Salmon la Sac is another very nice, albeit, rustic Forest Service campground. Originally built during the Great Depression by corps of CCC workers, it has been well maintained and "modernized", but is still rustic. It is a solid 35 minute drive to Roslyn or Cle Elum, on the rather slow and windy state hwy 903. Provisioning for your camping trip in Cle Elum is easy as there are multiple grocery stores, mini-marts, and a number of other specialty retailers in town. Like most Forest Service campgrounds, services are limited. Modern pre-fab vault toilets are located throughout the campground. The vault toilets are cared for and decent... as vault toilets go. Potable water sources are also located throughout the park. Most of these are large hand pump sources, requiring a bit of strength to get going and outputting a decent amount of water per pump. It helps to have a friend come along to align your water container or jerry can as the flow from the hand pumps isn't super straight. There is one solar powered electric pump near the group pavilion, however when I was last there it didn't seem to work. No signage was up indicating that it wasn't operational. Two campground host couples monitor guests coming and going, taking care of the toilets and are great help when trying to locate a first come site. If you arrive early enough in the week you'll find a number of first come sites, plus the camp hosts will direct you to the ones that are available. The whole campsite is very peaceful. Bordered by two rivers, there is plenty of water white noise present and some very nice riverside campsites. Because of the campground's distance from any population, on a clear night the stars in the sky are brighter and more visible than you can imagine. No cell service whatsoever. So, if you want to get away from it all, this location works well. You can pick up cell service in Ronald, which is about a 20 minute drive from the campground. Campsites range in size. Some larger than others. Some more private than others, some closer to water than others. It all depends on what you are looking for out of a camp site. Most campsites can handle multiple tents or shelters pretty easily, ground isn't always level at all campsites. If you are RVing, the paved parking lanes at each campsite vary greatly in terms of how level they are. Pull thru driveways are fairly generous. I found the entry arc of my pull thru at Salmon la Sac to be a little sharp, but the exit drive was dead straight. Again, a beautiful campground, be prepared for dry camping, and you'll have a great time.
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Salmon La Sac Campground sits along rivers with excellent swimming, floating and hiking access, offering scenic, remote surroundings ideal for families and nature lovers. Campsites are generally spacious and well maintained, with paved roads, grills and concrete pads under picnic tables; hosts are reported helpful. Wildlife is common — black bears, deer and salmon have been observed — so store food securely. Bathrooms and water spigots are available, though a few visitors noted occasional restroom odor and minor fixture issues. Expect limited privacy, busy family areas at peak times, and to bring supplies (firewood, extra water) for this rustic location.
Our summary of 123 traveler reviews.