bogachiel state park

This is a great base for a short or more extended camping and fishing trip. I like the tent sites better than Mora or Hoh, because the forest is more open and so the sites get more light. It's also just a nice place to stop and eat a picnic lunch beside the river.

This is a small state park with day use, a picnic area, and camping. As a local resident I can testify the day use portions can get quite busy when the river and weather are both warm enough for swimming. It's also a good spot for a picnic. It is right next to the highway just south of Forks so It makes a convenient stop for travelers. I camped here last weekend. I had a nice, private shady spot on the hill above the river. The site was close to flat and so was the parking area. The bushes were tall and thick and I could barely see my neighbor. The site was nice and clean with no trash visible anywhere in the park. The park is right next to the highway so there is a little traffic noise audible. It wasn't very loud and tapers off at night and I had no trouble sleeping. The bathroom and showers were spotlessly clean and the soap and paper towel dispensers fully stocked (failure to do this is a pet peeve of mine). Most of the campsites are for tents and only a few have utilities so the utility sites fill up fast. Most of the sites are short so larger RVs won't fit. No reservations are taken. A Discover pass is required for day use ($30.yr or $10/day). The pass is not required if you camp since your camping fee covers it. Campsite fees vary according to what kind of site you have.

Bogachiel State Park, south of Forks, is probably more intended for campers. We went there late in the afternoon after our tour and museum visit. There are some short trails which I believe just go through the woods. We did take a short one down to the river, but there were not too many places to just sit and enjoy the water. Spent the rest of the time just relaxing a bit in the car before heading for dinner. It is a pretty little park with plenty of campsites, but if you're looking for day use probabilities, this may not be the place for you.