- Cathlamet
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N
Nomadic camping
Best for self-contained campers. There are no toilets, showers, or potable water at this Hipcamp.
Rig suitability
Vehicles under 32 feet allowed
Allowed rigs: travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, pop-up campers, class A RVs, class B RVs, class C RVs, campervans, cars, truck campers, and rooftop tents
Pull-through site
Accommodates slideouts
Surface type: Loose Gravel
Surface levelness: Requires leveling
Electrical hookup available
Generators allowed
No water hookup
No sewage hookup
No TV hookup
What to expect
RV/tent site
16 guests max
Campfires allowed
Pets allowed
No toilet; campers must bring camp toilets
No potable water
No showers
Pack it out
Cooking equipment absent
Picnic table absent
No wifi
Laundry absent
Hot Tub absent
No playground
Things to know
Getting there
Check in: After 2:00 PM
Check out: Before 12:00 PM
On arrival: Head straight to site
Cancellation policy:
Minimum nights: 1 night
Accepts bookings: 12 months out
Park at listing
No wheelchair access
Max 4 vehicles
2WD accessible
During your trip
Leave it better
Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.
Select a site
RV/tent sites
1 site
Columbia River Camping
91%
(77)Campfires allowed
Pets allowed
Electrical hookup
Reviews
91% Recommend77 ratings · 65 reviews
Camping by the Columbia River offers stunning views and a sense of peaceful seclusion, with many guests enjoying the sight of large ships and the quiet surroundings. However, some visitors noted occasional disruptions, such as unexpected trespassers and rising tides that can bring water into the campsite. While privacy and natural beauty are strong points, campers should be prepared for the possibility of minor inconveniences related to access and environmental factors. Overall, the spot is cherished for its tranquility and scenic setting, but awareness and caution about local conditions are advised.
Summary AI-generated from real reviews
Mixed feelings
· September 2026
21 ft truck camper · With pets
The location is beautiful right on the river, but the property seems to have a history of public access that created a few awkward disruptions during our stay. When we arrived, an older couple was already camped on the site; after confirming with the owner that they weren't supposed to be there, law enforcement had to be called to clear the area. The next morning, a fisherman walked onto the site as if he’d been using it for years, and he was hesitant to leave when we explained it was a private reservation. While the setting itself is lovely, these constant trespassing incidents made it hard to fully relax. While these incidents were frustrating, the owner was extremely promplt, handled the situation remotely, and even issued a refund for the trouble. While the setting is lovely, just be aware of potential privacy interruptions until local habits change.
Recommends
· August 2026
32 ft travel trailer
Private SPECIAL site on the Columbia River. Ferry from Oregon or Bridge from Washington. Lovely sleepy island great for biking around. Private space. Blackberries in August!!!
Recommends
· August 2026
Great Spot
25 ft travel trailer
What a great spot. Quiet and private. Love being a stone throw from Columbia River. Even though you are close to a road there is very little traffic. We counted 7 cars in three days. Lots of space if you have a large group. Note that the 30amp power box is up by the road so you will need a long extension cord. We have one so no issues for us. Host was very prompt with answering our texts. We enjoyed watching the large cargo ships coming and going down the river. If you like to fish, this seems like it would be a good spot. We will definately be back and would recommend.
Recommends
· August 2026
Camping by the River
25 ft Class C
Camping on Nikki's land was just like being in a commercial for camping. It was picture perfect, but I got to live in the picture. We watched the fish jumping in the morning while the fog was rolling off the hilltop from the Oregon side. We sat drinking coffee watching the commercial and private boats drive past. I pulled out my binoculars and watched the birds soaring the sky and skimming the water. All we heard was nature's symphony; instead of, the hustle and bustle of a city. I would go back to in a heart beat. Thank you Nikki for sharing your little piece of heaven.
Recommends
· August 2026
32 ft travel trailer
Hidden Gem!
A great spot to spend the night on our roadtrip.
Mixed feelings
· July 2026
Mixed Review
20 ft travel trailer · Group trip
Though the view of the Columbia River was really nice for watching barges, cruise ships and all sorts of pleasure crafts, the site has its drawbacks.
We have a camper, so had a bathroom along with us. But the site has definitely been used by tenters and there is no portable toilet, so we imagine the surrounding woodsy area is a toilet.
Previous campers left beer cans and wire (hangar?) in the firepit. We removed them when we left. The HipCamp listing does say to pack out trash, but perhaps it needs to be emphasized.
Pros: nice privacy, large enough for a couple of campers. Enjoyed watching the steady boat traffic on the water. Very relaxing and easy to get to town. Not much road traffic as the site is right off the main road.
Cons: Huge electric tower on site. It did buzz but it wasn't very loud. Some campers may not like the sound or knowing they're so close to the tower.
We'll keep the site in mind going forward. The privacy was nice. And there was pretty good shade on a couple of very hot and humid days.
Recommends
· July 2026
Tent · Group trip
Our second time here and almost as good as it gets. The views are great and watching the sunset and the ships move up and down the river is serene. We were hoping to maybe see whales but weren't so lucky but we did see a number of another animals.
The only downside I think people should be aware of is that on the second night the tide rose the river up into the camp. We woke in the middle of the night to our camp under 2-3 inches of water. Luckily we had everything in waterproof totes and were able to relocate the batteries or it would have been a disaster. This never happened on any of the other times so I don't know how likely this is to happen.
In short, beautiful place but pay close attention to the tide charts/predictions.
Recommends
· July 2026
Tent · With pets
Beautiful site. Love watching the huge ships. Peaceful and relaxing.
Recommends
· June 2026
River View
19 ft rooftop tent · With pets
Nice spot right on the river all to yourself. Occasional traffic on the road but mostly quiet.
