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Decision guide · independent

Best federal campgrounds for hikers

Ranked by named hiking routes and peaks within ~4 miles (OpenStreetMap). Filtered to campgrounds with real trail signal (score ≥ 20: roughly one named hiking route, three peaks, or 100 mapped trails).

Hiking-route + peak score · national distribution
544 with score 20+
12345050100150200+

Ranked by named hiking routes and peaks within ~4 miles. Named routes weigh most, so backcountry trailheads beat city sidewalks.

  1. 01Chavez CrossingCoconino National Forest Recreation · AZ4262 score
  2. 02Crescent Moon RamadaCoconino National Forest Recreation · AZ3534 score
  3. 03Lake PowhatanNational Forests in North Carolina · NC1934 score
  4. 04Lake Powhatan GlampingNational Forests in North Carolina · NC1934 score
  5. 05Juniper Campground (NM)Bandelier National Monument · NM1678 score
  6. 06Dolly CoppWhite Mountain National Forest · NH1406 score
  7. 07Wash Creek Horse CampNational Forests in North Carolina · NC1355 score
  8. 08Denny Creek CampgroundMt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · WA1334 score
  9. 09Barnes Field CampgroundWhite Mountain National Forest · NH1278 score
  10. 10Moosalamoo CampgroundGreen Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests · VT1211 score
  11. 11Water Canyon CampgroundCibola National Forest and Grasslands · NM1200 score
  12. 12Sugar Bottom CampgroundCoralville Lake · IA1198 score
  13. 13Ponderosa Group Campground (NM)Bandelier National Monument · NM1166 score
  14. 14Poplar Grove Youth Group CampgroundCatoctin Mountain Park · MD1078 score
  15. 15Owens Creek CampgroundCatoctin Mountain Park · MD1070 score
  16. 16Camp Misty MountCatoctin Mountain Park · MD1030 score
  17. 17Camp Round MeadowCatoctin Mountain Park · MD1030 score
  18. 18Pumice Flat Group CampInyo National Forest · CA1006 score
  19. 19Manzanita.Coconino National Forest Recreation · AZ926 score
  20. 20Cedar Creek (Sam Tobias)Lincoln National Forest · NM902 score
  21. 21Hop Brook Lake Recreation AreaHop Brook Lake · CT878 score
  22. 22Sandy Beach CampCoralville Lake · IA870 score
  23. 23Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, CA)Inyo National Forest · CA870 score
  24. 24Cougar Rock CampgroundSAYMount Rainier National Park · WA838 score
  25. 25Cougar Rock Group CampgroundMount Rainier National Park · WA838 score
  26. 26Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family CampingSAYGeorge Washington & Jefferson National Forest · VA810 score
  27. 27Lower Pines CampgroundYosemite National Park · CA790 score
  28. 28Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA)Inyo National Forest · CA790 score
  29. 29Silver Springs CampgroundMt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · WA769 score
  30. 30Bosque CampgroundCibola National Forest and Grasslands · NM762 score
  31. 31Tinkham CampgroundMt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · WA759 score
  32. 32North Mills RiverNational Forests in North Carolina · NC751 score
  33. 33Red Creek CampgroundMonongahela National Forest · WV703 score
  34. 34Aquatic Park Cove, Black Point Overnight Anchoring, Sailing Vessels Only (Auxiliary Engine OK)San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park · CA702 score
  35. 35Black Mountain CampgroundNational Forests in North Carolina · NC701 score
  36. 36Briar Bottom Group CampgroundNational Forests in North Carolina · NC701 score
  37. 37Cayuse Horse CampOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA699 score
  38. 38Reef Townsite Group AreaCoronado National Forest · AZ695 score
  39. 39Little Elden Springs HorsecampCoconino National Forest Recreation · AZ694 score
  40. 40Fourth Of July CampgroundCibola National Forest and Grasslands · NM690 score
  41. 41Agnew Horse CampInyo National Forest · CA683 score
  42. 42Red Mountain CampgroundOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA682 score
  43. 43Twin Lakes CampgroundSAYInyo National Forest · CA678 score
  44. 44Tailwater West CampgroundCoralville Lake · IA678 score
  45. 45Cottonwood Campground (IA)Coralville Lake · IA678 score
  46. 46Salmon LA SacSAYOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA675 score
  47. 47Mathews Arm CampgroundSAYShenandoah National Park · VA670 score
  48. 48Lake Mary CampgroundInyo National Forest · CA662 score
