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A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

National Park Service campground

Colonial Creek North Campground

National Park Service campground in North Cascades National Park, Whatcom County, Washington. 1,232 feet.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
National Park Service North Cascades National Park
Elevation
1,232 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
37 31 standard non-electric, 6 walk to
Longest rig
30 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Whatcom County

Overview

Colonial Creek North Campground requires reservations during the peak season, from late May through early September of each year.

Important changes to booking windows : To better serve visitors, Colonial Creek North Campground will release campsites in two staggered block releases. These block releases will be 6 months in advance and 7 days in advance.

Campsites #1 - #35 are available for reservations 6 months in advance.

Campsites #36 - #43 are available for reservations 7 days in advance.

Any sites not reserved during the peak season are available same-day as first-come, first-served for 1 night only and can only be claimed in person at the campground.

Colonial Creek North Campground may be open as first-come, first-served after the peak season until the campground closes for the year, typically in mid to late September.

The campground is remote, yet bustling and is nestled in old-growth forest. Located on the north side of State Route 20 near milepost 130, there are 37 campsites that are surrounded by forest and located on Diablo Lake.

Colonial Creek North Campground can accommodate a variety of camping, whether it’s drive-in camping, or walk-in tent camping. The campsites vary in size from small to medium. Most of the campsites do not accommodate large trailers or RVs.

Recreation

Campers can access several trails from within the facility, such as Thunder Knob Trail located in the North Loop and Thunder Creek Trail from the South Loop.

Fishing is allowed in Diablo Lake with a Washington State Fishing license, the closest location to purchase a license in the town of Marblemount, WA. Follow Washington State Fishing Regulations when recreating.

Black bears are active in this campground and the surrounding trails. Be aware of your surroundings while hiking, picnicking, and camping. Use the provided bear boxes in your campsite to store coolers, cookware, and other odorants when not in use. If you encounter a bear around the campground or on a trail, inform campground staff or go to the North Cascades Visitor Center and fill out a bear report.

Facilities

The campground is located on the northern side of State Route 20. The entire facility offers drinking water, flush toilets, garbage and recycling, and some paved parking spaces, but most sites have uneven gravel parking. Each campsite offers a picnic table, bear box, and campfire ring. An RV dump station is located in the South Loop.

Natural Features

Colonial Creek North Campground is forested with western redcedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, red huckleberries, and other native vegetation. The campground has easy access to Diablo Lake for recreating.

Nearby Attractions

Traveling west on State Route 20:

The North Cascades Visitor Center is 11 miles (18 km) west on State Route 20 from Colonial Creek North Campground, operating seasonally, typically from May to September. Campers can find the passport stamps, exhibit, park film, park store, and much more.

Traveling east on State Route 20:

Diablo Lake Overlook is 1.5 miles (2 km) east on State Route 20, the turquoise lake can be viewed safely from this area and there is ample day use parking and vault toilets.

Ross Lake Overlook is 5 miles (8 km) east on State Route 20, this is a less developed vista point. There are two pull off areas with interpretive displays and with views of the Ross Dam and Ross Lake.

The description, directions and fees are the National Park Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • birding
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • kayaking
  • paddling
  • photography
  • water access
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Colonial Creek North Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated September 8, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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