4.3656 reviewsPrice
$8 - $15/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
12 campsites
Season
Open mid-May through...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$8 - $15/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
12 campsites
Season
Open mid-May through...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Fall hikers chasing larch color on Cedar Creek Trail or Driveway Butte will find the timing and price hard to beat. Grab a south-side site early, bring $15 cash-equivalent and the recreation.gov app, and the creek noise mostly wins over the road.
Light sleepers and anyone who needs a buffer from their neighbors will struggle here. Route 20 reaches the north-side sites clearly, sparse vegetation means you're essentially camping in an open field with strangers nearby, and summer brings serious yellow jacket problems around
Reference information about Early Winters Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>This forested campground, along Early Winters Creek, is located near the confluence of Early Winters Creek and the Methow River. There are two trails nearby, within 4 miles of this campground: <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=59141&actid=50">Cedar Creek Trail 476</a> and <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=59191&actid=50">Driveway Butte Trail 481.</a></p>
The elevation is 2,200 ft. The campground, next to Early Winters Creek, has two sections separated by State Rt. 20 (North Cascade Scenic Highway). The section on the north side of the highway has a few longer parking aprons and is closer to the highway. Campsites on the south side are a little shorter. With no under or middlestory, privacy between sites is minimal.
Open mid-May through October 31
The parking aprons are sandy and there are grey water disposal sites on both sides of campground.
In Winthrop, WA take State Rt 20 west 14.7 miles to campground sign. Turn right or left into campground.
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Fall is the sweet spot. Late September through October brings daytime highs in the 50s-60s°F with nights dropping into the 30s-40s°F, plus spectacular larch color on nearby trails and along Route 20. Fewer bugs, less wildfire smoke, and quieter weekdays compared to summer. Summer temperatures can hit the 80s, but yellow jackets become an issue and smoke can roll in. Winter sees snow and frost, though the campground stays accessible for cold-weather campers. Spring offers wildflower blooms as the valley thaws out.
Fall praised as 'sweet spot' with larch color and mild temps; prime season for visits.
Early Winters Campground offers basic amenities, providing a functional and scenic camping experience along Early Winters Creek. With picnic tables and fire grilles available at all 12 sites, campers are ensured a comfortable setup for meals and fires. Restrooms at the site are vault-style and wheelchair accessible as per official records, though user reviews offer mixed feedback about cleanliness and smell. Potable water is accessible, with user feedback mentioning four spigots distributed around the campground. However, some campers commented on the placement of certain spigots near campsites, potentially reducing privacy.
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