridge above Lake Chelan, reached via 6 miles of dirt road off Shady Pass — in reasonable enough shape that small rugged trailers may be able to make the drive. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit, and two pit toilets serve the campground. The sites sit under tree cover with no lake views from camp, though a short hike through the trees opens up views of Lake Chelan. The setting is quiet and wooded, with a low-key feel that makes it much less crowded than the nearby state park campgrounds. Several multi-use trails in the Twenty Five Mile Creek area are accessible within a few miles for hiking, mountain biking, and motorbikes. A good fit for campers who want a peaceful forested base with easy road access and no fees.
Fit Snapshot
A quick read on who this campground suits — and where it falls short — so you can decide in under a minute.
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Activities
Hiking
Grouse Mountain Campground is located within the Twenty Five Mile Creek area, which has a number of interconnected hiking trails. The campground is roughly five miles away from the North Fork 25 Mile Creek trailhead (you pass it on the drive up to the campground) and seven miles away from Crescent Hill Trailhead, which provides access to Devil's Backbone Trail, North Fork 25 Mile Creek and Lake Creek Trail.
Lake Chelan Hikes →Mountain Biking
All the trails in the Twenty Five Mile Creek area are open to mountain bikes, with a mixture of intermediate and expert options, including the Devil's Backbone Trail and North Fork 25 Mile Creek trail. Of note, the Pyramid Mountain Peak Trail (#1441) is the highest mountain biking trail in the state of Washington.
Motorbikes
All the trails in the Twenty Five Mile Creek area are open to motorbikes, with Devil's Backbone and Pot Peak Trail offering challenging terrain and amazing views of Lake Chelan. For less exposed terrain, the forest service road network provides enjoyable riding.
Horseback Riding
The trails in the area are open to horses, and a few of the campsites at Grouse Mountain Campground have room for small trailers.
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Things to Know
The campground is 6 miles from the pavement on Shady Pass road. The road is generally in decent shape — small rugged trailers may be able to make it, but large RVs and trailers should not attempt the drive.
There is no potable water at the campground. Bring all the water you will need for your entire stay.
The campsites sit on a forested ridge with no direct views of Lake Chelan due to tree cover. A short hike through the trees from the campground opens up views of the lake.
No reservations are accepted. With only 4 sites, it's possible the campground could already be in use — have a backup plan, particularly on summer weekends.
Cell service is limited to nonexistent in this area depending on your carrier.
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Compare Nearby Campgrounds
Five closest campgrounds to Grouse Mountain Campground.
| Campground | Tent | RV | Reservations | Lake Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowberry Bowl Campground | Yes | No | First-Come | No |
| Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park | Yes | Yes | Reservable | Yes |
| Junior Point Campground | Yes | No | First-Come | No |
| Handy Springs Campground | Yes | No | First-Come | No |
| Lake Chelan State Park | Yes | Yes | Reservable | Yes |
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