Elfendahl Forest

Wow, this place felt like home away from home. Gracious host, welcoming enviroment, just all around a great time. So many things for the kiddos to do that can fit every personality. The sweet doggies that live on the land absolutely are so friendly and curious and add to the greatness of this place. The added touches of comfort camping, things you might have forgotten, they probably have it for you. I can’t wait to come back again!

Megan G.

2 reviews

Recommends

· June 2025

I'll be back!

Tent ·

I loved tent camping at Elfendahl! When I come back, I hope to stay in the bus or the Lotus tent. It's a super peaceful, off-the-grid, friendly more than a campsite. Everything is there for you in the community outdoor kitchen and there's an amazing private outdoor shower and of course a compost toilet. Dog and kid friendly! Gary is a super gracious host as is Candy. And Bacchus is the coolest dog ever. It's near Tahuya ORV park, which is where I like to ride my dirt bike so it was the perfect place to stay. I'll be back! I've already told so many friends about this spot. It's even better than the pictures suggest!

Teri B.

1 month on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Tent Camping with kids and dog

Tent · With pets ·

This is a very unique camping property and one I would highly recommend for anyone wanting something unique, off grid, and especially families. Gary is an exceptional host and was so friendly and helpful and kind. His property is amazing, truly. My kids were so enthralled with the property, it was a serious adventure land for them. My daughter was obsessed with the two rabbits while my son absolutely loved all the games to play, especially the axe and knife throwing. The activities could cover all children toddler age up to teenagers. Gary's outdoor kitchen is fabulous and had everything we needed and was just so cool to cook in. The shower, although I was hesitant at first as I don't like to be cold, was the ultimate treat. First time using an environmentally friendly outhouse and absolutely love the concept over the smelly, disgusting blue liquid kind. We camped in a tent but both the hurts and Magic bus looked amazing. Our camp site was secluded enough to play our music, set up chairs or sit around our private bonfire area with built-in seats, to fully enjoy our time together. Unfortunately, the cold and heavy rainy weather dampened our spirits and everything else, tent included, and we chose to pack up a night early and end our trip which saddened all of us. Gary's large German Shepherd might look intimidating at first but was the nicest, gentle giant we have ever encountered and we wanted to take him home with us. Staff were all welcoming and friendly.

Allison M.

1 month on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Awesome

With pets ·

This little gem property is a one of a kind. Gary has thought of everything and is an amazing host. We learned so much about being off grid and still living very comfortable. It was cute and whimsical, and there were a few fabulous dogs keeping us company. This wonderful place is not for someone who needs city life - we would definitely come again. Thanks for the hospitality.

Jaylene B.

2 reviews

Recommends

· March 2025

Gary was a really great host! Even though it wasnt summer or spring, the Wanderbus made this an exceptional place during the more colder and rainier months of the year! We appreciated the warm comfort the bus provided, and we felt it was a home away from home! The place was indeed magical, we could tell that much effort was put into it! We made our meals in the bus kitchennette with ambient rain in the background. The bus also holds several card/board games which provided us entertaining nights to end on! Overall cant recommend this place enough!

Vince D.

9 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2025

Amazing Place!

Gary was a wonderful host! To sum it up, this place has charm, whismsy, and love all poured into it. The wanderbus was a beautiful and comfortable place that had everything we needed. From blankets, spices for our food, lights, a heater to keep us warm, and a comfortable bed that gave us our needed rest! Beyond that, the campsite was also great! The communal kitchen, shower, and other fun amendities was a nice addition! I think in Spring this place would even be more lovely, and less muddy overall! The rain and cold weather brought ambience which was much appreciated. I can't recommend this site enough, and make sure to say hi to Bokas and Sunny!! Lovely dogs :)

Lilly U.

9 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2025

Highly recommend

With pets ·

Came for a birthday weekend. Had a wonderful time. Gary put together a very unique and thoughtful space. The amenities were very nice and useful. Could not recommend more. Very good vibes!

Hannah W.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2024

Tent · Group trip ·

Gary and hos dogs were super friendly and hospitable, my friends and I has an awesome time camping and exploring the space.

Felix R.

