Find a New Place to Camp on the Water: Five Washington State Campgrounds Run by Power Companies
If you are looking for a place to camp in Washington this summer, consider one of these hidden gems run by power companies or utility districts. If you are wondering why so many Washington utility districts and power companies have campgrounds, it is because they are required to mitigate for the impact that their hydroelectric dams have on the state’s rivers. Some of these facilities are both owned and operated by the utility, others are owned by the utility but run by another public entity (usually Washington State Parks or a city). Utilities that operate campgrounds in the state include Chelan County PUD, Grant County PUD, PacifiCorp, the Lewis County Public Utility District, Seattle City Lights, and Tacoma Public Utilities.
Rainbow over Crescent Bar Recreation Area. Photo credit: Crescent Bar
There are at least 16 campgrounds that are both owned and operated by utility districts. Here are a few of our favorites.
Forebay Recreation Area - Seattle City Light
The most surprising campground is Forebay Recreation Area just south of the Canadian Border on the Pend Oreille River’s Boundary Lake. It is the second most North Eastern Campground in all of Washington State, and yet it is owned and operated by Seattle City Light. This recreation area has a campground with 22 campsites, a day-use area, and a boat launch with a tie-down area and short-term moorage (30 minutes). Recreation area facilities include large group shelter, picnic tables and BBQ grills in the campsites and the day-use area, flush toilets, and potable water. Enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating. If you enjoy kayaking, this is the last stop downstream on the Pend Oreille Water Trail, as the Pend Oreille River is the only one in Washington that flows north.
Beebe Bridge Park - Chelan County PUD
Grant County PUD and Chelan County PUD both offer camping opportunities in Central Washington along the Columbia River. Chelan County PUD’s Beebe Bridge Park, just a short drive from Lake Chelan, has 46 campsites, each with electricity and water, and a day-use area on 56 acres on the shores of the Columbia River. Recreation facilities include a two-lane boat launch, tennis courts, horseshoes, playground, and a picnic shelter.
Crescent Bar Recreation Area - Grant County PUD
Down the Columbia River, southeast of Wenatchee, Grant County PUD’s Crescent Bar Recreation Area sits at a bend in the Columbia River at the base of cliffs, carved out by the great Missoula Floods. This amazing public recreation complex has a campground with 55 campsites large enough for an RV, boat, and two vehicles (sites also have tent pads); a 9-hole golf course; multiple picnic areas with tables and shelters; a marina; two lane boat launch; day-use docks; on-water fueling; multiple beaches; a park; and trails running the length of the property. An interesting bit of trivia about this area: if you look across the water in an airphoto, you will see the pattern of giant ripples in the sand produced by the great Missoula floods. Learn more about this unique feature here. Other Grant County PUD camping opportunities on the Columbia River include Jackson Creek Fish Camp, Priest Rapids recreation Area, Rocky Coulee Recreation Area, and Sand Hollow Recreation Area.
Mayfield Lake Park - Tacoma Public Utilities
On the west side of the state, Tacoma Public Utilities has several parks and campgrounds, including Mayfield Lake Park with 55 campsites and a day-use area. Recreation facilities include a beach with swimming area, boat launch, horseshoes, volleyball court, and a playground. The day use area and boat launch are open year round, with camping from mid-April to mid-October. Mayfield Lake is formed by a Tacoma Utilities dam. Tacoma Public Utilities also offers camping at Alder Lake Park and Rocky Point Recreation Area, Mossyrock Park and Taidnapam Park.
Mayfield Lake. Photo credit: Cindy Shelby
Swift Forest Camp - PacificCorp
PacificCorp, an energy company, operates four hydropower dams on the Lewis River, and has four campgrounds on reservoirs on the river. The largest campground is Swift Forest Camp on Swift Reservoir, with 93 campsites, a day-use area, and shoreline/dispersed camping on the reservoir managed from the main campground. Recreation facilities include a two-lane boat ramp, playground, swimming beach, RV dump station, and Wi-Fi. This campground does not have showers, but there are showers at the other three campgrounds: Cresap Bay on Merwin Reservoir and Cougar and Beaver Bay on Yale Reservoir.
Swift Forest Camp. Photo credit: PacificCorp
