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Mt Baker-Snoqualmie/Tinkham
Overview
Tinkham Campground offers a quintessential Pacific Northwest experience within the vast Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Located just off the I-90 corridor near North Bend, this campground serves as a lush, green gateway for RVers looking to disconnect from the digital world. The park is characterized by its towering evergreen canopy and its proximity to the South Fork Snoqualmie River, providing a tranquil soundtrack for your mountain stay. It offers a rare opportunity to camp amidst massive trees while remaining within an hour's drive of the Seattle metropolitan area.
Location & Surroundings
Set at an elevation of approximately 1,500 feet, the campground is surrounded by ancient old-growth Douglas firs and Western red cedars. While it is conveniently close to the highway for easy access, the dense forest provides a significant sound buffer, creating a secluded and peaceful atmosphere. The nearby river offers rocky banks perfect for exploring or simply enjoying the cool mountain air that flows through the valley. This location provides a high-altitude forest feel without the strenuous mountain climbs often required to reach similar alpine settings.
Amenities & Park Features
As a Forest Service site, the amenities at Tinkham lean toward a rustic, dry camping experience. The park focuses on providing a clean, natural setting with essential facilities for self-contained travelers, including:
- Large, private sites equipped with picnic tables and fire rings.
- Access to potable water provided via traditional hand pumps.
- Standard vault toilets located throughout the loops for convenience.
There are no electrical, water, or sewer hookups, making it an excellent choice for RVers who enjoy boondocking or have robust solar setups. Most sites feature gravel pads designed to accommodate a variety of trailer and motorhome lengths.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Outdoor enthusiasts are perfectly positioned for adventure in every direction. The Annette Lake Trail and the Snoqualmie Valley Trail are just a short drive away, offering world-class hiking and mountain biking opportunities. A quick trip into the town of North Bend allows for a visit to the iconic Snoqualmie Falls or a challenging hike up Mount Si. For those who enjoy the water, the river provides opportunities for wading and fly fishing in a pristine alpine setting. The area is also a favorite for nature photography due to the dramatic moss-covered landscapes and misty mornings.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for travelers seeking a serene forest retreat rather than a highly developed resort. It is best suited for small to mid-sized RVs, camper vans, and trailers that do not require full hookups to operate. If you value privacy and nature access and want a convenient basecamp for exploring the Central Cascades, Tinkham is an excellent fit for your travel style. It is especially popular with weekend explorers and those looking for a quick, deep-woods escape from the nearby urban centers.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Anderson Trajano
The campsite itself is pretty standard. No frills, but the essentials were there. The vault toilet was clean, and while there was some highway noise, things were quiet and chill in the evening. The 1.5 mile gravel road was a bit of a bumpy ride, so drive slowly and hang on. What really made the stay memorable? The host. Super helpful, super cool. Host kindly helped clear my site when others set up camp while I was away, and did it all with a smile. Great hospitality and great vibes
Erica E
Decent campground close to the city. Drive in is rough, lots of pit holes. The biggest one is when it turns from paved to gravel. Sites near the water come with freeway noise. Sites are well spaced. Nothing spectacular about it, but not bad. No fishing, really. Potable water is not potable. Bathroom smells worse than most.
Kavika Wolf
Nice location, only an hour from major cities. Good way to get away without spending half your trip driving. You do hear the highway, but it blends in with the river sounds & didnt bother us.
Alex
Great little campground with everything you need. Made a reservation online and it was super easy. Some sites are closer to others, where in eye sight of neighbors. Site #6 seemed to be a little more secluded than others. The site was backed on two sides by a larger incline, helping block the wind. Fire pit was well established and the picnic table was nice to have. A quick walk around the camp loop and you can see the stream. The road in is ~1mi of unpaved road with lots of potholes. Shouldn’t be an issue for an SUV or truck, but could see pulling a trailer to be a pain.
J.eliott
This is a very pretty campground, with a gorgeous river (south fork of the snoqualmie) and plenty of sites with direct access to the water. The vault toilet bathrooms were pretty rough at first on a Sunday afternoon after the weekend rush, but the host cleaned up when they had the chance and they were just fine the rest of our stay. If you prefer to camp within cell service to maintain that blue light glow while visiting nature, the signal here is strong. In fact I heard several cell phones mixed in with the limited amount of nature audible as it is... (I'll explain in a sec). The host had not put up the current reservation signs until the last minute, so we almost set up in a site that was taken but mislabeled. We luckily decided to check in with them before setting up. They brought around fire wood for sale which was convenient and nice. Kind of small bundles for 8 bucks though. That on top of the $28 nightly fee and the billions of tax dollars and the millions in discounts to big timber... seams a bit unfair for "public land." But the real problem I've got here, and ultimately why only 3 stars for such a beautiful place, is the roaring sound of the freeway. I-90 is right on the other side of the river and it is sooooooo loud. We couldn't hear the river at all (which is one of my favorite sounds when camping). The noise of heavy traffic drowns out the conversation around the fire. And it didn't quiet down a bit until roughly 11pm. Only to start back up in full force and wake up the whole fam at a little before 6am. With a strong desire to flee the city but unable to go without the phones for a night, I may come back for a single night stay (or explore this area further). Otherwise... I don't see this being a likely future trip's destination.