Staircase Campground Olympic National Park (2026 Guide)

For more, see Campsites at Graves Creek Campground (2026 Guide).

For more, see Campsites at South Beach Campground (2026 Guide).

For more, see Campsites at Hoh Campground (2026 Guide) and Campsites at Kalaloch Campround (2026 Guide).

For more, see Queets Campground at Queets Campground Olympic National Park (2026 Guide).

For more, see Olympic National Park Wildlife: Where to See Wildlife in (2026 Guide) and Olympic National Park Scenic Drives: Olympic Trail Scenic Byway.

For more, see Olympic National Park Weather and Best of Olympic National Park: Best Beach for Sunset (2026).

For more, see complete visitor guide, all campgrounds, hiking trails, lodging and accommodations, Deer Park Campground at Deer Park Campground Olympic National Park (2026 Guide), Heart O' the Hills Campground at Heart O' the Hills Campground, Kalaloch Campround at Kalaloch Campround Olympic National Park, Mora Campground at Mora Campground Olympic National Park (2026, North Fork Campground at North Fork Campground Olympic National Park (2026 Guide), and Ozette Campground at Ozette Campground Olympic National Park.

Staircase Campground sits at the southeast corner of the park, roughly a 30-minute drive northwest of Hoodsport, Washington. The access road (Highway 119) starts paved and turns to gravel before you reach the campground. Drive it slow - the surface shifts under your tires and the dust will coat anything you leave unzipped. The campground itself sits in a river valley surrounded by Douglas fir, western hemlock, and bigleaf maple, with the Skokomish River running along the eastern edge.

What You Need to Know Before You Go

Fees, Reservations, and Timing

As of 2026, the nightly rate at Staircase Campground is $20.00. Reservations are required - this isn't a show-up-and-hope-for-the-best situation, especially between June and September when every site fills most nights. The campground operates seasonally. It typically opens in late spring and closes for winter on November 1st. Around October 15th, the flush toilets and potable water get shut off as the facility winterizes. If you arrive after that date, you're looking at vault toilets and hauling your own water. Plan accordingly.

The 49 sites vary. Riverside spots go first, and for good reason - you fall asleep to the sound of the Skokomish, which runs fast and cold through summer. Interior sites are quieter but lack the river access. Reservations open six months ahead on recreation.gov, and the river-facing loops tend to book within the first week they're available.

Access and Parking

The drive in matters. From Hoodsport, you take Highway 119 north. It's paved for the first few miles, then transitions to a maintained gravel road for the final stretch. The gravel is packed and well-graded most of the year, but after heavy rain you'll find potholes and loose sections. RVs longer than 21 feet should probably skip this campground - the road is narrow in places and the turns are tight.

Parking at each site is single-vehicle. If you're bringing a second car or a trailer, you'll need to coordinate with the campground host. The parking lot at the Staircase trailhead, about a quarter-mile from the campground loop, fills by 8:30 AM on summer weekends. Most visitors underestimate this. The parking situation here is genuinely difficult on Friday and Saturday nights.

Current Conditions: Bear Gulch Fire Closure

You need to know this before you plan anything. As of the most recent park updates, Staircase Campground and adjacent wilderness areas are closed due to impacts from the Bear Gulch Fire. This is an active situation. For a full list of closed trails and campsites, check the park's Fire Conditions and Updates page. If you booked a reservation and the closure impacts your dates, the park service will notify you and process refunds. Don't assume the closure will lift by your travel dates - fire-related closures in the Olympic backcountry have extended into late summer in past seasons.

If Staircase is closed when you're planning your trip, the park's complete visitor guide covers alternative camping options in the area.

The Campground Experience

Site Layout and Amenities

Staircase Campground is laid out in a single loop with spurs branching toward the river. The sites are spaced well enough that you're not sharing your neighbor's conversation, but you'll hear campfire talk and the occasional snoring from adjacent tents. Trees provide decent privacy between most sites, though the understory is open enough that you can see through the gaps.

Amenities are basic but functional. Each site has a fire ring and a picnic table. There's no electric hookups, no showers, and no dump station. The restroom facilities include flush toilets during the full operating season and vault toilets after the winterization date. Potable water is available from spigots scattered through the loop during peak season. After mid-October, those spigots are turned off.

Cell service drops out about three miles before you reach the campground. Don't plan on making calls or checking email from your site. Rangers will tell you this ahead of time at the check-in station, but plenty of visitors still show up expecting to stream video. You won't.

Summer Ranger Programs

One of the better features at Staircase is the summer ranger program. From late June through August, park rangers lead evening programs at the campground amphitheater. Topics range from Skokomish River ecology to the old-growth forest ecosystem to the wildlife that moves through this part of the park. The programs run about 45 minutes and start after dusk. Show up early if you want a seat on the log benches - they fill fast.

Kids tend to enjoy these more than the typical campfire talk because the rangers here bring props and handouts. The junior ranger program also operates out of the Staircase area during summer, and the rangers at the small visitor center near the trailhead can issue badges on the spot if your kid finishes the booklet.

Riversides Sites - Which Ones to Aim For

If you've booked a riverside site, you want something in the A-loop or the lower-numbered B-loop sites. These sit closest to the Skokomish and have direct access to the gravel bars where you can wade or just sit and watch the water. The river runs clear and cold - glacier-fed cold, the kind that numbs your ankles within thirty seconds. Not suitable for swimming in most spots because the current moves faster than it looks.

