Need some ideas

Sagebrush

Sagebrush

Smolt
Looking for some ideas. My wife told me that she wants to go somewhere else than our usual week long Crane Prairie trip and wants to go to Washington. Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about locations and I am sure a lot of the campground reservations are filled up already. She wants trees, so dryside is pretty much out. Any recommendations for the Cascades etc or even Idaho? We tent and are set up for dispersed camping if need be. My only deal is that I would like to be on or near water for obvious reasons (running or lake) You can IM me if you want.
 
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I'll go with you to Crane Prarie! j/k.

Definitely somewhere around the St Helens/Rainier/Adams triangle. Upper Lewis or Cowlitz drainage areas are always fun to fish, lots of lakes up there too.
 
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With all this hot weather take a look at river levels due to snow melt. Might be challenging to say the least depending on when to go. Lakes may be a better option.

Also the road closure to Mount St. Helens will impact the area:

Coldwater mud slide

Just seen on news mudslide took out bridge
pnwflyfishing.com pnwflyfishing.com
 
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Jake said:
La Wis Wis campground on Rainier. Decent fishing in the area, too.
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Unfortunately they are closed for the 2023 season for refurbishing the campground (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=31342). Ohanapecosh inside Mount Rainier NP is good but reservations have become very difficult to obtain. There are some first-come/first-served sites within a couple of the loops so getting a site during the week may be possible. The La Wis Wis closure will put more pressure on Ohanapecosh. There is some dispersed camping near the entrance to the park as you come from Packwood, left side of the road near the park sign. There also are dispersed spots on the forest service roads as you head toward White Pass. There definitely are trees there!
 
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The road closure to mount saint helens won't impact any where you could camp. That is a dead end road to a no camping area. I believe you can get to Coldwater lake still. There are several lakes around Mount Adams that fish well and you should be able to find camping somewhere even if the campgrounds are full. The fish aren't huge, shorter growing season than Crane Prairie. Pick the right camp spot and there are different lakes within a short drive so you can experiment.
 
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Eastside said:
Unfortunately they are closed for the 2023 season for refurbishing the campground (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=31342). Ohanapecosh inside Mount Rainier NP is good but reservations have become very difficult to obtain. There are some first-come/first-served sites within a couple of the loops so getting a site during the week may be possible. The La Wis Wis closure will put more pressure on Ohanapecosh. There is some dispersed camping near the entrance to the park as you come from Packwood, left side of the road near the park sign. There also are dispersed spots on the forest service roads as you head toward White Pass. There definitely are trees there!
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Bummer for this summer, but I’m glad they’re taking care of that place. Been going there almost every summer for 42 years, and it’s looked a little rough the last few years.
 
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Eastside said:
Unfortunately they are closed for the 2023 season for refurbishing the campground (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=31342). Ohanapecosh inside Mount Rainier NP is good but reservations have become very difficult to obtain. There are some first-come/first-served sites within a couple of the loops so getting a site during the week may be possible. The La Wis Wis closure will put more pressure on Ohanapecosh. There is some dispersed camping near the entrance to the park as you come from Packwood, left side of the road near the park sign. There also are dispersed spots on the forest service roads as you head toward White Pass. There definitely are trees there!
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That's good to know.
I have to say I miss the old first come first serve at the campgrounds. Reservations make it more difficult to explore areas that new to you. Really irritates me to find a campsite full but half the reserved sites are empty. ( ok, off my soapbox).
 
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How about Lake Cushman …they have a nice campground that I’ve stayed with my daughter a few years back…something inflatable would be good
 
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Wis Wis is a great campground! Not free, but there are plenty of options around Mt Rainier. North Cascades is also very nice along with the Olympics especially if you’ve never done the loop.
 
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Crescent Lake or Lake Quinault on the OP, Klahowya on the Sol Duc, Mora or Bogachiel.
SF
 
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Sagebrush said:
Looking for some ideas. My wife told me that she wants to go somewhere else than our usual week long Crane Prairie trip and wants to go to Washington. Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about locations and I am sure a lot of the campground reservations are filled up already. She wants trees, so dryside is pretty much out. Any recommendations for the Cascades etc or even Idaho? We tent and are set up for dispersed camping if need be. My only deal is that I would like to be on or near water for obvious reasons (running or lake) You can IM me if you want.
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When?
 
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Sagebrush said:
Mid July
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Hard to beat Rock Creek Montana.. stroll leisurely up hwy 12 hit a hot spring or two, camp on Rock Creek, fish, go sapphire mining in Philipsburg. Fishing would be dry flies, Caddis PMDs maybe some yellow sallies. Forested, dry, lots of wildlife. Just bring your bug spray.. a bit further than you mentioned, but that's my recommendation.
 
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Sagebrush said:
That's good to know.
I have to say I miss the old first come first serve at the campgrounds. Reservations make it more difficult to explore areas that new to you. Really irritates me to find a campsite full but half the reserved sites are empty. ( ok, off my soapbox).
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Oh, don’t get me started on that! After a few years of half full campgrounds, I’m seeing a return to fractions of campgrounds being open to first come first serve. A blend of the two would be good.
 
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