Cedar Creek

For Washingtonians who crave an authentic, wild, and truly immersive coastal experience, Cedar Creek Campground near Forks offers an unparalleled adventure. This isn't a conventional campground with paved roads and extensive amenities; instead, it provides a raw, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable connection to the rugged Olympic Peninsula coastline. If you're an experienced outdoor enthusiast looking to embrace the untamed beauty of Washington's wilderness, understand the rhythm of the tides, and commit to responsible outdoor ethics, Cedar Creek is a destination that will etch itself into your memory.

Cedar Creek Campground is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and its remote, primitive setting. Located on the Olympic Coast, it provides direct access to the dramatic beaches and intricate tidepools that define this iconic region. Visitors consistently describe it as "absolutely beautiful," emphasizing the pristine nature of the surroundings. While it can get "full on the weekends," arriving mid-week often provides more options, allowing campers to secure a prime spot. The campground, as a commenter noted, offers sites "just before the headland to Norwegian," with Cedar Creek itself serving as a "great water source." This type of camping encourages self-reliance and a deep respect for the environment, aligning perfectly with Leave No Trace (LNT) principles. It's a place where you'll spend your days exploring tide-pools, hiking rugged trails, and your evenings under a vast, star-filled sky, truly disconnecting from the everyday hustle and bustle of city life.

Cedar Creek Campground is located near Forks, WA 98331, USA. This places it on the remote and wild west coast of the Olympic Peninsula, within the boundaries of Olympic National Park. The specific location noted in reviews, "just before the headland to Norwegian," suggests it's part of the North Coast Route, a challenging yet rewarding wilderness beach hike.

Access to Cedar Creek Campground is primarily by foot, as it is a wilderness beach camping area. Visitors typically reach it by hiking along the coastal trails. While there may be some "camps at the old Starbuck Mine higher in the woods," the main camping area is directly on the beach near Cedar Creek. This means that campers must be prepared for a multi-mile hike, potentially over uneven terrain, sand, and rocky sections, carrying all their gear. Crucially, as highlighted by a reviewer, bringing a tide chart is "100% necessary." Beach access and safe passage along the coast are heavily dependent on tide levels, as certain headlands and sections of the beach may become impassable at high tide. This primitive, hike-in access ensures that Cedar Creek maintains its secluded and pristine character, appealing to serious backpackers and those seeking a true wilderness experience.

As a primitive wilderness campground, Cedar Creek offers very few developed services, emphasizing a self-sufficient camping experience in accordance with Leave No Trace principles.

• Campsites: Offers designated primitive campsites, often on sandy or grassy areas near the beach, with space for tents. Reviews indicate a "great collection of sites."

• Fire Rings: Many sites are likely to have established fire rings for campfires, provided fire restrictions are not in place. Reviewers mentioned having "massive caches" (potentially referring to driftwood for fires or natural shelters).

• Water Source: Cedar Creek itself is noted as a "great water source." However, campers must be prepared to filter or purify all water from natural sources before consumption.

• Privy (Outhouse): A privy is available in the area, though a reviewer noted its lack of privacy: "The privy was in this area, but has no privacy from the neighboring camp sites. It literally is in site of everyone that may be traveling the trail." This underscores the primitive nature of the facilities.

• No Developed Water/Utilities: There is no piped water, electricity, or other modern utilities available at this remote location.

• Pack-in / Pack-out: Adherence to Leave No Trace principles is paramount. Campers are strictly required to pack out all trash, including food scraps, and properly dispose of human waste (e.g., digging cat holes far from water and trails, or using privies where available).

• No Reservations: Wilderness beach campsites are typically first-come, first-served, or may require a wilderness permit from Olympic National Park. Reviewers noted "arriving mid-week, we had options" implying availability for walk-ins.

The true highlights of Cedar Creek Campground are its stunning natural environment and the adventurous activities it enables, making it a dream destination for avid outdoor enthusiasts.

• Unparalleled Coastal Beauty: The campground is nestled on one of Washington's most "absolutely beautiful" stretches of coastline, featuring dramatic sea stacks, rocky beaches, and lush temperate rainforest.

• Tidepooling Opportunities: The vast tidal swings reveal incredible marine life in the tidepools, making it an exceptional spot for exploring during low tide. Bringing a "tide chart" is essential for maximizing this experience and ensuring safety.

• Access to Wilderness Beach Trails: Direct access to the Olympic Coast Wilderness Trail allows for extensive hiking north towards Norwegian Memorial and further, or south towards destinations like Starbuck Mine.

• Old-Growth Forest Backdrop: The coastal strip is backed by dense, ancient forests, offering a stark and beautiful contrast to the open beach environment.

• Rich Wildlife: Opportunities for wildlife viewing abound, including marine mammals like seals, sea otters, and various seabirds. Roosevelt elk and other terrestrial wildlife may also be spotted in the forest edges.

• Authentic Wilderness Experience: Its primitive nature, lack of amenities, and challenging access create a truly immersive and self-reliant camping adventure, far from the crowds.

• Stargazing: With minimal light pollution, the night skies over the Pacific Ocean are often breathtaking, offering incredible opportunities for stargazing.

• Driftwood Abundance: The presence of "abundance of wood from the lake" (likely referring to driftwood from the ocean) suggests readily available firewood for campfires (check current fire regulations and permits).

As a wilderness campground within Olympic National Park, Cedar Creek does not have a direct phone number or dedicated staff on-site. For all inquiries, permits, and current conditions, you should contact Olympic National Park directly.

Address: Forks, WA 98331, USA (This address represents the general area; the campground is accessed via wilderness trails).

Phone: For information regarding wilderness camping permits, trail conditions, or specific details about the Olympic National Park wilderness coast, please contact Olympic National Park's main visitor information line. A general contact number for the Olympic National Park wilderness information center or main park headquarters would be the most relevant (e.g., typically a 360-area code number, which can be found on the official NPS website for Olympic National Park).

For Washingtonians who cherish the rugged beauty and untamed spirit of our state's wilderness, Cedar Creek Campground near Forks offers an iconic and profoundly rewarding experience. Its remote, hike-in nature, while demanding preparation, is precisely what makes it so appealing to local adventurers seeking to truly escape the urban bustle and immerse themselves in the raw power of the Pacific coast.

This campground is not for the faint of heart; it calls to those who understand the importance of a "tide chart" as a vital survival tool and who are committed to "LNT standards." These are the very values that resonate with Washington's robust outdoor community. The opportunity to camp directly on a pristine beach, with the Olympic National Park's wilderness stretching out around you, is a unique privilege. Locals appreciate the challenge of navigating the coastal trails, the reward of discovering vibrant tidepools, and the profound peace of a night spent under a canopy of stars with the roar of the Pacific as a lullaby. The fact that you might encounter garbage left by others, as noted by a reviewer who "tidied" the site, also highlights a shared responsibility among Washingtonians to protect these precious natural resources. Cedar Creek isn't just a place to pitch a tent; it's a test of preparedness, a lesson in environmental stewardship, and an unparalleled opportunity to connect with the wild heart of our home state, making it an essential experience for the truly adventurous Washington local.

Cedar Creek

Forks, WA 98331, USA