Red Mountain Campground Introduce
For local residents in the Ronald, Washington area seeking a "camping near me" experience with beautiful lakeside views and easy access to water activities, Red Mountain Campground, located on Salmon La Sac Rd, Ronald, WA 98940, USA, offers a compelling option. Situated in a scenic location, this campground provides a natural getaway, although potential campers should be aware of its popularity and some of its characteristics based on recent customer reviews.
Red Mountain Campground's proximity to Ronald makes it a convenient choice for those in the area looking for a quick escape to nature. Its lakeside setting on Salmon La Sac Road suggests opportunities for swimming and enjoying the waterfront, making it particularly attractive during the warmer months. However, the reviews also highlight important factors such as campsite availability, proximity to the road, and the level of crowding, which local users should consider when planning their visit.
Customer reviews consistently praise the "spectacular views" from the campsites at Red Mountain Campground, emphasizing the beauty of the location and the allure of the water. The campground's lakeside setting on Salmon La Sac Road likely offers picturesque scenery and easy access to swimming and other water-related activities. The "perfect water" mentioned in one review further underscores the appeal of the lake for recreational use.
However, the level of seclusion among campsites appears to vary. One reviewer who stayed in the "last site" found it "wonderfully secluded" with "easy access to the lake via a small trail and a nice amount of cover." In contrast, another reviewer noted that "the campsites were very close" and that "you can see everyone else's tent," with some spots "literally touch each other." This suggests that while some sites may offer more privacy, the overall layout of the campground leans towards closer proximity between camping areas.
The campground is located "pretty close to the road," which results in "some car noise from time to time." While one reviewer "didn’t find it too bad," others sensitive to noise might want to consider this factor when choosing a campsite, if possible.
Based on the customer reviews, the services and amenities at Red Mountain Campground appear to be somewhat basic:
- Bathroom Available: The presence of a bathroom is mentioned, although one reviewer noted that it was "a bit of a trek" from their particular site. The type and condition of the bathroom facilities are not detailed.
- Dumpster for Waste: The availability of a dumpster is noted as a positive, likely contributing to the cleanliness of the campground.
- Lake Access: Easy access to the lake is a significant feature, with at least one site having a direct small trail to the water.
The reviews do not mention other common campground amenities such as potable water sources, fire rings, or picnic tables. Local users should be prepared for potentially limited facilities and consider bringing their own supplies for cooking and comfort.
Despite some limitations, Red Mountain Campground offers several appealing features:
- Spectacular Lakeside Views: The beauty of the location and the views of the lake are consistently praised.
- Direct Water Access: Easy access to the lake for swimming and other water activities is a major draw.
- Some Secluded Sites: While not all sites are private, at least some offer a greater sense of seclusion.
- Convenient Waste Disposal: The presence of a dumpster helps maintain the cleanliness of the campground.
The reviews provide critical information regarding the availability of campsites and the level of crowding, especially during peak times:
- Fills Up Quickly: One reviewer arrived on a Friday in mid-July around 2:00 PM and found only 2 out of 10 spots available, with the campground filling up completely within an hour. This strongly suggests that the campground has limited capacity and is very popular, particularly on weekends during the summer.
- Not Suitable for Late Friday Arrivals: The experience of multiple people arriving around 5:00 PM on a Friday and finding no spots indicates that planning to find a site after work on a Friday is likely not feasible during peak season.
- Weekend Crowding: Saturdays and Sundays are described as "REALLY crowded" due to day visitors coming to swim in the river. This resulted in a significant number of parked cars blocking the walk down to the water, impacting the experience for campers.
- Potentially Better During the Week: One reviewer suggests that the campground might be "amazing and quiet" during the week when the crowds are likely thinner.
One reviewer highlighted that "the entrance is extremely easy to miss." They initially ended up in the day-use area. The signage situation is described as follows: "There’s a sign on the main road, but it’s on the left, while the little road leading to the campground is on the right." Local users should be aware of this potential confusion when approaching the campground to avoid getting lost.
No specific promotional information or discounts are mentioned in the provided reviews. Local users should inquire about any potential off-season rates or weekday specials when contacting the campground directly.
For local residents in the Ronald area seeking a "camping near me" experience with beautiful lakeside views and direct water access, Red Mountain Campground can be an attractive option, especially if you can plan your visit during the weekdays or are prepared for potential crowds on weekends. The spectacular scenery and the opportunity to swim in the lake are significant draws.
