4.3682 reviewsPrice
$29 - $31/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
24 campsites
Season
Open from May 24 to ...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$29 - $31/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
24 campsites
Season
Open from May 24 to ...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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South Skookum Lake Campground, Usk, WA
Tent campers who can arrive mid-week beat the weekend crowds and land outer-loop sites with direct lake views. The 1.3-mile trail around the lake suits families with kids, cutthroat trout keep anglers busy, and canoes or kayaks fit the small unimproved boat ramp perfectly.
RVs over 20 feet will fight unlevel, undersized aprons. July mosquitoes are relentless, so pack serious repellent or lower expectations. Reviewers have also described encounters with a camp host that felt unwelcoming and, in at least one case, discriminatory toward campers of col
Reference information about South Skookum Lake Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>South Skookum Lake is relatively small and is not suitable for boats exceeding 20 feet. The boat ramp is small and unimproved. Two docks, one of which is accessible, are located near the launch area and provide fishing opportunities for campers who do not have boats. South Baldy lookout, which is still staffed during the summer months, is visible from the campground and is a popular day trip.</p>
Elevation is 3,500 ft. The campground has two unnamed overlapping loops. The larger "outter" loop has walk-in tent sites. Many have views of South Skookum Lake and are shaded by cedar and Western white pine. The "inner" loop has long parking aprons tucked into a mixture of conifers including Tamarack (Western larch) and Douglas fir but no views of the water. This quiet campground is oten visited by moose and elk. A thick understory provides good privacy. This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques. A "Food Storage Order" is in place at this campground. All food, beverages, and other attracants must be properly stored in a bear-resistant container; stored in a closed motor vehicle with a solid top; or, stored in a closed, hard-body RV. Not observing this Order may result in a fine.
Open weekend before Memorial Day through Labor Day
The water spigot is a handpump.
South Skookum Lake is 32 acres and although no restrictions are imposed, the lake is primarily canoe-friendly. The boat ramp is very primitive.
The parking aprons are dirt. An RV waste station, with potable water, is available for a fee at Cedar RV Park in Ione, WA. Colville National Forest 48
In Usk, WA, at the intersection of Kings Lake Rd and River Rd, take Kings Lake Rd east and go 8.2 miles to a "Y" intersection. Bear right onto Forest Rt 5032 and go 0.2 miles to campground. Note: Last 3.8 miles are on gravel roadway.
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The campground opens May 24 through September 16. Summer brings daytime highs in the mid-60s to upper-70s and nights in the 40s-50s. July has the warmest, driest weather for boating and fishing, but also brings heavy mosquitoes according to multiple reviews. Winter closes the campground entirely with freezing temperatures and snow coverage at this elevation.
Open through mid-Sept; Western larch present for fall color and generally fewer crowds than summer.
South Skookum Lake Campground provides essential amenities, though facilities are relatively primitive compared to modern campgrounds. Amenities include picnic tables, grills, vault toilets, and a hand-pump water spigot. Potable water is explicitly unavailable, making it necessary for campers to bring their own supply. The campground's bear-resistant food storage policy emphasizes wildlife safety. "The campground was very clean and the spots were spacious with nice fire pits with a swing over grill" (user review).
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