Open Year-round
No
Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
Yes
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The Lyre River Campground is located just off of the scenic Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway on the Lyre River. This quiet, little known campground is just the ticket for anyone looking for a less traffic on their visit to the Olympic Peninsula, or for those who simply can't find another campsite. This campground is run by Washington's Department of Natural Resources, and it is fairly straightforward in terms of amenities: Picnic tables and fire pits are at each site, and there is a vault toilet and a picnic shelter. There is no potable water here, nor are there any hookups, and all 11 sites are first-come, first-served. The sites are very well spaced, and the lush foliage that separates the sites helps to provide a sense of privacy in this small campground.

The beautiful Lyre River is a prominent plus for this campground, and there is a fishing platform to facilitate your search for steelhead in season. If you have the time, take a stroll on nearby Murdock Beach to look for agates among the rounded rocks (just make sure the tide is low), relax at Crescent Beach, or explore the bountiful tide pools at Tongue Point. Lyre River Campground is open and free year round with self registration.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

Washington Discovery Pass

Pros

Secluded campground. Large and private campsites.

Cons

Few amenities. Heavily shaded and often damp campsites.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

Features

Vault toilet
Picnic tables
Covered picnic areas
Family friendly
Potable water

Maximum trailer length

20.00 ft (6.10 m)

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

10/18/2016
Have stayed here several times. It's a beautiful little campground. Being free, it does attract the kids from Port Angeles for evening parties. Best to choose non-weekend, non-holiday times to be there. Then it's very peaceful and there are sites right on the Lyre River.
08/15/2014
The worst camping experience I have ever had. The campground is beautiful, but it's free, and that can mean trouble.
My husband and I got one of the last spots available in the campground on a Friday night. There was a burn ban at the time, so we had gone to bed not long after dark. Suddenly, at least half a dozen cars full of drunk high school kids pulled into and around our campsite (like IN our campsite, at our picnic table.) They proceeded to build a big fire (not in the fire pit) all the while hollering and screaming and throwing empty bottles, etc. My husband finally went out and told them to get the f*ck out! It took a while of him standing there (he is a big guy) before they packed up and left.
We also packed up and left first thing the next morning.
So if you are eyeing Lyre River or any other free campgrounds, proceed with caution.
08/02/2016
Have been to this campsite several times. It was nice and secluded. There were rainbow trout and steelhead in the river. Being close to the Straits, it can be a bit cool and damp in the mornings. This campground is managed by DNR and a Discover Pass is required for all use. Unfortunately; no firewood cutting is permitted even though there is an abundance of fallen limbs and trees. But there are several roadside firewood vendors near-by.
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