In the last installment we looked at making use of your Discover Pass to explore and camp in wildlife areas in Washington State managed by the WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife). This week we will look at the plethora of camping opportunities available to you via the Discover Pass on Washington State Lands managed by the DNR (Department of Natural Resources).
DNR offers hundreds of campgrounds across the state with access to miles of designated trails. Depending on where you go you will find trails for hiking, motorcycles, mountain biking, ATV riding, boating, horseback riding and four wheel drive enthusiasts allowing you to camp and enjoy your favorite form of recreation from one convenient location.
Most DNR campgrounds offer a camping experience similar to national forest campgrounds offering a designated space with a picnic table and fire ring. Some DNR campgrounds are even equipped with a group shelter, potable water and accessorized to support designated trail users, i.e. corrals for horse users, loading ramps for ATV users. As with most national forest service campgrounds, “pack it in – pack it out” applies regarding your trash.
Click here for a State-wide Recreation Map showing all of the DNR lands and the allowed activities, including camping.
Click here for a complete listing of DNR Managed lands which allows you to search by region and see which campgrounds are currently open or closed.
The above link will also allow you to view a detailed map of the region showing the recreational opportunities that await you. To see an example, click here for a detailed map of Southwest Washington DNR managed lands.
My wife and I recently stayed a couple of nights at the Sahara Horse Camp near Elbe, Washington. It provides easy access just off a paved highway, long level sites, a grassy play / picnic area and miles of trails open to hikers and horseback riders. There was no cost to stay other than displaying a valid Discover Pass. In comparison we could have paid $33 / night to stay in the full service campground just down the road.
While nobody I know of likes to purchase a Discover Pass, make the most of it by camping in Washington DNR or WDFW areas and enjoying the recreational opportunities they provide. Who knows what adventure in RVing awaits you there!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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