Ohanapecosh Campground

We stayed one bigger in loop A. Loop B was closed and all of loop C had reserved signs on the sites but were empty. Loop B was only about 25% full and was FCFS. Max allowable RV length is 32’ (which we have) and had no problem parking but wouldn’t have fit in all sites. Many sites are pretty uneven. The Silver Falls hike leaves right out of the B loop. It’s a beautiful trail hike (easy/moderate) that’s just shy of 3 miles in total.

Nice campground near the Stevens Canyon entrance to Mt. Rainier. Great loop hike to Silver Falls and Grove of the Patriarchs right out of the campground. Campsite was a bit tight and difficult to maneuver into. A previous camper had removed a wooden post to accommodate & then replaced it. I was able to take advantage of that and get my 24' motorhome in a place that was listed for a 22' max. (See photo) Dry camping only at our site. No hookups. Dogs are allowed on leash only, and not on any trails. Pretty typical for National Parks.

We drove up to explore the Rainier area 2nd weekend in September. I was concerned about finding a first come first serve spot on a Saturday.

The area was fairly smoky due to the fires in Oregon, so we really lucked out with the spot we found. The person that had it, had left early. So we were able to back right into a spot that overlooked the river. It was a beautiful peaceful spot & nice to just listen to the water flow. The restrooms were a short walk away & clean.

We enjoyed hiking through the lovely old growth forest to Silver Falls & The Grove of the Patriarchs. The trails were nicely maintained. Was a great trip exploring the area. So much more to see & many more trails to hike.

Why you would expect from the National Park Service. This is a very nice campground that is well-maintained. We were there at the end of the season so it was really quiet. The scenery is spectacular with the old growth trees. The river running through the campground is very pretty and just noisy enough to give you that "I'm out in the woods, peaceful, feeling." We had a 15" campervan and a wonderful spot right next to the bathrooms that only one other person used whole time we were there. We didn't see any bears, although we had secretly hoped we would. I'm sure they are a nuscince to most people. We had no cell service. I wish we could have stayed longer.

We stayed on the C loop. There are no RV hookups, no cell phone service, there are toilets but no showers. Our site fit my 30foot RV, but was very unlevel. Despite all that, we loved this campground! Our site was spacious and had a view of the river. The temperatures were perfect! Not too hot, not too cold. We enjoyed hiking a trail that left right from the campground. The roads and loops are paved so our kids were able to ride bikes. luckily I had kept a record of which campsite I had reserved because there is no check in or registration, just show up and pull into your site.

Loved the gorgeous old growth trees throughout this campground. Highly recommend a site with a view of the Ohanapecosh river, there are several along the bank with beautiful views. There is a very nice day use area by the river for picnics. Well kept bathrooms for a national park with flush toilets but no showers. Many sites are reservable online in advance. A truck comes around in the evenings with firewood for purchase. National Park visitors center conveniently located right at the entrance of the campground. No cell service at the campground.

Washington is proving as difficult as Oregon to secure a spot during the summer months, especially on the weekends.

We arrived at Ohanapecosh believing we had a reservation for Thursday night. So when I saw the sign stating maximum trailer length of 27', or motor home length of 32', I was hesitant but desperate and ignored the signage. We didn't know what loop or spot we were in, and there is absolutely no signal of any kind with AT&T or Verizon. So we began looping through A...none of the reservable spots had our name on them. The turns were very tight, but our 31' trailer was able to make them (just barely). Very very few of the sites would have accommodated us. This is a renters campground, maybe small vans or truck campers could fit into most spots.

Still, there were plenty of RVs, just none with our behemoth 50' total length. Many spots are not angled to allow you to back in if you've got anything larger.

We circled B & C loops. Still nothing. The turns got tighter and tighter, so I finally resorted to asking a ranger...fearful he'd question our length and make us leave.

Instead he directed us to H loop, both it and G are first come first serve. We scored a massive spot where we could easily fit and called it a weekend.

The sun shone every day but one. Towering Douglas-firs and western redcedars swayed in the wind above us. A guy in an old green pickup drove around selling wood for $6/bundle, smallish but including some kindling.

Stellar's jays and ravens were abundant. It's a quick drive to the Grove of the Patriarchs. If you don't find that short 1.5 mile loop astounding, we probably won't be pals. The hike to Silver Falls from the campground was gorgeous old growth and glacial till filled rivers.

There's an epic relief map in the visitor's center, too. A few years back, we found the drive to Paradise or even Reflection Lakes a bit long—but astoundingly beautiful. Our children now a bit older, it was a lovely jaunt and we didn't mind making it daily.

Rainier is your quintessential national park. A big, snowy mountain, wildlife abundant (we saw a black bear near Reflection Lakes), and ancient forests.

Enjoy.

Quiet and peaceful during the off season. It rained almost the whole time we were there and puddled pretty bad outside our Airstream, but it was manageable. This campground is about a 45 minute drive to the main visitor center. The Ohanapecosh Visitor Center closes early September for the season (which we didn't know). Great spots - although there are a few tight turns on the road so their recommended RV length of 27' is pretty accurate.

No Verizon signal at all. :)