North Bend area camping

[frankstoneline]

Anybody have good recommendations for camping in the north bend area. Being as I now live in the tri cities I'm not quite daytrip driving distance but trying to spend the weekend there this weekend. Preferably free/cheap spots somewhat close to the crags, but anythign will do really.

[Quarryographer]

I've never done it myself. But a friend of mine said he found some good spots at Exit 42. I wouldn't camp at 32 at all. And the lot at 38 gets sketchy at night.

 

[SeldonCrisis]

I've slept in my car in the Alpental parking lot without any issues. It's 20 minutes from North Bend, but free.

[obwan]

Not free, but Google "Denny Creek CG".

[markwebster]

I'm pretty sure someone has been living just east of the exit 38 parking lot in a pull out. Their van has been there since spring.

 

Truckers have traditionally pulled off and slept there, west of the main 38 parking. Many people used to camp on the river at the swimming hole under the bridge at the Far Side parking lot. Haven't seen them this year yet...but it was common a couple years ago. They would park right at the bridge...but that may be restricted now.

 

My son has slept on top of Headlight Pt, far side, very cool campspot just south of that top cliff, North of Ellies Sweet Kiss.

 

If you leave your car overnight, be sure to leave your car empty...and preferably a beater car...maybe take the rotor out of the distributor cap...or pull off a battery ground wire...so it is disabled.

 

The cops know truckers sleep up there...I'd guess they consider it an informal rest area.

[laurel]

depending on how close you need to be, there's an official campground up the Middle Fork road (exit 34) and also places near there where you can camp for free along the road

 

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Middle_Fork_Campground_Wa/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=75386