The trade-off with riverside sites is noise. The river is loud. Some people find it soothing. Others find it keeps them awake. If you're a light sleeper, an interior site might serve you better, even if you lose the view.

Bears and Food Storage

Black bears move through this area regularly. The park service requires all food, coolers, and scented items (toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen) to be stored in a hard-sided vehicle or a bear-resistant food canister when not in use. The campground provides food storage lockers at each site - metal boxes large enough to hold a standard cooler and a dry bag of food. Use them.

The common mistake - and almost everyone makes it at least once - is leaving a small bag of snacks in the tent "just for a quick hike." Bears around Staircase have learned exactly what a tent looks like and what it contains. Keep nothing edible in your tent. Not even gum wrappers.

What to Do From Staircase Campground

The Staircase Trail System

The main event here is the Staircase Trail, which starts at the trailhead just past the campground entrance. It follows the North Fork Skokomish River upstream through old-growth forest - some of the largest Douglas firs on the Olympic Peninsula stand within the first mile of this trail. The grade is moderate, with occasional steep sections where the trail cuts up and away from the river.

For day hikers, the trail to Flapjack Lakes is a solid 6-mile round trip with about 1,800 feet of elevation gain. The lakes sit in a basin below Mount Lincoln and Mount Cruiser, and the water is clear enough that you can see the bottom at fifteen feet. Pack extra water for this stretch - the trail has reliable stream crossings in spring, but by August those cross-drainages run dry.

The trail narrows here in several sections where it hugs the canyon wall. Watch your footing on the exposed roots and loose gravel. Trekking poles help on the descent.

The Moments in Time Trail

Not at Staircase proper, but worth the drive. About 45 minutes north at Lake Crescent, the Moments in Time Trail is an easy 0.8-mile loop that starts near the Lake Crescent Lodge. The trail is flat - accessible to most fitness levels - and it loops through second-growth forest with interpretive signs explaining the area's history. Best in spring when the trillium and Oregon grape are blooming, but good year-round.

Watch for Salmon at Salmon Cascades

If you're at Staircase in late summer or early fall, drive up to the Sol Duc River area and watch for salmon at Salmon Cascades. The viewing platform sits above a natural chute where coho and chinook salmon throw themselves at the current. It's a strange thing to watch - fish launching two feet into the air, slamming into the rocks, falling back, and trying again. Bring binoculars. The viewing platform is elevated enough that you can see the action from above.

Madison Falls

Madison Falls is a 60-foot waterfall on the Elwha River, and it's one of the most accessible destinations in the park. The trail from the parking lot to the viewing area is paved and less than a quarter-mile. Worth the stop if you're driving between Staircase and the coast.

Tidepooling on the Olympic Coast

About a two-hour drive from Staircase, the Olympic Coast offers some of the best tidepooling in the Pacific Northwest. Beach 4 near Kalaloch is a good entry point - the trail from the parking area is short but steep, and the tidepools at low tide are full of green sea anemones, purple starfish, and hermit crabs. Check the tide tables before you go. Low tide below +1.0 feet is ideal.

Backpacking From Staircase

Staircase Campground serves as a starting point for several overnight backpacking trips into the Olympic backcountry. The North Fork Skokomish Trail connects to the Six Ridge Trail and beyond, linking up with the broader Olympic wilderness trail network. Permits are required for all overnight backcountry trips. Visit the wilderness information center in Port Angeles or check the park's website for current permit availability.

The common route is the Staircase to Lake Cushman traverse, which runs roughly 18 miles with significant elevation gain. Most backpackers take 3 to 4 days. The trail passes through old-growth forest, subalpine meadows, and along ridge lines with views of the Olympic Mountains. Water is available at regular intervals through most of the year, but filter everything.

Practical Takeaways

Booking: Reserve six months ahead on recreation.gov. Riverside sites in A-loop and lower B-loop go first. Late June through early September is peak demand.

Seasonal timing: Full services (flush toilets, potable water) run from late May through mid-October. After October 15, expect vault toilets and no water. The campground closes November 1st.

What to bring: A bear-resistant food canister or plan to store food in your vehicle. Trekking poles for the Staircase Trail. A headlamp - the amphitheater programs run after dark and the walk back to your site is unlit.

What to leave behind: RVs over 21 feet - the access road is gravel and tight. Anything with a strong scent in your tent. Firewood from outside the park - buy it locally or gather dead and down wood within the campground to prevent introducing pests.

Check closures first: The Bear Gulch Fire has affected access to Staircase and surrounding wilderness. Verify current conditions on the park's fire page before you drive out.

For a complete list of all campgrounds in Olympic National Park and how they compare, the parent guide covers site counts, fees, and reservation windows across all 12 park campgrounds.

Final Thoughts

Staircase Campground delivers what most people come to Olympic National Park for - genuine old-growth forest, reliable river access, and trailheads that lead into real wilderness. It's not the fanciest campground in the park. There are no showers, no camp store, and the road in will test your suspension. But the 49 sites here sit in one of the quietest corners of the Olympic Peninsula, and the ranger programs give you context you won't get from a trail app. If the Bear Gulch closure lifts in time for your trip, grab a riverside site in the A-loop, leave your expectations about cell service at home, and spend a few days doing exactly what this part of the park is built for - walking through big trees and sleeping next to moving water.