Is Alder Lake first-come first-served or reservation?

Alder Lake accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Alder Lake?

Yes, Alder Lake has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Alder Lake?

Fire policies at Alder Lake: Visitors are advised to check for active burn bans before building fires; sources note reports of people making fires during burn bans and at least one allegation of hosts selling firewood when bans were in effect.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

How many campsites does Alder Lake have?

Alder Lake has 9 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Alder Lake?

Yes, pets are allowed at Alder Lake. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Alder Lake?

Alder Lake offers: Restrooms, Showers, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Alder Lake?

Popular activities at Alder Lake include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Alder Lake

4.21

26 reviews

Alder Lake

Top 5% in WASummer

SwimmingSummer Destination

Real-Time Availability

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Quick Facts

1,250 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

9 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Showers

Book on Washington State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

1,250 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

9 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Showers

Book on Washington State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Alder Lake

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

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Campground Map

Alder Lake

46.7997, -122.2976

Weather at Alder Lake

Best Time to Camp at Alder Lake

Summer brings the best conditions. Daily highs run mid-60s to low-80s at this elevation, and the weather stays dry and sunny. The water calms down, making it ideal for swimming and paddling. All lake activities and campground services operate at full capacity. Weekends fill up fast, and boat-launch parking is tight. Arrive early or book ahead. Long daylight and reliable sun make it the top season for water-focused trips.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

5.0 / 5

Top 5% in WA

Described as the best season: dry, sunny, calm water ideal for swimming and paddling.

Planning Tips

About Alder Lake

Alder Lake sits at 1,250 feet along the shore of its namesake reservoir in Tacoma Power Parks. The campground has 9 tent sites with flush toilets, coin-operated hot showers, and direct access to a swim beach and boat launch. It's a popular summer destination for families, though weekends can get loud.

Includes tent camping areas (including a walk-in Osprey tent loop) and larger main campground areas with lakeside sites.

Weather and SeasonsSummer brings the best conditions. Daily highs run mid-60s to low-80s at this elevation, and the weather stays dry and sunny. The water calms down, making it ideal for swimming and paddling. All lake activities and campground services operate at full capacity. Weekends fill up fast, and boat-launch parking is tight. Arrive early or book ahead. Long daylight and reliable sun make it the top season for water-focused trips.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground spreads across wooded shoreline and open areas near the lake. Tall trees shade many sites, while others sit closer to grassy clearings. A sandy swim beach fronts the water, and several sites have lake views. Bald eagles and ospreys hunt over the water, and deer browse the tree line at dawn and dusk. The setting mixes forest and open space, with the lake as the visual centerpiece.

Scenic ViewsMany sites have direct lake views; back lakeview sites are noted as quieter and more secluded. Specific visitor-recommended sites include 409 and 411; site 40 has been called out negatively by reviewers.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsGoingToCamp (https://washington.goingtocamp.com)

Total Campsites9 campsites

Best CampsitesSites 409 and 411 get mentioned for quiet and lake views. They're set back from the busier loops. The Osprey tent loop has a reputation for noise and party behavior on weekends, so skip it if you want a calmer stay. Site 40 has at least one negative review.

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Amenities available

Restrooms and coin-operated hot showers are available; reviewers note bathrooms are regularly cleaned and maintained. Pets are allowed and some hosts sell firewood (reports of illegal sales during burn bans).

Showers

Flush toilets

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

A lakefront campground offering swimming, boating, fishing and shoreline/hiking access with wildlife-viewing opportunities.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsReported hazards and issues from visitor accounts include periodic loud/noisy campers (noise violations), occasional unclean swimming water, hornet/yellow jacket activity near restrooms, and reports of fires being built during burn bans in some instances. Boat launch parking is limited and fills quickly in good weather.

Trip Planning Tools

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Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.2

26 reviews

Satisfactory

Alder Lake is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Many visitors praise clean, well-maintained restrooms and friendly staff; the campground is large with good lake access and varied sites. Common complaints focus on noise (especially in the Osprey tent loop on busy weekends), inconsistent quiet-hour enforcement, occasional dirty bathrooms in certain areas, and issues with camp hosts and fire/burn-ban violations.

Review Summaries

Based on 26 reviews

What Campers Love

Clean restrooms maintained frequently; coin-operated hot showers; well-maintained grounds; excellent lake access for swimming, boating and fishing; friendly and helpful staff reported by several...

Based on 26 reviews

Common Concerns

Noise violations during quiet hours with poor enforcement and party-like atmosphere at times; dirty bathrooms; rude or unhelpful hosts at some sites selling firewood during burn bans; small boat...

Based on 26 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Arrive early for boat-launch parking; reserve or request back lakeview sites (sites 409 and 411 cited as quiet with lake views); avoid the Osprey tent loop if you need a quieter stay; check for burn...

Based on 26 reviews

Camper Quotes

"Bathrooms are kept clean and maintained multiple times a day."; "The campground is very well maintained."; "The Osprey tent campground was a free-for-all over the weekend... Loud campers up all...

Based on 26 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Families after a swim-and-fish summer weekend do well here, especially if you lock in sites 409 or 411 for lake views with some distance from the louder Osprey loop. Flush toilets and coin showers are consistently clean.

Skip if

Light sleepers on summer weekends will struggle, quiet-hour enforcement is spotty, the Osprey tent loop gets rowdy, and the boat-launch parking lot fills fast enough that late arrivals sometimes can't launch at all.

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Alder Lake

About Lake Pleasant

Context for the broader area surrounding Alder Lake, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

This newly expanded reservoir has 114 miles of shoreline for family recreation uses. The reservoir boasts a 10-lane boat ramp; parking for 200 vehicles. Recreational facilities concentrated primarily on the reservoir's western shore. About 450 picnic sites, 165 campsites ranging from tent to primitive to improved camping with full utility hookups, 14 group-use areas, 4 overlooks, a full-service marina equipped to handle 1,000 boats, and 7 miles of trails. The lake also has a visitor center an overlook as well as a desert education center. Along with hiking, biking and watersports, sportfishing is very popular and numerous species inhabit the lake including white bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish, and black crappie. A state-issued license is required. Contact/Entry Station phone number is 928-501-1710. <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=311">New Waddell Dam</a> and Lake Pleasant are features of the <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=504">Central Arizona Project</a>.

Directions

Site is about 30 miles from Phoenix, Arizona. North on I-17, west on State Hwy. 74.

Download area map (PDF)