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It has been almost a year since I’ve last gone camping.  I decided to get a camper van and then I mistakenly sold my trailer too early, so there was no spring trip.  This trip was short, just long enough to try everything, read manuals and email Field Van with somewhat dumb questions – like:  “where is the light switch for the back lights”?  

I headed eastward from Seattle to the Joe Watt Canyon Rd. in Lt Murray State Wildlife area.

Home for the night.

There I had a nice area with a view and friendly camping neighbors.  At times fellow campers become instant friends.  I hear about Evelin’s interesting and challenging life.  Now in her retirement, she could look back and see that “all is good”.  

I continued east, stopping at the Ginko Petrified Forest State Park.  A couple of miles west of the visitor center is a loop of trails with petrified wood.  The petrified wood is covered by grating along the trails.  

Ginko Petrified Forest State Park. Petrified wood under the grate

And my last stop was the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) campground at Beverly Dunes.  I enjoy this relaxed campground with few rules and little maintenance.  You can always find a camping stop because there are no official camping spots.  There is an area in the front which has no shade, but if you drive south, you will find spots with shade.         

Beverly Dunes Campground

The trip was a happy success. No check engine light came on and everything worked.

The Facts

  • To camp or park on Washington State land one needs a discovery pass or pay per use.  The cost is either $10 per single use or $30 for a yearly pass.
  • I think all DNR campgrounds only require the discovery pass for payment.  
  • In general, both the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Natural Resources allow disperse camping on their land unless it is posted otherwise.  Where dispersed camping is not generally allowed is close to urban areas.  
  • The following links can help you find DNR campgrounds and where dispersed camping is not allowed.

Forest and Trust Lands | WA – DNR Click the area you are interested on the left side and you will find any closures.

DNR GO! map (arcgis.com) Locates all DNR campgrounds.

Wildlife Areas | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Click a brown area on the map to find which areas allow camping.