Discover North Fork Elk Group Camp: Perfect for Local Group Camping

North Fork Elk Group Camp Introduce

Looking for a fantastic group camping spot near you? The North Fork Elk Group Camp, located at NF-55 in Randle, WA 98377, USA, is an excellent choice for larger gatherings. As a featured option in the 'camping near me' category, this site offers a nearly perfect tenting experience amidst the natural beauty of Washington. Based on recent customer reviews, let's delve into what makes this group camp a great option for local users.

The environment at North Fork Elk Group Camp is characterized by its multi-level layout, providing a degree of privacy for tents pitched on slightly uphill pads relative to the main table area. Towering, large trees canopy the site, creating a pleasant, shaded atmosphere. The ever-present sound of the nearby North Fork Cispus River adds a soothing natural soundtrack to your camping experience. The camp is situated along the west side of the river, with the regular campground located on the east side, accessible via a lovely footbridge very close to the Elk group site.

In terms of services and features, the North Fork Elk Group Camp is designed for tent camping and does not offer electricity or hookups. However, it provides several convenient amenities for group use. You'll find four large picnic tables, offering ample space for cooking, dining, and playing games. A central fire pit is available for campfires (firewood can be purchased from the camp host near the main entrance of the regular campground). There's also a BBQ grill on-site, though some visitors didn't report using it. A significant convenience is the spigot providing fresh, potable water near the tables.

While there are no flush toilets, the pit toilet located just beyond the parking area is reported to be clean and well-maintained, complete with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. For parking, the site can accommodate around six cars fairly easily, though one group with eight cars didn't encounter any issues. Finding the camp is also straightforward: clearly marked signs on the main road (NF-23) guide you to the group sites; just follow the road in until you see the dumpsters and a small "ELK" sign.

One of the unique features is the proximity to the North Fork Cispus River and the footbridge that leads to the regular campground. This allows for easy access to the river for relaxation and exploration of the adjacent camping area. The camp host, located near the main entrance of the regular campground, is a valuable resource for purchasing firewood and potentially other information.

However, there is one noted drawback: the North Fork Elk Group Camp's close proximity to the dumpsters used by all the campsites and the campground. During warmer weather (80-90 degrees Fahrenheit), some visitors reported occasional unpleasant smells emanating from this area, particularly when walking towards the river and the footbridge. This is something to be aware of, especially during the hotter months.

The website for the area reportedly warns of bears, advising campers to store food in bear-proof containers. Interestingly, recent visitors mentioned not seeing any bears or even smaller wildlife like chipmunks or ground squirrels. Nevertheless, it's always wise to take precautions, such as storing food in vehicles, to ensure safety.

Promotional aspects are evident in the positive reviews, with multiple groups stating they would definitely choose this group site again in the future. The combination of spaciousness (accommodating up to 8 tents, even if not all on designated pads), clean and maintained facilities (especially the vault toilet and potable water), and the scenic environment with tall trees and the nearby river makes it a highly recommended spot for group camping.

To summarize the features and benefits of North Fork Elk Group Camp for local users:

Ideal for group tent camping, comfortably accommodating larger parties (e.g., 14 people with 8 tents).
Multi-level campsites offer enhanced privacy.
Beautiful natural environment with large trees and the sound of the nearby North Fork Cispus River.
Amenities include 4 large picnic tables, a fire pit, a BBQ grill, and a potable water spigot.
Clean and maintained pit toilet with TP and hand sanitizer.
Ample parking space for several vehicles (around 6, potentially more).
Easy to find location with clear signage.
Proximity to the river and a footbridge leading to the regular campground.
Firewood available for purchase from the camp host.

Potential drawbacks to consider:

Close proximity to the dumpsters, which can be smelly in warm weather.
No electricity or hookups (pure tent camping).

Overall, the North Fork Elk Group Camp appears to be a well-regarded option for local groups looking for a tent camping experience. Its spaciousness, amenities, and scenic location near the river make it a strong contender in the 'camping near me' category. If you're planning a group camping trip and value a site with good facilities for tenting, ample space, and a pleasant natural setting, the North Fork Elk Group Camp is definitely worth considering. Just be mindful of the dumpster proximity during warmer times of the year. We encourage you to book your group adventure at this lovely spot in Randle, Washington!

North Fork Elk Group Camp Photos

North Fork Elk Group Camp Location

North Fork Elk Group Camp

NF-55, Randle, WA 98377, USA

North Fork Elk Group Camp

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North Fork Elk Group Camp Reviews

Party of 14 - we camped for two nights at the North Fork Elk Group Camp. it was very nearly perfect. As described, this is a tenting group camp site, without electricity or hookups. We had actually had 8 tents, but the 7 tent pads sufficed, since several of the tents were 1 person tents. The site is "multi-level" - meaning that some of the tent pads were uphill from the table area. This meant that our tents had more privacy that some group sites afford. There are really big trees on the site, and the sound of the nearby river was everpresent.There are 4 big picnic tables - plenty of space to spread out for cooking and card games. There is a fire pit that we were able to use (purchasing firewood from the camp host - more on that in a minute). There was also a BBQ that we didn't use. There is a spigot near the tables for fresh potable water. There are NOT flush toilets. But the pit toilet was just beyond the parking area and was clean with plenty of TP and hand sanitizer. We had six cars there and fit them into the site's parking area fairly easily.Finding the site was pretty easy too. On the main road (NF-23) the sign at the entrance to the group sites was clearly marked, then keep following the road in until you get to the dumpsters and the little "ELK" sign. There are 3 group sites along the west side of the North Fork Cispus River, and then the regular campground is along the east side of the river. There is a foot bridge across the river very close to the Elk group site that is lovely, and takes you into the campground. Near the main entrance to the regular campground is the camp host. There you can purchase firewood.The only drawback to the Elk site was that it is also located very close to the dumpsters that are used for all the camp sites and campground, and while we were there it was very warm (80-90 degrees) so whenever we walked to the river and the foot bridge we had to pass the smelly dumpsters.The website warns of bears, and to keep food in bear-proof containers. We saw no evidence of bears, and judging by the simple garbage cans and dumpsters, there must not be much of an issue with bears there. Still, we kept our food in our cars, just to be safe. Oddly enough, we didn't even see chipmunks or ground squirrels.Hope this is helpful. We would definitely choose this group site again in the future. Attaching photos of the group site, the tall trees, the pit toilet, the parking area, the picnic tables, and elk that we saw along NF-23 (about MP 6).
Aug 21, 2022 · Janet Barnes
This is a great campsite. We fit 8 tents on the site (most were smaller tents) although some weren't necessarily on a designated pad. The toilet was a vault toilet but was clean and well maintained, and there was convenient potable water onsite too. We had 8 cars (the limit is supposed to be 6) - I've seen on other reviews that the camp hosts can be strict on this but we didn't have any issues. There are three nice picnic tables surrounding the fire pit. They are all in the hot sun for the main part of the day but have shade in the morning and late afternoons.We walked to the river and put our chairs out in the middle for the afternoon. It was fantastic - not terribly hard to get out there if you use a stick to keep from slipping.The only negative comment was that the main dumpster is nearby and we were catching the smell occasionally (although it was also nearly 90 degrees when we were there). Not many mosquitos compared to other sites I've rented which was great! Would definitely stay here again.
Jul 17, 2023 · Jennifer Thrower
Super cool group campground nestled in the woods. Quite a few kid-friendly hikes in the area, and a freezing cold river to dip your feet in.
Aug 26, 2021 · Willie P
Aug 21, 2018 · ANDREA G