Boundary Dam Campground

Seattle Light (Dam Operators) refurbished the campground in 2018-2019. No hookups. Potable water available. Nice bathrooms closed because of pandemic. They built a nice boat launch with dock. This is a great place to paddle. Beautiful falls and narrow canyon, The Pend Orielle River is a major tributary of the Columbia. The campground is out of the way and was very quiet after the Labor Day rush. See Kevin Costner's The Postman before you go.

Steep/long climb in and out, so have your equipment in order. Total rework of this free camping spot near a boat launch. The facility is beautiful with a gorgeous view behind the dam. Asphalt trailer sites, a couple pull through. I saw water in a couple spots, unsure if you can fill up from it. This is a compact campground where basically every trailer can see each other. Not our style especially considering the tough climb in, but if you don't mind this kind of layout, then....well it's free ! Very close to the Canadian border, the tiny town of Metaline that has a grocery and a couple restaurants.

Noted Cougar and Bear warning signs.

Newly renovated campground by Seattle City Light near Metaline, WA on the Pend Oreille River just above Boundary Dam. Cell phone service is in and out at best with Verizon.

Campground
•Capacity: 22 sites. Includes six walk-in tent sites, three car camp sites, and 12 RV sites. Class C RV’s can be accommodated.
•Fees and Reservations: Free. First-come, first-served. No reservations.
•Stays limited to six consecutive nights.
•Facilities and Services: Flush toilets and potable water available. No hook-ups, dump station, or showers. Sites have fire rings and picnic tables.

Day Use Area
•Seven day use picnic tables
•Four BBQ grills
•One large group shelter with four picnic tables
•14 day use parking stalls

Boat Launch
•Extended boat ramp lane so boats may be launched/retrieved with fewer problems due to fluctuating water elevations
•13 parking spots for trucks and trailers
•Tie-down area
•Short-term moorage only (maximum 30 minutes)

Our first stay was Memorial Day weekend 2019 and the newly renovated campground had just opened and was
quit busy and all the camp spots were full.
Our second stay was in the first week of June 2019 and the campground was almost empty, we had camp site 15 in the corner and it was very peaceful and quite.

Drove to Boundary Dam Monday, August 20, 2018 to check out the newly renovated campground and forebay area. Construction is still in progress and we couldn't get into the area. Asked a local when it might be open, he stated, "You ever seen the movie, "Money Pit"? Apparently construction is taking much longer than anticipated, but from the looks of it (across the bay at the Vista House (super awesome, you have to check it out!!) it is almost done. They think asphalt will be going in this week. Campground will not be open until at least next season (hope for May 2019). They were running a dam tour at 2pm on Monday, not sure of other times.

P.S. If you're in the area, stop at Cathy's Cafe in Metaline Falls for breakfast or lunch. Great food in a neat, small-town package.

They are getting ready to remodel this whole park. It was supposed to start July 10th. We called and it was still open on a day-to-day basis. We were able to stay for 4 nights. On the weekend it was used by a lot by local people camping with a few drifters like us. I don't know what it will be like once they remodel but this area is just gorgeous. It was nice to not have cell service for a few days. Highly, highly recommend. There is an underground cave tour that you can take close by with a small hike to the Canadian border which is only about a half mile way. Seattle City Lights also gives tours. It is worth the ten miles up the road from the highway. Lots of boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding.

My wife and I stayed here on a Monday and with one other site taken, it was nice and quiet. This campground, though a bit out of the way, had incredible roads to get up here.

Seattle City Light operates this free campground and it is kept incredibly well. The bath house and picnic tables are nearly new and gives a great first impression.

For a free site, you couldn't ask for more. The scenery from the sites was the reservoir and it was incredible. We took our camp chairs and just watched.

Well worth the trip!