4.1763 reviewsPrice
$16 - $26/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
25 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$16 - $26/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
25 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Check Policy
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In Gold Bar, WA, at the intersection of 10th St. and US Rt. 2, take Rt. 2 east 7 miles to Index Galena Rd. (Forest Rt. 63). Turn left onto Index Galena Rd. and go 11 miles to campground on right.
Tent campers who want real silence and creek-side scenery on a tight budget ($16-26/night) will do well here, especially on east loop site 15 for privacy. Steelhead and rainbow trout fishing, a creek nature trail, and cold-water kayaking on the North Fork round out the days.
No potable water on-site means hauling every drop yourself, the only access road adds significant drive time due to flood damage, there's zero cell service within 30 minutes, and summer mosquitoes are genuinely aggressive. RVs can't be accommodated at all.
Reference information about Troublesome Creek Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Troublesome Creek Campground offers 25 sites nestled in a mixed conifer forest on the banks of the scenic North Fork Skykomish River and its tributary, Troublesome Creek. Water is abundant in this area, offering visitors easy access to fishing, kayaking, and swimming. There is also a mile long nature trail that follows the creek. Guests will be lulled to sleep by its subtle, but ever-present gurgle. This campground is ideal for escaping the hustle of everyday life to enjoy time with friends and family. Countless recreation opportunities await visitors with easy access to the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbs/recarea/?recid=79424">Wild Sky</a> and <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbs/recarea/?recid=79420">Henry M Jackson Wilderness</a> areas.</p>
The elevation is 1,200 ft. NOTE: Because of road damage to a section of the access road, the authors were unable to survey campground; information provided by Skykomish Ranger District Office. This popular campground has two spurs, a loop, and a walk-in tent only area stretching along North Fork Skykomish River and bisected by the snow melt-fed, blue-green, Troublesome Creek. This is truly a "troublesome" creek that every year seems to tempt campers to take a dip, only to discover this creek can be dangerous. The campground meanders through a riparian environment of Salmon berry, fern, hemlock, Douglas and Silver fir as well as Big Leaf and Vine maples. The upper section with a spur and loop enjoy good privacy between sites but the lower section, with the spur and walk-in sites, has only fair privacy.
Open May 24 through September 9
The water spigot is a handpump.
The parking aprons are paved. No travel trailers permitted in the upper section's spur, Sites 19 thru 25.
In Gold Bar, WA, at the intersection of 10th St. and US Rt. 2, take Rt. 2 east 7 miles to Index Galena Rd. (Forest Rt. 63). Turn left onto Index Galena Rd. and go 11 miles to campground on right. NOTE: Because of flood damage to a section of the access road, the authors are estimating the directions.
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Summer delivers the best conditions. Daytime highs reach the mid-60s to low-70s°F with cool nights, and trails are fully snow-free. The river is safe for swimming and boating once spring runoff subsides. Expect the campground to fill on summer weekends. Autumn turns the maples gold and red before winter snow closes access entirely. Spring brings high water hazards.
Summer is peak season: trails snow-free, river safe, best weather; reviews favorable.
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Troublesome Creek Campground offers a mix of basic amenities suitable for campers seeking a rustic experience in a scenic natural setting. Restrooms are available, but these are vault toilets and not flush toilets. Potable water is unavailable, and visitors are required to bring their own drinking water. A hand-pumped water spigot is present at the site for other needs. Each campsite is equipped with picnic tables and fire grilles, and there are a total of 25 sites.
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Pulled from per-site mentions in 63 reviews.
Site 15 on the east loop is recommended for its privacy and creek access.
Site 18 is described as beautiful with shared access to the river but lacking privacy.
Sites 17-20 have some space between them, and site 20 offers river access but is behind the toilets.
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