Hidden Meadows, North Cascades

Skagit and Sauk Suiattle Land

A steep one-mile deviation off of a thru trail in the southeast corner of North Cascades National Park leads backpackers to Hidden Meadows Stock Camp. Nestled among expansive alpine meadows, the site sits just below the summit of a peak. A short walk up to one of its ridges yields one of the most picturesque views that can be found in the park: the foreground, a meadow, and the background, the grand peaks that characterize the area. Wildflowers dot the grass in the summer months and tent spots are shaded by trees. Creeks of snowmelt trickle throughout the area, offering easy access to clear, cold water, fit for filtering and drinking after a taxing day of hiking, and the camp’s hemmed-in nature means that campers generally have the whole area to themselves. 

Bed Springs, Deschutes River

Tenino, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Wasco and Wishram Land

Lying along the Deschutes River and eight miles south of its confluence with the Columbia, the campground at Bed Springs is peaceful and isolated — until a train rumbles by on the opposite bank. The land around the water is covered by tawny, flowing grasses that turn gold in the setting sunlight. Littered with railroad-related relics like the remnants of tracks, old trestle ramps and decaying bridges, the Deschutes River Trail, beginning at the Columbia, brings a sense of calming lonesomeness — backpackers are unlikely to see anyone other than the occasional mountain biker or day hiker. Bed Springs is surrounded by an elevated plateau on either side, and tent space is abundant. Clearings in the grass are clustered around the bank of the river, despite being hidden from the main trail. A small, soft clearing of green grass offers access to one of the wider portions of the river from the site, and surrounding trees offer relieving shade. 

North Ozette River, Olympic National Park

Makah Land

On the north side of the Ozette River, where freshwater meets salt on the Olympic Coast, lies a vibrant resting place for worn-out backpackers. The treacherous hiking that the coast requires is made worth it by hidden coves and coastal forests that conceal the breathtaking nature north of the Ozette. The isolated oasis-like paradise is only reachable at low tide — headlands on either side are impassable when the water is high. The dynamic nature of the area is what makes it so special. A bald eagles’ nest rests high in the trees by the river, overlooking one of the campgrounds. Families of river otters come out to feed in the evening hours like clockwork. Seals and sea lions bask on sea stacks and offshore rocks and sea otters live up and down the coastline. Kingfishers hunt in the mornings, and, with some luck, whales can be seen breaching on the horizon. The wildlife is encapsulating and immerses visitors in the ecosystem. The natural beauty of the North Ozette is undeniable — its coastal forest is lush and sheltering, its beach is idyllic and its riverbanks are picturesque.