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A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

National Park Service campground

Goodell Creek Campground

National Park Service campground in North Cascades National Park, Whatcom County, Washington. 487 feet. 24.3 miles from Concrete.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
National Park Service North Cascades National Park
Elevation
487 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
18 18 standard non-electric
Longest rig
56 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Whatcom County

Overview

Goodell Creek 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, Goodell Creek 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 - #13 are available for reservations 6 months in advance.

Campsites #14 - #19 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.

Goodell Creek Campground is open as first-come, first-served before and after the peak season, from January through late May, and early September through December of each year.

The campground is a small, yet comfortable facility close to the town of Newhalem along the Skagit River. It is surrounded by forests that that can be explored through the area's many hiking trails. The campground has 19 individual campsites. It is private and secluded, yet the town, a visitor center and other amenities are close by.

Recreation

Campers can walk to several of Newhalem's hiking trails from the connecting trail to the Newhalem Campground. The creek and river are popular for fishing , and boating access is available from the raft launch at the campground.

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 set along the Skagit River. The entire facility offers drinking water, vault toilets, trash and recycling, and paved roads. Each campsite includes a bear box for food storage, a picnic table, and a fire ring.

Natural Features

The campground has a shaded forested canopy with western redcedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, wild red huckleberries, and other native shrubs. Nearby is Newhalem Creek and the Skagit River. The river is the largest river that flows into the Puget Sound area and provides critical habitat for all species of Pacific salmon. The river drains cold, clean glacial meltwater from the mountains of British Columbia and northern Washington. Bald eagles return to its shores every winter.

Nearby Attractions

The North Cascades Visitor Center is nearby and operates seasonally, typically from May to September. Visitors can find the passport stamp, exhibits, park film, gift store, and much more. The town of Newhalem is a short walk from the campsites, there visitors will find a general store and information center operated by Seattle City Light.

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

What people do here

  • birding
  • camping
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • kayaking
  • paddling
  • picnicking
  • rafting
  • water access
  • whitewater rafting
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Goodell Creek 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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