Recommends
· June 2026
23 ft travel trailer
Love this place , the view is amazing!! this is our second time there and won't be our last. We always have fun there.
Recommends
· June 2026
17 ft travel trailer · With pets
Great spot. Watching the ships sail by is awesome!
Mixed feelings
· June 2026
22 ft travel trailer
It’s a pretty spot! We just had bad luck with a deer washing ashore that my dog wouldn’t leave alone. I didn’t like that the in the morning it was super swampy and you couldn’t go out and walk around tell mid afternoon… later in the summer would be better! Great spot to watch the boats .
Recommends
· June 2026
21 ft Class B · With pets
We had a great night on the Columbia. Quiet and serene. We will come back!
Recommends
· May 2026
Beautiful spot on the river
25 ft travel trailer · With pets
Wonderful location! We really enjoyed watching the ships and boats go by. We felt like we were far from civilization and only had a few cars and bicycles pass the whole weekend. It was quite windy, to be expected on the river. We recommend checking tide charts and camping as high on the property as you can. We stayed dry but a loaded ship went by that caused waves that may have flooded us if it happened during high tide. And bring a long extension cord if you need power. Overall, absolutely beautiful spot!
Mixed feelings
· May 2026
Gorgeous site....for the summer
This is a gorgeous site. Watching the ships, excellent fishing spot, shady and roomy. The site is absolutely perfect.......in the summer.
Why only summer? Tides + high river levels from winter melt = overnight, your site will be under 2' - 3' of water. And for some extra fun, add 3 days of heavy rain/ intense squalls moving thru make it a bit....interesting. I thank the camping gods for our camper, power and stakes that held out outdoor mats in place.
We will definitely be back.....in the summer.
Recommends
· May 2026
30 ft travel trailer · With pets
Nikki's place on the river was exactly what I was looking for, private, quiet, and beautiful. Great views of the ships going by, saw bald eagles, seals, a couple otters, and some of the Columbia White Tailed deer.
Recommends
· April 2026
20 ft travel trailer
Great spot right on the river. Must be fully self sufficient but the quiet is well worth it!
Recommends
· April 2026
Loved watching the ships!
11 ft toy hauler · With pets
Really fun spot where you feel remote yet not too 'out there'! We had a blast watching the ships go by and tracking where they are off to while sitting by the fire. It's a quiet gem of a place we'd absolutely come back to and stay.
Definitely note the tides + time of year - we luckily moved our teardrop camper to the higher parking spot ... the whole site was under water at ~3am, so a tent might be in trouble in April.
Mixed feelings
· April 2026
26 ft travel trailer
This is a great site. plenty of room, access to the river. Great view. Lots of junk and garbage around the site. Rv parking is just off the road.
Not recommend
· April 2026
Safety at tide cycles
19 ft Class B · With pets
Great view unfortunately missed the message about high tide which completely floods the camp area all the way up to the street got us stuck in our camper van. Ended up having to get winched out so an inexpensive trip turned into a very expensive trip.
Recommends
· April 2026
Can’t get any closer to Columbia :)
19 ft Class B · With pets
Gorgeous spot, very private, right on the river. Plenty of big ship action. Room to play chuck-it with the pup. Do bring 100’ electric cord so you can park right by river and still reach the plug-in power which is up along the road.
Recommends
· March 2026
19 ft rooftop tent · With pets
This was a quiet solo site on the river. Lots of river traffic to watch for. The ships are up close. The sea lions were out. It was pretty windy when I arrived, but not unexpected. Just be prepared with extra tie downs.
Recommends
· October 2025
A beautiful spot!
20 ft travel trailer · With pets
A beautiful water side view. So fun to see the ships pass. Nice and private with only one spot. Plenty of space for our dogs to play.
Recommends
· October 2025
19 ft Class B · With pets
Really cool spot! Very private - we stayed on a Saturday and the entire time had maybe 3 cars drive pass by and there’s no other houses nearby or across the river so you truly feel private but safe. Beautiful surroundings and the site itself was spacious. Watching the ships pass by was the best part and I read some complaints about the tower but we thought it was cool and added to the unique vibe of the area. Would most definitely return!
Recommends
· October 2025
17 ft pop-up camper · With pets
This is our second stay. Very beautiful quiet spot by the river. No neighbors. Our Dog was happy to be off-leash. The host is very responsive.
Recommends
· September 2025
Columbia River Relax & Ships
Tent · With pets
Great location along the river. Boat watching was really fun. We had campfires each day which was awesome. The power tower was much closer to the site than was apparent from the ad but luckily it is mostly blocked by trees. Great that there is both sun and shade at the site. Not much nearby so plan ahead for supplies you will need. Overall a very good experience! Thanks!!
Recommends
· September 2025
20 ft pop-up camper · Group trip
Was the best place so far... be prepared for the wind with the changing tides. Was amazing to see all the ships and stern wheel. We had the best thunder and lightning show ever. Caught a few fish. We will be staying again next summer.
Recommends
· August 2025
23 ft travel trailer
Very relaxing place right on the river ,you have it all to yourself ,no close Neighbors. Bring an extra hundred foot of power cord so you can put your trailer down close to the water. We had a wonderful time!
Recommends
· August 2025
21 ft travel trailer
The site is very private and quiet. When you arrive you might think WTH, but there is a nice little camping area off to the side. We had no problem backing in an RV. Only complaint might be the mosquitos.
The nights were full of stars. So overall, a nice quiet spot and we enjoyed our stay.
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent · With kids
Absolutely LOVE this spt. The big ships are the best
Location
Cathlamet, Wahkiakum, Washington, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
N
Hosted by Nikki R.
Joined in November 2023Things to do nearby
Similar campgrounds nearby
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