Colonial Creek South Campground
The Quick Take
Colonial Creek South is the flagship campground in North Cascades, and for good reason — it sits in a cathedral of old-growth forest on the shores of Diablo Lake, whose milky turquoise water looks like someone photoshopped it (they didn't; it's glacial flour). With nearly a hundred sites, it's the largest campground in a park complex that has surprisingly few developed options. The trade-off is real: you get potable water, a dump station, and a boat launch, but no showers, no flush toilets, and precisely zero cell service. The accessible fishing pier is a genuine highlight, and Thunder Knob trail starts practically at your tent flap. This is the right pick for anyone who wants the full North Cascades experience without committing to backcountry permits — families, kayakers, and first-timers who still want a real campfire under old growth.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 93 sites are reservable.
Book at North Cascades LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. There are three wheelchair accessible sites available in Colonial Creek North and South Campgrounds. Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Rules to Know
- Fires:Fires are only permitted in designated fire grates and must be attended at all times.
- Generators:Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am.
- Bear Safety:Do not feed or tease wildlife - keep your food and other appealing items in your vehicle or bear box at all times except when eating or using them.
- Checkout:Checkout time is 12 pm on day of departure.
- Occupancy:Maximum of two vehicles, eight people and three tents per site.
- Stay Limit:Camping is limited to no more than 14 days from July 1 to September 1 and no more than 30 days in a calendar year.
Pro Tips
Reservations open on recreation.gov and fill fast for July and August weekends — book exactly six months out at 10 AM Eastern on your target date. Midweek in September is the sweet spot: fewer crowds, fall color starting, and the campground is still fully operational.
Sites 64-73 are walk-in tent-only and stay open through winter with no fees — but 'open' is generous. Expect snow, no water, and vault toilets only. Bring a four-season setup and treat it like dispersed camping with a picnic table.
There's no camp store and no firewood collecting allowed anywhere in the park, so buy bundled firewood in Marblemount on your way in. Stock up on groceries there too — the next real store is over an hour east in Winthrop, and you won't have cell service to check hours.
Photos
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
Located off of SR 20 at mile post 130. Twenty miles (40 km) east of Marblemount, 63 miles (101 km) west of Winthrop.
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