Can you reserve a site at Colonial Creek South Campground?

Yes, Colonial Creek South Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Colonial Creek South Campground have?

94 sites in total, of which 90 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Colonial Creek South Campground?

43 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Colonial Creek South Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Colonial Creek South Campground.

Are campfires allowed at Colonial Creek South Campground?

Campfires are allowed at Colonial Creek South Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Colonial Creek South Campground

Campground · 90 bookable sites ·

Managed by the National Park Service

Ross Lake National Recreation Area (National Recreation Area) · Open Access

90
Bookable sites: 43 ft
Max rig length: up to 8
People per site: 3
Accessible sites: 1,232 ft
Elevation

View of a lake with lush trees on either side, highway bridge and a mountain in the background with blue sky — Photo: NPS / MICHAEL FRICKE · Recreation.gov

Overview

Colonial Creek South Campground requires reservations during the peak season, from late May through early September of each year.

Important changes to booking windows: To better serve visitors, Colonial Creek South Campground will release campsites in two staggered block releases. These block releases will be 6 months in advance and 7 days in advance.

Campsites #64 - #95 and #116 - #164 are available for reservations 6 months in advance.
Campsites #96 - #113 are available for reservations 7 days in advance.

Any sites not reserved during the peak season are available same-day as first-come, first-served for 1 night only and can only be claimed in person at the campground.

Colonial Creek South Campground may be open as first-come, first-served after the peak season until most of the campground closes for the year, typically in mid to late September.

Ten walk-in, tent-only campsites (#64 - #73) are open as first-come, first-served before and after the peak season, from January through late May, and early September through December of each year.

The campground is remote, yet bustling and is nestled in old-growth forest. Located on the south side of State Route 20 near milepost 130, there are 93 campsites that are surrounded by forest and located on Diablo Lake.

Colonial Creek South Campground can accommodate a variety of camping, whether it’s drive-in camping, or walk-in tent camping. The campsites vary in size from small to medium. Most of the campsites do not accommodate large trailers or RVs.

Recreation

Campers can access the Thunder Creek Trailhead from the South Loop. The Thunder Knob Trailhead is on the north loop across State Route 20.

Fishing is allowed in Diablo Lake with a Washington State Fishing license, the nearest location to purchase a license is in the town of Marblemount, WA. Follow Washington State Fishing Regulations when recreating.

Black bears are active in this campground and the surrounding trails. Be aware of your surroundings while hiking, picnicking, and camping. Use the provided bear boxes in your campsite to store coolers, cookware, and other odorants when not in use. If you encounter a bear around the campground or on a trail, inform campground staff or go to the North Cascades Visitor Center and fill out a bear report.

Facilities

The campground is located on the southern side of State Route 20, with some campsites along the lakefront of Diablo Lake. The entire facility offers drinking water, flush toilets, garbage and recycling, RV dump station, and some paved parking spaces, but most sites have uneven gravel parking. Each campsite offers a picnic table, bear box, and campfire ring.

Natural Features

Colonial Creek South Campground is surrounded by a forest of western redcedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, red huckleberries, and other native vegetation. The campground has easy access to Diablo Lake for recreating.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (360) 854-7200.

Nearby Attractions

Traveling west on State Route 20:

The North Cascades Visitor Center is 11 miles (18 km) west on State Route 20 from Colonial Creek South Campground, operating seasonally, typically from May to September. Campers can find the passport stamps, exhibits, park film, park store, and much more.

Traveling east on State Route 20:

Diablo Lake Overlook is 1.5 miles (2 km) east on State Route 20. the turquoise lake can be viewed safely from this area and there is ample day use parking and vault toilets.

Ross Lake Overlook is 5 miles (8 km) east on State Route 20, this is a less developed vista point. There are two pull off areas with interpretive way sides and with views of the Ross Dam and Ross Lake.

The facts

90 bookable sites
94 sites in total, including non-bookable
3 accessible sites
Vehicles up to 43 ft
Up to 8 people per site
Loops: Colonial Creek South Campground

Site types

48 Standard Nonelectric
33 Walk To
9 Hike To
4 Management

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Picnic tables
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