2 reviews

Recommends

· October 2024

With kids ·

We had such a wonderful time at Elfendahl forest! We came on a very rainy weekend but with the covered kitchen, hot water to wash dishes, and propane covered fire pits the rain was only a slight nuisance. Gary was wonderful and he and his staff checked on us often and even had the propane heaters warming up the bus and lotus tent right before our arrival. The kids had fun playing in the rain and loved the zipline! When they needed a break from the rain there was plenty of room for them in the lotus tent to play board games and jump around. Oh, and the toilets were so clean and much better than regular outhouses! One of my favorite moments was sitting under all the colorful umbrellas with a fire going, listening to the rain and reading my book while the kids played. We will definitely be back!

Penny F.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

Perfect Site!

Tent ·

Wow! The amount of time that Gary has put into his property is truly magical. The campsite was clean and offered a lot of extracurricular activities. There's a small walking loop, community kitchen (with EVERYTHING you could need for cooking!), axe/knife throwing, a kids play area with small zipline, bunnies, chickens, community garden, shower, compost toilet...and more! We were able to place a 6 person tent & a canopy on the campsite with some space to spare for a chair. Gary made us feel extremely welcomed and was quick to answer any questions we had. He stays on-site so he was easy to find/reach. There is no parking next to the campsite but there were wheelbarrows available to get your stuff moved from the car to the site. The campsite itself is about a 10-15 minute drive from Belfair. Be prepared for a heavily graveled drive before you get to the property - about 3-3.5 miles! We adored all the special artistic flares that Gary has implemented into his property and definitely plan on returning next year, the site was so unique and special. Gary even has 2 dogs and 2 cats that patrol the grounds. Very sweet and very loving! What a perfect weekend! :)

Samantha B.

10 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

Such a cool place!

With pets ·

My family and I loved connecting with nature here at this magical forest getaway. Amazing place for dogs! A cute trail to walk on and the artistic touches everywhere made it pretty incredible. The lotus tent was very clean and comfy bed. Couldn’t ask for more and will be back. Gary is super nice and provides everything you can think of for comfort. Loved it!

Michelle N.

2 reviews

Recommends

· September 2024

We loved staying in the magic schoolbus!!! The property is great, there are so many amenities with the outdoor kitchen and delightful common areas and artwork. The bus is clean and comfortable. We went down to gather clams and oysters in the hood canal and cooked them in the big kitchen which has everything we could possibly want! We were very impressed with the whole space. Thank you, Gary!

Grace W.

4 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

Loved the whimsical space!

Such a unique space! We stayed at the Lotus tent which came with its own propane fire pit, composting bathroom, kitchenette with a stove and oven, and several chairs. Everything was so comfortable and very clean. The owner is very kind and helpful. He is onsite and available for anything you might need. He has a super sweet and very well behaved German shepherd our dog enjoyed playing with. Our space felt private and quiet, and we enjoyed taking walks on the property during the day. Seems like a great space for kids too. Most of the time we played card games at our site around the fire pit as the vibe of the place was just so peaceful it really felt like you could just unwind there. The fairy garden / whimsical theme of the property is very enchanting. Would definitely recommend!

Zoe D.

2 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

With kids ·

Beautiful place and gracious host. We had a great time. Plenty of stuff to explore especially for our 8 year old. All amenities as described. Clean and spacious. Recommended for a glamping experience.

David D.

3 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

My family had a great time at the Elfendahl forest. Gary was a great host. The camp site had all the amenities: lotus tent, king size bed with comfortable bedding, propane heater, camp kitchen with stove and oven and everything we needed to cook with. It took a lot it stress and prep out of the camping trip. The kids are was amazing. Lots of things for our kiddos to do. They are ages 5 and 3 and they had so much fun playing on the swings and obstacle course, zip line, and seeing the bunnies and chickens. It was so refreshing being off the grid for a few days. Thank you Gary for such an amazing trip!

Kaelyn B.

2 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

Tent · With kids ·

This was such a fun campsite with so much to see and do! Every time I walked around I found new artwork or a new woodland scene I had previously looked over. The off grid features were phenomenal and the whole camp set us was great. The host and staff were so helpful and friendly! It is definitely on the list to visit again.

Lindsey E.

