Dosewallips State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Dosewallips State Park is on the easternmost part of the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington. It's got both freshwater and saltwater coastlines, and at low tide, there are exposed salt flats that let you go clam digging and seashell collecting. You can collect both clams and mussels from July 15 until September 30, but you can collect oysters all year. The park has a few easy hiking trails throughout it, and you will be able to see quite a bit of wildlife that wanders through the park at any given time.
Nearest Cities:
Quilcene, WA
Olympia, WA
Tacoma, WA
Port Ludlow, WA
Spring 53-66 F
Summer 70-78 F
Fall 44-73 F
Winter 37-55 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Dosewallips State Park
Campground Accommodations
Dosewallips State Park Campground
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 40 feet
Other amenities: Fire rings, picnic tables, showers, amphitheater, restrooms, picnic area, dump station
Dosewallips State Park Campground.
If your RV is 40 feet or less, you can set up camp at the Dosewallips State Park Campground. With 48 sites that offer full hookups, it's an excellent option for motorhomes. There's a dump station inside the campground as well as bathrooms and showers. Keep in mind that if you're visiting during the winter, only nine sites offer water. Rates vary by site and season, but you can expect to pay about $50 per night for a full-hookup site in the peak season.
Seal Rock Campground
Located less than 2 miles north of Dosewallips State Park, Seal Rock Campground makes it easy to enjoy all of the park's activities. It offers 41 sites, each suitable for both tents and RVs. Although you won't find hookups here, the campground offers drinking water and bathrooms. At the end of the day, build a fire in your fire ring and enjoy the view of the Hood Canal from your picnic tables. All sites in this busy campground are first-come, first-served, so try to get in early. Coming in a big rig? Sites near the water offer the most space. Expect to pay $18 per night.
Cove RV Park
Just over 5 miles up the coast, Cove RV Park is the closest campground with full hookups for your RV. It's situated close to Highway 101, so it's easy to park and set up camp. After a day of fun, enjoy the Wi-Fi and cable TV, or build a fire in your private campfire ring to enjoy the fresh air. A few steps away, you'll find bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and a boat launch. This RV park also has its own country store, so you can grab last-minute ingredients without driving anywhere. Rates start at $39 per night.
What to Do at
Dosewallips State Park
Shellfishing on the salt flats at low tide is quite popular along with frying them up in a pan over your fire ring. On good days, you can find crabs, too. Anglers love fishing here. During the summer, there are frequent family-friendly campfire programs several days a week.
Fish, hike, clam or just watch the sunrise over the water. Dosewallips State Park is a true paradox, both exciting and relaxing at the same time.
Inside Dosewallips State Park
Dosewallips State Park packs a huge variety of activities into its 1,000 acres, and most of them happen in or around the water. If you have a boat, you can explore the Dosewallips River or the Hood River Canal; when it's warm outside, feel free to jump in for a swim. Clam and mussel harvesting is a popular activity, and you can even try crabbing. Throughout the year, you can see elk, bald eagles, and spawning salmon. If you're interested in fishing, you can bring your saltwater and freshwater tackle to expand the possibilities.
Hiking
The hiking trails within the park amount to 3.5 miles in total. The trails are flat and easy and are also good for riding bikes. The names of the trails are the Steam Donkey Trail, the Rhody Cutoff, the Maple Valley Trail and the Izett Grade Trail.
Flora and Fauna
Herds of elk wander through the area occasionally. Be sure not to feed them, and always keep back at least 150 feet. The birds in the park are varied and range from raptors like the bald eagle to wading fowl like the great blue heron. Red columbine, lupine, yarrow and seep monkeyflower are all examples of wildflowers that grow in the spring and summer on the Olympic Peninsula.
Geocaching
There's a geocache in Dosewallips State Park, but it's exceedingly difficult to find. It's one of the series of caches among the 146 state parks in the state of Washington.
Fishing
You can fish for nearly anything in saltwater or freshwater. You might even hook a halibut, although halibut coming into shallow water is rare. Steelhead and several varieties of salmon are common, though. One rare visitor to the freshwater side of things is the sturgeon.
Boating
You can launch boats in the Hood Canal and the Dosewallips River. You also can go whitewater rafting at Class II or Class III difficulty.
Swimming
The Dosewallips River can be quite fast, so it's not safe for young children to swim. Adults and older children find it refreshing even if there isn't an official beach.
How to Get to
Dosewallips State Park
From Tacoma or Seattle and all points south and east, take Route 5 southwest until you reach Route 101 in Olympia. Proceed northwest on Route 101 all the way to Dosewallips State Park just north of the village of Brinnon.
From north of Seattle, such as from Vancouver or Abbotsford and other cities in British Columbia, travel south on Route 5 after crossing the border. Continue south on Route 5 to Olympia, where you will turn northwest on Route 101, which will take you all the way to Dosewallips State Park.
From the west, such as from Aberdeen or Cosmopolis, drive east on Route 12 until you reach the junction with Route 8 in Elma. Proceed northeast on Route 8 from Elma to Route 101, whereupon you will take Route 101 northwest all the way to Dosewallips State Park.
Entering Dosewallips State Park
To park and/or use the facilities and amenities at Dosewallips State Park, you need to buy either a one-day Discover Pass for $10 or an annual pass for $30. There are several parking lots, which are located at the park's entrance, in the campground, by the primitive camping sites and at the shellfish beach.
Dosewallips State Park Daily Pass : $10.0
Dosewallips State Park Annual Pass : $30.0
Whether you're coming to Dosewallips State Park for a week or a quick stop on the way to Olympic National Park, we want to hear about your trip. Send your favorite photos and stories to [email protected] — or tag RVshare on Facebook and Instagram so we can join you on the journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dosewallips State Park
Summer is the best time to visit Dosewallips State Park, particularly after July 15, which is when you can begin shellfishing. Regular fishing is at its peak during the summer, too, and the water temperature will be mild for rafting or a quick dip in the Dosewallips River.
Big game like elk and mule deer frequent the park. Sometimes, you'll even encounter a bear or mountain lion. If you see a mountain lion, remember to report the sighting immediately. In Dosewallips State Park, along with all of the Olympic Peninsula, the distance to stay back from all wildlife, predator or not, is at least 150 feet.
Yes, there are 48 RV-specific camping spots in Dosewallips State Park.
Yes, reservations are required. The rates vary by season. During peak season, the sites with full hookups cost $40-$50 per night. During what's known as the "shoulder season" between April 1 and May 14 and September 16 and October 31, those same sites are $35-$45. During the winter, sites with full hookups are $35. Dry sites are $27-$37 during peak season, $20-$30 during the shoulder season and $20 during the winter.
Pets are allowed as long as they are under control and always on a leash of no more than 6 feet in length. When you're not at your campsite, your pets must be either in your RV or in a tent of their own. Of course, you must clean up after your pets as well.