Shadow Bay Campground (Waldo Lake)
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Shadow Bay Campground (Waldo Lake)
This 92-site campground is less busy than its neighboring campground, North Waldo , resulting in a quieter atmosphere. It is situated in a lower and wetter landscape than North Waldo and Islet Campground and supports thicker and more diverse groundcover and generally more mosquitoes earlier in the season, so come prepared June to mid-August. Garbage containers and gray water disposal areas are available at the campground. There are three areas of the campground that can be reserved as group sites. • Group Site B can accommodate 120 people and 19 vehicles. • Group Site C can accommodate 120 people and 17 vehicles. • Group Site E can accommodate 30 people and 5 vehicles. Hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers can traverse the Shoreline Trail to the historic South Waldo Shelter and then continue on the Jim Weaver Loop #3590 . Winding around to the west side of the lake, the public can catch glimpses of the lake through the high-elevation forest, or capture broad views of the High Cascades mountains from open viewpoints.
Before you go
Season
June – September
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Single Campsites - $29 per night • Multiple Campsites - $58 per night • Group Sites • Site B and C - $465 per night • Site E - $130 per night • Extra Vehicles - $10 per vehicle, per night • Day Use - $10 per vehicle, per day Campsite must be occupied every night paid and fees must be paid within 30 minutes of arrival. Campsite must be occupied every night paid, and fees must be paid within 30 minutes of arrival. Download the Recreation.gov mobile app prior to your trip so you can pay the overnight fee onsite with Scan and Pay .
Restrictions
Single campsite capacity: 6 persons, 2 vehicles, and 2 tents* • Multiple campsite capacity: 8 persons, 3 vehicles, and 3 tents* • See special regulations for Waldo Lake Area • Camping is not allowed more than 14 days in a 60 day period. • Check-in time: 2:00 pm or later. Check-out time: 1:00 pm • Use of chainsaws in the campground is prohibited • Dogs MUST be on leash at all times within the campground *Additional vehicles that cannot fit within the area of the parking spur must park in the boat launch parking area
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.