Gold Basin Campground

• Info

• Gold Basin Group Campground sits near the banks of the tranquil South Fork of the Stillaguamish River, close to several wilderness areas and hiking trails, offering visitors opportunities to experience both the serene and wild aspects of the Cascade region. Gold Basin is the largest campground on the Mountain Loop Highway and offers the most developed and accessible camping experience.

  In addition to being a prime location for hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking and horseback riding in summer and early fall, Gold Basin offers excellent skiing and snowshoeing in the winter months. A large, open field offers opportunities for sports and group activities. For visitors wanting to learn more about the natural and cultural history of the area, the Gold Basin Mill Pond interpretive trail is located across the street from the campground. This interpretive site includes a short, barrier-free trail that passes by mill relics and ends on a floating viewpoint. Interpretive signs discuss the history of the mill and the wildlife in the area.

  Old-growth forests of cedar, fir and hemlock line the wide, gently-flowing Stillaguamish River and tower over trails winding through moss-covered rocks. On a clear day visitors can spot Mt. Baker, the most prominent feature of the Mt. Baker Wilderness Area. Rising to an elevation of 10,781 feet, this active volcano is perpetually snow-capped and mantled with an extensive network of creeping glaciers. Mt. Baker's summit, Grant Peak, is actually a 1,300-foot-deep mound of ice, which hides a massive volcanic crater. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support an abundance of wildlife. A multitude of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles make their homes here, and the area sustains more rare species like lynx, moose, wolves and wolverine.