No Reservations, No Problem: A Panic-Free Guide to Camping on the Fly
Photo:
Olympic National Park. Photo: iStock
Staircase Campground in Olympic National Park
Editor’s note: As of July 11, 2025, the Staircase area and campground are closed due to the Bear Gulch Fire in Olympic National Forest. Be sure to check the website for updated information.
Find it: Staircase Campground is located near Lake Cushman, west of Hood Canal and situated on the east side of Olympic National Park.
Details: This campground offers 49 sites (some right on the river) set in the rain forest along the Skokomish River. There are potable water spigots and flush toilets. This old-growth ecosystem offers a multi-layered outdoor laboratory for budding naturalists. Summer ranger programs will get you started identifying ferns, mosses, birds and critters, then strike out on your own for some scientific observation along the North Fork Skokomish River Trail or the shorter Rapids Loop and Shady Lane trails. (Open seasonally, online reservations are required for the peak summer season, May 23–Sept. 8.)
Plan B: Head back to the shores of Hood Canal for Seal Rock Campground (Olympic National Forest), where 41 non-reservable campsites are popular with local shellfish foragers.
Up next: Pro tips for last-minute camping
