3.4418 reviewsPrice
$6/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
11 campsites
Season
Open Memorial Day We...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$6/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
11 campsites
Season
Open Memorial Day We...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Lake Ellen West Campground, Colville National Forest, Washington
Tent campers and kayakers who want a quiet, genuinely private site on a 75-acre mountain lake for almost nothing. Eagles, ospreys, and loons are reliable company. Bring all your water and pre-cut firewood, follow the food storage rules without being asked, and the setting deliver
No cell signal is a hard stop for anyone who needs connectivity. The camp host has a track record of feeling intrusive to guests, and a few reviewers noted interactions that left them feeling unwelcome in ways that went beyond rule enforcement, so those sensitive to that dynamic
Reference information about Lake Ellen West Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Lake Ellen West Campground is one of two campgrounds located on each end of the 75.5 acre lake. Access to the campground and the boat launch is a single lane gravel road. Campsites have good separation for privacy. There is a boat dock on site and fishing for rainbow trout is good. Wildlife viewing is abundant with bald eagles, osprey, loons, beaver and more. This is a popular lake for families with small children because of the large availability for fishing off the bank. Many amateur photographers also enjoy the area and its picturesque opportunities.</p>
The elevation is 2,300 ft. This is a rustic campground with a single, teardrop shaped loop on the east end of Lake Ellen. Cottonwood, Douglas fir and other conifers and deciduous trees form the overstory and provide ample shade. A dense growth of wild rose, thimbleberry and young maple provides excellent privacy. There is no direct access from the campground to Lake Ellen. The campground is pack it in/pack it out. The smaller West Lake Ellen campground is one the lake's west end and did not qualify for review. This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques.
Services provided Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day - weather dependent
The parking aprons are gravel and some are overgrown. The interior road is narrow and single lane.
In Kettle Falls, WA, at intersection of US Rt 395/State Rt 20 and State Rt 25, take Rt 395 north/Rt 20 west 2.7 mile to a "Y" intersection. Bear left, staying on Rt 20 west, and go 4.1 miles to Lake Ellen sign. Turn left and go 4.4 miles to campground sign. Turn right and go 3.5 miles (gravel road) to Lake Ellen sign. Turn right and go 1.4 miles to campground sign. Turn right into campground.
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Summer, especially late June through July (weeks 26-30), brings the best conditions. Daytime highs reach the mid-60s to mid-80s°F, with nights cooling to the 40s-50s°F. This is when swimming, boating, and fishing are most comfortable. Clear nights are good for stargazing. Winter (weeks 45-48) brings freezing temperatures, heavy precipitation, and snow. The campground remains open but requires preparation for harsh conditions. Crowds stay modest compared to larger parks, though holiday weekends fill quickly.
Best conditions late June–July; boating, fishing and warm days cited as peak season.
Potable water is not available at this site.
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