2 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

Magical whimsy in the forest

With kids ·

Our time at Gary’s land was magical. From the little fairy statues in the moss to the sea of hanging umbrellas, the whimsy just kept going. There was even a great little playground for my kiddo, two bunnies to pet, a couple sweet dogs to cuddle, and the tent was super comfortable. Gary was welcoming and gracious as a host and dealt with our showing up quite late by putting up an extra sign to direct us. The shower was a little tricky for me to get the temp right but that’s most likely a me problem. We will definitely be back! My son adored it.

Moriah G.

10 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

With kids ·

Gary is a great host and has done a great job making his land fun. We were amazed at the amenities- play area, kitchen/common area, trail- as well as his imaginative staging and decorations. There are many hidden treasures to be seen. We'll definitely return and highly recommend it.

Tim M.

4 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

Tent · With pets ·

We really enjoyed our stay. Nice set up and host was very nice. Very quiet at night. Our 9 year old would rate it a 10/10.

Dominique H.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2024

So much fun!

Tent · With pets ·

One of the most enchanting and fun experiences we’ve had! A delightful, whimsical and beautiful setting for children the the inner child in all of us. Gary is a wonderful and attentive host, we’ll definitely be back.

David S.

9 reviews

Recommends

· July 2024

So different...

With kids ·

The property is in a nice wooded area, well off the beaten path -- 3 1/2 miles off a gravel road in an already rural area. The campground itself is pretty unique. It only has a few "sites" and there was only 2 other people there the days we visited. The place is definitely a vibe -- part off grid living, part art installation with some upcycle whimsy hippy fairy garden. The lotus tent and main kitchen areas were great. The other areas looked like they were still under development. Still, great spot and would be really unique for larger groups (10 people or so...on multiple sites) The compost toilet buckets might be a bridge too far for some. But "Loo-ie 1 and 2" were fine for our short stay.

Aaron A.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2024

Whimsy woods

Tent ·

Right off the bat the staff were very friendly and welcoming. Gary has done an amazing job coverting the grounds into a magical and comfy get away. The art and installations throughout the walkways added a whimsical and breathtaking addition to the natural beauty of the woods. We had a blast cooking in the outdoor kitchen, they had everything you could ever need! Dishes, pots and pans, spices. You name it. The dogs on the grounds were so well behaved and we had alot of fun playing fetch. They made us feel safe knowing they were around. Highly recommend anyone spend a couple nights out there, you won't want to leave.

Allison K.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2024

Tent · Group trip ·

We stayed in our tent on Gary's land. This was such a quiet peaceful place to spend some time. I really enjoyed using the communal kitchen, talking with Gary, and experiencing all the art installations in the woods.

Jennifer C.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2024

An Absolute Delight

With kids ·

I stayed in the bus with my children (4 and 6). The accommodations were comfortable. The composting toilet enclosure is immediately adjacent to the bus and was clean and not intimidating for the children to use. The children’s play area was a big hit with my 6yo’s favorite being the zip line and my 4yo’s favorites being the dress ups and the fairy gardens. Both children also enjoyed the xylophone and drum which are positioned near the outdoor kitchen. We didn’t use the outdoor kitchen or outdoor shower; however both appeared clean, inviting, and well stocked. Gary was available and a very friendly and engaging host. He recommended nearby Don Lake as a good swimming spot for young children, which it absolutely was. The entire area is whimsical and obviously curated with a lot of love and attention to detail. I’ve already recommended this site to others as a fantastic example of mostly off-grid living, and my little ones can’t wait to come back again soon. Thank you!

Stacy C.

6 reviews

Recommends

· July 2024

With pets ·

Gary was very welcoming and the area is quiet and relaxing. We enjoyed our night here!

Jeff W.

2 reviews

Recommends

· June 2024

Gary and staff were super kind and helpful. A great deal of thought and attention has created a peaceful and fun place to stay. We will definitely keep this location in mind for future visits.

Kristel A.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2024

With pets ·

Gary’s Elfendhal forest is a magical off-grid nature oasis with many accommodations options for guests! Gary is super friendly & helpful. The Lotus Tent was spacious & comfortable. The camp kitchens are well appointed & have everything you need. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique & eclectic camping experience!

Shawn D.

3 reviews

Recommends

· June 2024

Tent · With kids ·

The campsite was perfect and the kitchen had everything and more.

Christopher G.

1 year on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· June 2024

Stay

Tent · With pets ·

Answer or return messages I called twice and texted

Jedediah R.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2024

Magical

With kids ·