Situated right across the river from Park Creek Campground and across the road from Swift Creek Campground in the Baker Lake National Recreation Area, this non-designated campsite is the perfect place for any large group looking to claim a spot suitable for up to 10 people. For last minute planners, this site is ideal; if you didn't plan in time to reserve one of the reservoir's designated group sites or you missed the opportunity to get into the area early enough to get one of the numerous non-designated campsites directly on Baker Lake (Primarily located between Swift Creek and Shannon Creek Campground), grabbing this site will be a relief.
The site itself has no amenities other than convenience and a large campfire ring, but nearby Swift Creek Campground compensates with its access to potable water, vault toilets, day use picnic and swimming area, a boat ramp, and moorage.
Baker Lake
Once a low-lying flat with a small lake, extremely dense old-growth and wetland marshes, Baker Lake was flooded and submerged by over 300 feet in 1959 with the construction of the Upper Baker Dam. Today, the elongated reservoir at the base of Mount Baker (10,781') and Mount Shuksan (9,131') is still luckily surrounded by magnificent old-growth conifer forest (dominated by Douglas fir, western redcedar and western hemlock) and measures roughly 9 miles in length.
Extremely popular among locals for its fishing and motorized boating, the National Recreation Area fills to capacity during the summer months, campsites can be difficult to claim at all 10 of the reservoirs established and reservable campgrounds, including (from north to south):
The reservoir also provides four additional boat/hike-in campgrounds/sites on its southeastern shore that are accessible by boat/kayak and the South Baker Lake Trail. From north to south:
- Noisy Creek Campsites
- Silver Creek Campsites
- Maple Grove Campsites
- Anderson Point Campsites
Fishing
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Baker Lake is
open to fishing from the 4th Saturday in April to October 31. Fishing in this Baker River reservoir (Baker Lake) can be excellent for kokanee in April, May, and June and again in the fall. There is a six-inch minimum, 18-inch maximum size limit on trout and kokanee. An expanding sockeye population may provide frequent fishing opportunities in the future. The duration and timing of the sockeye fishery varies with in-season abundance. Baker Lake is closed to the taking of bull trout/Dolly Varden. Additionally, a radius of 200 feet surrounding the pump discharge at the south end of the lake is closed to all fishing.
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