This year, we kicked off our summer with a weekend camping trip to North Cascades National Park. Finding a campsite here—especially in summer—is next to impossible. But thanks to our friend’s determination, we managed to secure a spot at the popular Colonial Creek Campground, located right next to the stunning Diablo Lake.
Imagine waking up to the turquoise glow of the lake and sipping tea while birds chirp around you. That’s exactly what it feels like to camp here. 🌿
Bonus: there are two popular hiking trails that start right from the campground.
I’ll share more info below, but if you’d like a peek into our experience, check out this video from our camping trip—it shows everything we did, bit by bit!
North Cascades National Park Campgrounds
There are several campgrounds within the park, but Colonial Creek Campground is the most accessible and sits right beside Diablo Lake, giving you easy access to all the top spots in the park without having to travel far. The campground is divided into two sections: the North Campground, which is right on the lake, and the South Campground, located at the mouth of Thunder Creek, where it flows out from Diablo Lake.
We stayed at the South Campground and got campsite 87, which was right by the lake with easy access and stunning views. The site was spacious enough for four people and came with a fire pit, a picnic table, a bench, and an elevated area to set up a tent.
We had two tents—one for two people and one for four—and were able to pitch them side by side comfortably.
The campsite doesn’t have electricity, but there are electrical outlets in the bathroom that you can use. I definitely recommend bringing an electric kettle to heat water for ready-to-eat meals or coffee.
The bathrooms are well-equipped with flush toilets and sinks, but just a heads-up—there’s no shower area, so plan accordingly!
Other campgrounds that are accessible by car are:
- Newhalem Creek Campground – close to the visitor center and Skagit River.
- Gorge Lake Campground – next to the cascading Stetattle Creek near Gorge Lake.
- Goodell Creek Campground – located within the old growth forest on the banks of the Skagit River.
Our Camping experience
This was our 4th camping trip—and the first for our friends—so we made sure to do all the classic camping things: roasting hot dogs and s’mores over the bonfire and attempting a bit of stargazing (even though moonlight made it tough 😅).
The best part? The campsite was deep in the forest with no signal—which meant we had no choice but to truly live in the moment instead of scrolling through life online.
Honestly, sometimes it just feels so good to be surrounded by nature, without thinking about real-world problems. Especially when your job keeps you constantly online as a creator… crying in silence 😩🌲
Check-in process
The camp check-in time was 2 PM. We reached our campsite around 4:30 PM and had no issues checking in since it was a prepaid site—all we had to do was show up and set up camp.
Just a heads-up: if you book a site and don’t show up, you won’t be eligible for a refund. And if you plan to cancel your reservation, there’s a cancellation fee—$8 or $10, depending on how you cancel.
Thunder Knob Hike
After settling in at our campsite, we headed straight to the Thunder Knob Trailhead. This is an easy 3.4-mile hike that offers stunning views of Diablo Lake and surrounding peaks like Colonial Peak and Sourdough Peak.
The trail begins by crossing Colonial Creek and gradually gains elevation. The path can get rocky, so I recommend bringing trekking poles for extra stability.
Along the way, we spotted a variety of birds—including Rufous Hummingbirds, Western Tanagers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Juncos, and Chickadees—as well as beautiful wildflowers like this one.
It’s a fun and accessible hike, great for all age groups, with several scenic spots to pause and soak in the view. Whether you’re here for a day trip or camping overnight, I highly recommend adding this trail to your North Cascades itinerary.
Setting up camp & bonfire
It was almost dark by the time we returned to our campsite, so we quickly got to work setting up our tent. We use the Coleman Sundome 2-person tent, which takes only about 10 minutes to pitch and is super lightweight and easy to carry.
This time, we also brought along new sleeping pads, and I can confidently say—it was the best decision! For extra comfort, I highly recommend using a memory foam pillow—your neck will thank you. You can download our complete camping checklist here.
Once the tent was up, we moved on to setting up the bonfire. We didn’t carry a fire starter, so we used dry twigs, leaves, and paper to get the fire going.
With the bonfire crackling, we grilled hot dogs, corn on the cob, and, of course, made s’mores—all paired with chilled ginger ale. Pure camping bliss!
Stargazing
Before calling it a night, we headed to the boat launch area for some stargazing. The moon was about 80% illuminated, which wasn’t ideal for photographing the Milky Way, but we still got to see so many stars—a beautiful way to end the night.
Wild animals at night
On the way back, we heard a lot of wild animal sounds—including a black bear growling alarmingly close to where our car was parked. It was definitely scary, and thankfully, we didn’t encounter any animals.
We also heard what sounded like coyotes, deer, and bears—but funnily enough, I realized during my morning stroll that many of those sounds were actually made by Canada geese! Still, it’s a good reminder that if you’re venturing out at night—even just for a quick trip to the bathroom—be cautious. Always keep your bear spray within reach and stay alert.
Early mornings
I woke up early and went for a walk, exploring different parts of the campground in search of birds. The surroundings were so quiet and peaceful— all I could hear were birds singing and leaves rustling in the wind.
I watched the lake’s color shift from light turquoise to bright turquoise as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. You can watch the video to get a sense of how peaceful mornings feel in the national park. It was absolutely therapeutic.
North Cascades Sightseeing
On the way back, we did what everyone visiting North Cascades National Park does—ticked off all the top spots!
We started at Vista Point Lookout, one of the best viewpoints for Diablo Lake. Thanks to the sun, the turquoise color was absolutely stunning. Next, we made a quick stop at the Diablo Lake access from North Colonial Creek Campground to enjoy another perspective of the lake.
From there, we headed to Gorge Lake Overlook and took in the beautiful Gorge Creek Falls. Then we visited Ladder Creek Falls near the Gorge Dam and stopped by the Skagit General Store for some snacks.
We did the Trail of the Cedars on our way to the park, but you can easily do it while exploring since the trailhead is just a 5-minute walk from the Skagit General Store.
Finally, we stopped by the North Cascades Visitor Center to grab some souvenirs, get my mandatory journal stamp, and soak in the gorgeous view of Pinnacle Peak.
Looking for a detailed guide? Don’t worry—I’ve got a full day trip blog post covering all the top spots and easy hikes around North Cascades.
You can also check out my North Cascades day trip vlog and other Pacific Northwest national park guides right here.
