Giant Crystal Retreat @ DragonsGate
Pitch your tent in the privacy of this quiet wilderness where the elk and the coyote play. This is a wildlife Sanctuary where we do not allow hunting. The wild animals here are so used to our presence that they often go about their daily life with little concern for us. We are treated to deer and elk wandering through the camping area. Get up quietly and you never know w
Pitch your tent in the privacy of this quiet wilderness where the elk and the coyote play. This is a wildlife Sanctuary where we do not allow hunting. The wild animals here are so used to our presence that they often go about their daily life with little concern for us. We are treated to deer and elk wandering through the camping area. Get up quietly and you never know who you might see in camp. Each camp site has its own stone circle firepit, with the exception of Site #5 and #6 which have a steel firepit.
The camp is a mile from the front residential area. The back one hundred acres are surrounded by forested lands with miles of trails to explore where it is rare to meet another person.
We are wild and woolly. We provide a place to experience nature as it simply is. We privilege pollinators above human aesthetics. Wildflowers abound, including various dandelions which many are edible and healing plants. We encourage converting from lawns to meadow lands being supportive of wild birds and insects. If you like it wild we are the place for you. This is not a resort or English style garden. Tall grass, wild flowers and trees fill the land around you to give you a feeling of full immersion in Nature.
The area has gently rolling hills filled with wildflowers during the earlier part of the Summer. Dragons Gate Gardens and Wilds has a hundred and twenty acres to explore. The Skookumchuck River is a little over a mile away where you can enjoy a waterfall and walk along the river with low bank where one can get into the water. Doing so is a great favorite of our guests.
There is a giant crystal housed in a gazebo that overlooks the surrounding fields and woods. Time to meditate with the giant crystal in the gazebo can be booked for the small fee of $50. for an hour.
Please note that check-in is from 2 pm until 8 pm. All members of the party must check-in at the front gate. It is required to check-in before going to your site. Parties arriving late will be charged a late fee of $25. for the first hour and an additional $50. for being over an hour late. We do not site campers after dark. (Our State Parks close their gates at dusk.) We also ask our campers to observe quiet time after 9 pm. It is important to be respectful of all, that includes the other campers.
When requesting to book please include whether you are bringing a trailer or RV and its length, how many cars, how many people, and how many dogs, so that I can better site you and your party.
The pool and Hot tub are closed until further notice. Updated 7/12/21
CLARIFICATION OF WHICH FEATURES ARE INCLUDED IN CAMPING FEES AND WHICH WERE ADDITIONAL EXTRAS:
In response to some guests complaints about the fees thinking they should be different because the water features are not being offered, when the pool and hot tub are available there are extra fees involved. They have never been included in the camping fees. The camping fees have been the same for the entire time I have been on Hipcamp which is four years now. If you feel for any reason that my fees are not in your budget we can recommend other sites.
Please let me know you've read this far by telling me how many smokers are in your group when you send your booking request.
- Check in: After 2PM
- Check out: Before 12PM
- Cancellation policy: Strict
- On arrival: Meet and greet
- Minimum nights: 1 night
- Accepts bookings: 12 months out
Activities
Offered on the Host's property or nearby.
Fishing
We are within walking distance of the Skookumchuck River. Where the private road crosses the river there is a deep hole favore...Read more
Horseback riding
Bring your horses and enjoy the vast miles of trails that lead off our property into forested lands stretching for miles.
Paddling
Many people like to float down the Skookumchuck River.
Swimming
Tenino Quarry Pool There’s nothing else like this anywhere! The Quarry Pool was originally a working sandstone quarry in the la...Read more
Wildlife watching
Wildlife watching is one of our greatest assets. You are visiting the wildlife living space. Wander it quietly or just relax ...Read more
Terrain
Natural features you'll find at Giant Crystal Retreat @ DragonsGate in Washington.
River, stream, or creek
The Skookumchuck River is within walking distance. It has areas favored for fishing and swimming.
Swimming hole
There are swimming holes along the Skookumchuck River.
Waterfall
There is a lovely waterfall at the very end of our road. It is beautiful to explore and walk along.
Farm
There are many farms in the valley which lends a beautiful landscape as you drive across the Skookumchuck Valley.
Places to see near Dragons' Gate Gardens & Wilds
73 Reviews
Very nice place to camp. It is primitive (Port-a-Pottie only) with picnic table and fire ring but presence of the elk and deer make up for the lack of shower facilities. Just a wonderful place with wonderful people.
Loved the environment, peaceful. It was only us out there so it was a great big camping space, didn’t feel crowded and felt remote. Very much enjoyed waking up to elk bugling. Will definitely stay here again!
Kathleen was so kind and welcoming, and her land is just beautiful! We had our first family camping trip in a new camping trailer and the kids had SO much fun exploring nature and discovering new plants and listening to the birds and making meals together. Our dogs had so much space to roam they ran for hours and they've been sleeping since we got home. As parents too it was nice to be able to let the kids roam around camp (they're 1 and 4) and not be worried about neighbors or cars etc. It's was a fantastic experience!
We are a group of adults who love to go camping at Dragons' Gate Gardens. This time we stayed at the Giant Crystal Retreat; it's a perfect spot for a medium to large group, and we love the privacy and natural beauty of the location. Kathleen is very attentive and kind, and takes good care, both of her land and her Hipcampers. Our campsite was freshly trimmed and set up for our arrival, and they even opened up the Giant Crystal gazebo for us to spend some time with this incredible crystal. We enjoyed a Beltane bonfire, stargazing, and sunbathing.
We always enjoy ourselves at Dragons' Gate and we're sure we'll be back. Thank you again, Kathleen!
Excellent and private location- enjoyed meditating and resting on deck surrounding the crystal. Kathleen was so accomodating and wonderful. Great place.
Very clean and nice place to stay. I would highly recommend. Would be great for large camping parties.
Our stay was extremely peaceful. We had the pleasure of being the only ones there for the weekend which made for a quiet and relaxing stay. Kathleen was so welcoming and kind and greeted us like a friend.
The property was lovely and spacious. I will definitely be returning here. The giant Crystal hut peaked my curiosity and I would love to know more about the history behind it. Overall, we had a lovely stay and could not get over how peaceful it was there. Thanks for the hospitality!
Awards
- Property
- Dragons' Gate Gardens & Wilds
- State
- Washington
- Country
- United States
- $55/night
- 5 Sites