Swift Creek Campground

FS USDA Forest Service · WA · Primitive

Conditions

Road Access Gravel
Driveway Surface Gravel
Season Not recorded
Campfires Campfires Allowed
Elevation 10,781 ft
Max RV Length 100 ft
Boondock Access Not recorded

The managing agency hasn't published season for this campground. The description and directions below often mention it — and it's worth calling the agency before a long drive.

Features

Seasonal Snow Area
Environment High Elevation
Rig Size Back In Only
Style Primitive Potable Water Vault Toilet Reservable

Campground Stats

Total Sites43
Sites Accepting RVs39
Group Sites2
Overnight Sites43
Max RV Length100 ft
Back-In Sites43
SurfaceGravel

Location

48.729637, -121.658618 , WA

Photos

Description

Overview

Swift Creek Campground is tucked into a mixed-conifer forest at the edge of Baker Lake in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Recreation

In addition to being a prime location for hiking, boating, fishing, picnicking, and horseback riding in summer and early fall, Swift Creek offers opportunities for snowshoeing in the winter months. With a small beach on-site and access to Baker Lake, visitors will have plenty of opportunities to fish, kayak, canoe and swim. The nearby Baker Lake Trail is a family friendly hike that begins in a majestic stand of Douglas fir. In 1843, a small eruption of Mt. Baker caused a forest fire, and visitors can still see the burned snags of virgin cedar trees that once dominated the area. The trail contours above the eastern shoreline of Baker Lake.

Facilities

Swift Creek offers campsites that accommodate either tents or RVs. There are two group sites that are reservable as well.

Drinking water and vault toilets are available. The campground also has a day-use area at the lake's edge, equipped with picnic tables and grills.

There is a boat ramp and a marina on site.

Natural Features

The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest showcases rugged peaks, sparkling alpine lakes and old-growth forests, providing visitors with unique and surprising landscapes. Mt. Baker, the most prominent feature of the Mt. Baker Wilderness, dominates the landscape on a clear day. Rising to an elevation of 10,781 feet, the active volcano is perpetually snow-capped and mantled with an extensive network of creeping glaciers. Mt. Baker's summit, Grant Peak, is a 1,300-foot-deep mound of ice, which hides a massive volcanic crater. Wildlife in the area includes mountain goats traversing the higher elevations to squirrels and black bears in the forests. Migratory birds and native fish find ample habitat in the varied ecosystems as well.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (530) 932-0242.

Nearby Attractions

Hike in the mountains above the lake in the Mt. Baker National Recreation Area or Mt. Baker Wilderness, or take some time to visit North Cascades National Park. This unique park is like no other place on earth. It features a deep blue lake surrounded by sheer, 2,000' cliffs, two picturesque islands and a violent volcanic past. Hiking trails, a visitor center and educational programs are available.

Charges & Cancellations

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Directions

From Seattle, go north on I-5 to Burlington. Take Exit 230 on State Highway 20. Go past the Mt. Baker Ranger District Office in Sedro-Woolley and follow State Route 20 east for 16 miles to milepost 82. Turn left (north) on the Baker Lake Highway (Forest Service Road 11). Continue for 20 miles to the sign for Swift Creek Campground Road (Forest Service road 1142). Turn right and travel about 1/3 mile to the campground at the end of the road.

Activities

BOATING CAMPING CANOEING FISHING KAYAKING PICNICKING SWIMMING

Details

Phone360-804-1103
ADA AccessN
ReservableYes

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