4.1039 reviewsPrice
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
16 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
16 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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48.7296, -117.5635
Fall campers chasing tamarack and aspen gold will find this nearly empty after Labor Day, with rainbow trout and bass off the fishing pier, loons on the water, and a wheelchair-accessible lakeside trail. Bring your own water and arrive early in the week.
Summer weekends draw mosquitoes thick enough to ruin evenings, leeches rule out any swimming, and a church group reportedly squats the best lake-view sites by parking empty RVs weeks ahead. No hookups, no potable water, no showers.
Reference information about Big Meadow Lake Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>This campground is equipped with tent/trailer sites, interpretive trails, boat launch, and a nice fishing dock. Some campsites are private and some with a lake view. This campground is good for wildlife viewing especially around the lake. A short paved walk out to a lookout viewing platform affords great views of the lake. Nearby is the Hess Homestead Cabin which is day use only, first come first serve.</p>
The elevation is 3,400 ft. The campground wraps around the south side of the man-made Big Meadow Lake with campsites tucked in among Aspen, Tamarack, White fir and other conifers. The lake has a population of waterfowl, such as Loon and ducks. The large, adjacent meadow is great for wildlife viewing. The campground is pack it in, pack it out and family friendly. This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques.
Services provided from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Big Meadow Lake is 72 acres. Leeches may be present in water. Hiking: Meadow Creek Trail #125 (foot, mountain bike, wheelchair friendly) - 1.5 miles Lakeside Trail #126 (foot, mountain bike) - 1.5 miles Fishing: Rainbow trout and Largemouth bass - fishing pier available
Big Meadow Lake is 72 acres. Leeches may be present in water.
The parking aprons are gravel. An RV waste station, with potable water, is available for a fee at Cedar RV Park in Ione, WA
In Ione, WA, at intersection of Houghton Rd and State Rt. 20 (Porter's Plaza Motel and Gas), take Houghton Rd west 0.4 miles to Big Meadow Lake sign. Turn left onto 8th Ave. and go 0.1 miles to another Big Meadow Lake sign. Turn right onto Smackout Pass Road and go 2.6 miles to a "Y" intersection. Bear left and go 5.3 miles to campground on left.
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Fall is the standout season. Aspens and tamaracks peak in September and early October, with daytime highs in the 50s–60s°F and crisp nights dropping into the 30s–40s°F. Mosquitoes disappear, trails empty out, and the boat launch sees less traffic. Summer brings moderate temperatures but persistent mosquitoes. Reviews consistently recommend bug spray. Winter turns the area into snow-covered terrain for hardy visitors willing to handle the cold.
Fall is the standout season: aspens & tamaracks peak Sept–Oct and mosquitoes largely disappear.
Big Meadow Lake Campground offers a variety of amenities. It comes equipped with picnic tables on all 16 campsites, fire rings, and vault toilets, making it suitable for primitive camping. Restrooms are available, but there is no potable water on-site, and campers must pack in and out their trash as there are no trash or recycling facilities. Several user reviews highlight the clean and well-stocked vault toilets. Additionally, firewood must be brought in, as none is available for purchase on-site.
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