However, it is crucial to be aware of the campground's limitations based on the reviews. The limited number of campsites and its popularity, particularly on summer weekends, mean that securing a spot requires arriving early, especially on Fridays. The close proximity of some campsites and the potential for noise from the nearby road might not appeal to those seeking a secluded and quiet retreat.
If you prioritize lakeside access and stunning views and are flexible with your camping schedule (e.g., able to visit during the week), Red Mountain Campground could be a great choice. The easy access to the lake via a small trail from some sites is a significant advantage for water enthusiasts. However, if you value privacy and a secluded camping experience, this might not be the best fit, especially during peak times.
Local users should also take note of the potentially confusing entrance and plan their arrival carefully to avoid ending up in the day-use area. The limited amenities suggest that campers should come prepared with their own supplies.
In conclusion, Red Mountain Campground offers a scenic lakeside camping experience near Ronald, WA. Its beauty and water access are highly praised, but potential visitors should be prepared for limited availability, potential crowding on weekends, and basic amenities. Planning an early arrival, especially on weekends, or considering a weekday visit might be key to enjoying the best of what this campground has to offer. Contacting the provided phone number for the most current information on availability and any specific regulations is always recommended before planning your trip.
Red Mountain Campground Photos










Red Mountain Campground Location
Red Mountain Campground
Salmon La Sac Rd, Ronald, WA 98940, USA
Red Mountain CampgroundSalmon La Sac Rd
French Cabin Creek Recreation AreaWashington 98816
Cle Elum River Group Site23931 Salmon La Sac Rd
Cle Elum River CampgroundCle Elum
Dry Creek CampgroundWashington 98940
Cayuse Horse Camp29580 Salmon La Sac Rd
Self-Service Pay Station20 Cleelum River Cabins Rd
Salmon La Sac Campground15311 Salmon La Sac Rd
Owhi CampgroundCle Elum
Hour Creek CampgroundRonald
Wish Poosh CampgroundSalmon La Sac Rd
Kachess CampgroundBakers Ln
East Kachess Group SiteCle Elum
Red Mountain Campground Reviews
My friend and I stayed here in the last site, and it was wonderfully secluded from the rest of the campground, as the adjacent site was empty. Getting to the bathroom was a bit of a trek, but our site also had easy access to the lake via a small trail, and a nice amount of cover. It’s pretty close to the road, so you do get some car noise from time to time, but I didn’t find it too bad. The entrance is extremely easy to miss, though; I ended up in the day use area at first, wondering what I’d missed. There’s a sign on the main road, but it’s on the left, while the little road leading to the campground is on the right.
Jun 22, 2023 · Kinbri SipesThe views from this campsite are spectacular! It is so beautiful and the water is perfect. I arrived around 2:00pm on a Friday in mid-July and there were 2 spots available (out of 10). After about an hour all the spots were filled, so if you were planning on finding a spot after work on a Friday, then this isn't the place. There were multiple people that came around 5ish looking for spots and couldn't find any. Different times of the year may be different, but from what I experienced it filled up fast. There is a bathroom available and a dumpster for getting rid of waste which is nice and probably helps the campground stay clean. The only downside was that it was pretty crowded during the weekend and the campsites were very close. If you're looking for a secluded place to pitch a tent in the woods, this is not the place for you. You can see everyone else's tent and some of the spots literally touch each other. For the most part everyone was quiet though and noise was never an issue, but it definitely didn't feel private. On Saturdays and Sundays it got REALLY crowded because people just came for the day to swim in the river and there was probably about 20 people (and 6/7 cars) parked right at the front blocking the walk down to the water. If you don't mind small crowds of people then you'll be fine, but it wasn't really my thing. I bet if you can go during the week though it's amazing and quiet.
Jul 30, 2018 · Marie LassleyWe drove out in a Friday night to the Cle Elum area for a two night camping trip. Lucky enough, there was a good spot with a river and mountain(s) view at the Red Mountain Campground. A night was $14 and you get a camping spot with a great view, if you are lucky, with a firepit and a picnic table and well-maintained bathroom.No drinking water/shower or any other amenities available.
Jun 23, 2019 · B WAwesome camp spot, didn't want to leave.
Oct 16, 2022 · Shanna ScaddingNice camp with river access. Kind of a bit noisey due to the proximity to the road. Many atvs and other exessively loud vehicles.
Aug 05, 2018 · Bryan Hillerman
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