Dougan Creek Campground is a riverside camping area on Washougal River Road in Washougal, Washington, listed in the source data as a campground with a visitor rating of 4.5 from 168 reviews. It sits close to Dougan Falls on the Washougal River, and the reviews collected here describe a small, first-come, first-served spot that people visit for swimming, short family outings and quiet nights by a fire.
The feedback spans several years and is not uniform. Most reviewers describe clean sites, friendly camp hosts and beautiful water, while one longer review describes neglected campsites, messy vault toilets and traffic through the night. Both sides are worth reading before deciding whether to make the drive.
Dougan Creek Campground at a Glance
The campground is located at 17531 Washougal River Rd in Washougal, WA 98671, and it is listed simply as a Campground category, with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources website at dnr.wa.gov given as the official web presence alongside a phone number, +1 360-577-2025. There is no price level recorded in the source listing, and reviewers describe using a Washington Discover Pass rather than paying a nightly fee.
According to the listed attributes, the site allows RV camping, permits dogs, and offers on-site parking. Accessibility features include a wheelchair-accessible car park and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. The facilities notes list public toilets and tent sites, while stating that there is no water in the restroom, no power outlet and no internet access, and that payments are cash only where a fee applies. Reviewers add context to those notes: several mention there being no cell service, and one describes roughly eight to ten sites ranging from small pitches to spaces that can take trailers, boats and RVs.
What Do Visitors Like About Dougan Creek Campground?
Across the reviews gathered here, the dominant tone is positive. Reviewers most often praise the river and falls, the cleanliness of the sites under a camp host, and the fact that camping is free with a Discover Pass. Several describe arriving early because the campground and the swimming areas fill quickly, especially on warm weekends and through the summer.
Not every account is glowing. One reviewer rated the campground one star, describing trashed campsites, poorly kept vault toilets and vehicles passing through at all hours. Others who rated it highly still note crowding, and one mentioned being unable to get a spot at all in peak season. The overall picture is of a well-loved, busy and minimally serviced riverside campground whose condition has varied over time and with host presence.
1. Camp hosts shape the experience
Camp hosts appear repeatedly in the reviews, and they are usually credited with keeping the place tidy. David Wingham wrote that a new host named Gary had done a great job keeping the place tidy, and John Harbaugh also described the campground as beautiful and clean under Gary's supervision. Earlier reviews name two other hosts: Katrina Romero called host Ed incredibly welcoming and friendly, and Loren Ahrens described hosts Ed and Wanda as the best.
Host presence has not been constant. Isaiah Santos noted that a camp host had left at the time of writing, and Casey Harris argued the campground needed a camp host, describing the site as disgusting during that period. More recently, Michael King wrote that a camp host was back again. The variation in guest experience tracks fairly closely with whether a host was on site.
2. The river and falls are the main attraction
Most reviewers come for the water. John Harbaugh called the falls and riverside views breathtaking, and Isaiah Santos described the river as amazing with plenty of fun to be had down there. David Wingham mentioned swimming even when it was not sunny enough to properly enjoy the waterfalls.
Several reviewers focus on the swimming itself. Loren Ahrens wrote that if you like swimming Washington rivers, this is the place, and noted many swimming holes, suggesting people walk up or down river if they want to avoid crowds. George K described clean, cool and refreshing stream water with some deeper parts of the river where children can jump in. Jonathan Rader simply called it a great place to swim and hang out with the kids.
3. Free access with a Discover Pass
A recurring point is cost. Katrina Romero described it as free, first-come, first-served camping with a Discover Pass, and Jessica Eaker likewise called it a free campsite if you have a Discovery Pass. Sonny Rae repeated that it is free with a WA Discovery Pass, and the source listing records no price level for the campground.
The same reviewers stress that nothing is reserved. Katrina Romero described it as first come, first served, Guinevere Vickers said the same, and several reviewers advise arriving early because the campground fills quickly.
4. Timing matters: summer is busy
Crowding is the most common caveat in the reviews. Jonathan Rader warned that on warm summer weekends it gets super busy and advised getting there early. Jaymie Belknap wrote that camping spots fill fast and that the creek and falls are very busy even on weekdays, suggesting an early start for anyone wanting a good spot by the water.
Loren Ahrens put a number on it, recommending arriving by Wednesday during the summer because the place fills up quickly. Katrina Romero described summer as nearly impossible for getting a spot but well worth trying, and recalled that in mid fall only one other campsite was occupied. There is also a seasonal note worth flagging: David Wingham visited just before the campground closed for the winter, while Katrina Romero described it as open year round — the source data does not settle which is currently correct.
5. Site sizes and what fits
The campground is small. Isaiah Santos counted about ten camping spots ranging from small to big, with some able to take trailers, boats and RVs, and Sonny Rae estimated around eight sites. Loren Ahrens described large campsites nestled in the trees so you do not really see your neighbours.
That matches the listed attributes, which allow RV camping and include tent sites. Loren Ahrens also noted that the campground sits just enough off the main roads to feel far out while still having other people around, which some visitors read as a safety plus.
6. Cleanliness, quiet and road traffic
Reports on cleanliness diverge. Eliana described the campsites as very clean and the camp manager as kind and helpful, and David Wingham praised the tidiness of the site. Casey Harris, however, wrote that the place probably was great at one time, that it needed a camp host, that sites had been left trashed and that the vault toilets were trashed.
The same one-star review raised noise and security concerns, describing the road being used around the clock rather than being limited after 8pm, people driving through and shining lights on a tent at night, and discomfort at leaving the site to go down to the water. Other reviewers do not repeat those complaints, but they are part of the record for anyone planning a stay.