  49. 49Summit Lake SouthLassen Volcanic National Park · CA658 score
  50. 50Sherando Lake Group CampGeorge Washington & Jefferson National Forest · VA645 score
  51. 51Spruce Knob LakeMonongahela National Forest · WV642 score
  52. 52Chatter Creek Group SiteOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA636 score
  53. 53Lodgepole Campground-Sequoia And Kings Canyon National ParkSAYSequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · CA611 score
  54. 54Cove Creek Lower Group CampNational Forests in North Carolina · NC598 score
  55. 55Cove Creek Upper Group CampNational Forests in North Carolina · NC598 score
  56. 56Silver Fir CampgroundMt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · WA596 score
  57. 57Upper Twilight Group SiteCoronado National Forest · AZ590 score
  58. 58Lower Twilight Group SiteCoronado National Forest · AZ590 score
  59. 59Upper ArcadiaCoronado National Forest · AZ589 score
  60. 60Summit Lake NorthLassen Volcanic National Park · CA584 score
  61. 61Cle Elum River Group SiteOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA583 score
  62. 62Appalachian ClubhouseGreat Smoky Mountains National Park · TN582 score
  63. 63Treasure Park - NorthCoronado National Forest · AZ576 score
  64. 64Treasure Park - EastCoronado National Forest · AZ576 score
  65. 65Upper Hospital Flat Group SiteCoronado National Forest · AZ576 score
  66. 66Spence CabinGreat Smoky Mountains National Park · TN575 score
  67. 67Summit Lake Stock CorralLassen Volcanic National Park · CA574 score
  68. 68Loft Mountain CampgroundSAYShenandoah National Park · VA568 score
  69. 69Elkmont Group CampGreat Smoky Mountains National Park · TN566 score
  70. 70Govt Mineral Springs Guard StaGifford Pinchot National Forest · WA559 score
  71. 71Cottonwood CabinOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA556 score
  72. 72Mineral Springs GroupOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA549 score
  73. 73Wolf Ford Horse CampNational Forests in North Carolina · NC548 score
  74. 74Middle Fork CampgroundMt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · WA534 score
  75. 75Teanaway Guard StationOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA533 score
  76. 76KachessSAYOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA528 score
  77. 77Gatewood GroupMonongahela National Forest · WV523 score
  78. 78Palisades Group CampgroundInyo National Forest · CA522 score
  79. 79West Overlook CampgroundCoralville Lake · IA518 score
  80. 80Chilhowee CampgroundCherokee National Forest · TN508 score
  81. 81Chilhowee Group CampCherokee National Forest · TN508 score
  82. 82North Rim Campground (AZ)Grand Canyon National Park · AZ506 score
  83. 83South Campground (UT)Zion National Park · UT502 score
  84. 84Coal Creek Group CampMt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · WA479 score
  85. 85Takhlakh Lake Campground Gifford Pinchot National Forest · WA476 score
  86. 86The Dalles CampgroundMt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · WA474 score
  87. 87Parksville Lake RV CampgroundCherokee National Forest · TN473 score
  88. 88MolinoCoronado National Forest · AZ470 score
  89. 89Snow Peak CabinColville National Forest · WA468 score
  90. 90West Thompson Lake CampgroundWest Thompson Lake · CT462 score
  91. 91Black Canyon Campground - LowerGila National Forest · NM459 score
  92. 92Black Canyon Campground - UpperGila National Forest · NM459 score
  93. 93Carolina Hemlocks Rec AreaNational Forests in North Carolina · NC454 score
  94. 94Forks CampgroundGila National Forest · NM452 score
  95. 95Adams Fork CampgroundGifford Pinchot National Forest · WA451 score
  96. 96Waterville CampgroundWhite Mountain National Forest · NH446 score
  97. 97Grouse Creek Group SiteOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · WA442 score
  98. 98Iron Ridge - Lake VesuviusWayne National Forest · OH439 score
  99. 99Linder Point CampgroundCoralville Lake · IA438 score
  100. 100Oak Hill - Lake VesuviusWayne National Forest · OH438 score

Showing top 100 of 2,428 matches. Tighten the filters above or pick a state to narrow.

Ranked from RIDB site data and OpenStreetMap. The plate above shows the metric across the whole national catalog, the bar in the right tail is the answer zone. We don't take bookings or paid placements, so the order reflects the data, not who paid.