Lower Goodell Group Campground
The Quick Take
Lower Goodell is one of those campgrounds that exists purely for logistics, and that's not a knock against it. With just two group sites perched along Goodell Creek, this is where scout troops, family reunions, and climbing clubs set up base camp before scattering into the North Cascades backcountry. Each site comes with a covered pavilion -- a genuine luxury when the Skagit Valley decides to remind you that this is a temperate rainforest. The trade-off is stark: no potable water, no hookups, and vault toilets that earn their reputation by late August. But the creek-side setting is legitimately beautiful, and splitting a seventy-five dollar site fee among a large group makes this one of the cheapest per-person options in the park. Best for organized groups who need a central staging area and don't mind hauling their own water.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 2 sites are reservable.
Book at North Cascades LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. There are no wheelchair accessible campsites available. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Fires:Fires only permitted in designated fire grates and must be attended at all times.
- Bear Safety:Do not feed or tease wildlife - keep your food and other appealing items in your vehicle at all times except when eating/using them.
- Checkout:Checkout time is noon on day of departure.
- 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
Book through Recreation.gov the moment your dates are confirmed -- there are literally only two sites, and summer weekends fill months in advance. If you strike out, call the ranger station directly, as first-come-first-serve groups can sometimes register on-site for cancellations.
Bring more water than you think. The nearest potable source is at Newhalem Campground about three miles west on SR 20. Pack at least two gallons per person per day, plus extra for cooking and cleanup -- there's no cheating this one.
Stock up on firewood in Marblemount before you drive the final thirteen miles in. Collecting wood in the park is prohibited, and nobody sells it at the campground. The general store in Marblemount is your last reliable stop for firewood, ice, and forgotten supplies.
Photos
NPS/Michael SilvermanGetting There
Directions
Located north of SR 20 at mile post 119. 13 miles (21 km) east of Marblemount, 74 miles (119 km) west of Winthrop.
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