94 campsites at Colonial Creek South Campground

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Grade	Access	Water	Max rig	People
064	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
065	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
066	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
067	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
068	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
069	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
070	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
071ADA	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	—	—	8	♿ 🐾
072	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
073	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
074	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	Back In	Paved	Slight	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
075	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	Back In	Paved	Slight	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
076	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	Lakefront	38 ft	8	🐾
077	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	25 ft	8	🐾
078	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Gravel	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
079	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Gravel	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
080	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
082	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Gravel	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
083	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
084	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
085	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
086	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	21 ft	8	🐾
087	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
088	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
089	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	Lakefront	25 ft	8	🐾
090	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	22 ft	8	🐾
091	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	43 ft	8	🐾
092	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
093	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
094	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
095	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	Lakefront	23 ft	8	🐾
096	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	37 ft	8	🐾
097	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	Lakefront	24 ft	8	🐾
099	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
100	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
101	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
102	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Paved	—	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
103	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	28 ft	8	🐾
104	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	—	23 ft	8	🐾
106	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	—	16 ft	8	🐾
108	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	Drive In	—	24 ft	8	🐾
110	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	—	Drive In	—	25 ft	8	🐾
111	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	Lakefront	23 ft	8	🐾
112	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	25 ft	8	🐾
113ADA	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	30 ft	8	♿ 🐾
114	Colonial Creek South Campground	Management	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	30 ft	8	🐾
115	Colonial Creek South Campground	Management	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	30 ft	8	🐾
116ADA	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Drive In	—	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
117	Colonial Creek South Campground	Management	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	23 ft	8	🐾
118	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	22 ft	8	🐾
119	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	—	19 ft	8	🐾
120	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	30 ft	8	🐾
121	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	28 ft	8	🐾
122	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	23 ft	8	🐾
123	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	21 ft	8	🐾
124	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	23 ft	8	🐾
125	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	23 ft	8	🐾
126	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	—	23 ft	8	🐾
127	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Gravel	—	Drive In	—	—	8	🐾
128	Colonial Creek South Campground	Hike To	—	Gravel	—	Hike In	—	—	8	🐾
130	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Gravel	—	Drive In	—	—	8	🐾
131	Colonial Creek South Campground	Walk To	—	Gravel	—	Drive In	—	—	8	🐾
132	Colonial Creek South Campground	Hike To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	—	—	8	🐾
133	Colonial Creek South Campground	Hike To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	—	—	8	🐾
134	Colonial Creek South Campground	Hike To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	—	—	8	🐾
135	Colonial Creek South Campground	Hike To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	—	—	8	🐾
136	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	23 ft	8	🐾
137	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	26 ft	8	🐾
138	Colonial Creek South Campground	Hike To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	—	—	8	🐾
139	Colonial Creek South Campground	Hike To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	—	—	8	🐾
140	Colonial Creek South Campground	Hike To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	—	—	8	🐾
141	Colonial Creek South Campground	Hike To	—	Paved	—	Hike In	—	—	8	🐾
142	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	24 ft	8	🐾
143	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	Drive In	—	20 ft	8	🐾
144	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	—	Drive In	—	36 ft	8	🐾
146	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	—	22 ft	8	🐾
147	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	Drive In	—	25 ft	8	🐾
148	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	30 ft	8	🐾
149	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	16 ft	8	🐾
150	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	Drive In	—	23 ft	8	🐾
151	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	20 ft	8	🐾
152	Colonial Creek South Campground	Management	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	35 ft	8	🐾
153	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	20 ft	8	🐾
154	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	Drive In	—	18 ft	8	🐾
155	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	30 ft	8	🐾
156	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	Drive In	—	20 ft	8	🐾
157	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	33 ft	8	🐾
158	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	—	18 ft	8	🐾
159	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	—	27 ft	8	🐾
160	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	23 ft	8	🐾
161	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Drive In	—	22 ft	8	🐾
162	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	—	21 ft	8	🐾
163	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	Drive In	—	24 ft	8	🐾
164	Colonial Creek South Campground	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	Drive In	—	27 ft	8	🐾

Getting there

Colonial Creek South Campground is located near milepost 130 on State Route 20. From Burlington, WA, drive 70 miles (113 km) east on State Route 20. From Twisp, WA, drive 71 miles (114 km) west on State Route 20.

48.68958, -121.09606 · 48°41'22.5"N 121°5'45.8"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 79°F in Aug, down to 38°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	39	43	49	57	66	70	78	79	71	58	45	38
Low °F	30	30	33	38	44	49	53	54	49	42	35	30
Precip in	12.3	7.4	8.2	4.6	2.7	2.3	1.3	1.5	3.4	8.6	13.7	11.6

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

More photos

Boat launch which can accommodate human and motor powered vessels — Photo: NPS / MICHAEL FRICKE · Recreation.gov

Boat dock extending into Diablo Lake — Photo: NPS / MICHAEL FRICKE · Recreation.gov

Member photos

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Common questions about Colonial Creek South Campground

Can you reserve a site at Colonial Creek South Campground?: Yes, Colonial Creek South Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Colonial Creek South Campground have?: 94 sites in total, of which 90 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Colonial Creek South Campground?: 43 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Colonial Creek South Campground?: Yes, pets are allowed at Colonial Creek South Campground.
Are campfires allowed at Colonial Creek South Campground?: Campfires are allowed at Colonial Creek South Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Colonial Creek South Campground

Colonial Creek North Campground 0.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Gorge Lake Campground 3.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Newhalem Creek Campground 7.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lower Goodell Group Campground 7.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Upper Goodell Group Campground 7.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Goodell Creek Campground 7.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Marble Creek Campground 13.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Mineral Park Campground 15.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Cascades Visitor Center 8 mi · Facility
Marblemount Boat Launch 18.9 mi · Facility
Wilderness Information Center 19.2 mi · Facility
Meadows Campground 19.3 mi · Campground

Comments

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Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-07-20.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.