Olympic Gateway RV Site: Private | Easy US 101 Access | Creekside trail

Highlights:
-- Easy on/off from US 101 at SR 3 (Shelton)
-- Pull-in / Back-out RV Site
-- Can accommodate RV lengths up to 55' (tow vehicle included)
-- Single site – no RV neighbors
-- Utilities provided: electricity (30- and 15-amp), filtered water, internet
-- Public RV dump site at Potlatch State Park - 14 miles
-- Pet-friendly
-- Picnic table – propane stoves welcome
-- Stone firepit with half-moon seating
-- Creekside deck at the outlet of Lake Isabella – private, no neighbors
-- Kayak/canoe to Lake Isabella (access also from the nearby WDFW boat launch)

Detailed Summary:
17 mins to Hood Canal, 30 mins to Lake Cushman, 50 mins to the Staircase Entrance of Olympic National Park (33 miles). Perfect location for setting up camp with your RV, then taking your car up into the Olympics. Looking for dog-friendly hikes? Several Olympic National Forest and Skokomish Wilderness trails can be accessed from Lake Cushman, including Mt. Ellinor, Mt. Rose, and Mt. Washington.

When returning to camp, enjoy what our 11-acre property has to offer. A trailhead departs the RV site, entering the forest and quickly intersecting the property-wide trail system. Following the signs beckoning you to the shores of Mill Creek, you will pass through upland wetland buffer consisting of Doug Fir, Grand Fir, Western Red Cedar, Hemlock, Alder, and ferns before plunging into the wetland itself, demarcated by sedge grasses, Oregon Ash, and Red Osier Dogwood. If you pause along the trail, wildlife will begin stirring from their hiding places. Song birds, rabbits, deer, voles – yes. But also river otters, beavers, ducks, owls, and coyotes -- with mountain lions possible and rumors of the occasional black bear across the creek. Our property is the southernmost residential property, abutting hundreds of acres of conservation land surrounding the outlet of Lake Isabella, which gives rise to Mill Creek and supports seasonal salmon runs. The lower stretches of the trail are historic to the property, and if you look carefully you will find remnants of fallen barbed wire fences, an abandoned electrical post from nearly 70 years ago, and a 1960’s sedan, all taken back by the forest and required to remain in the protected wetlands.

A permitted wetland boardwalk ushers you to a private creek-side deck where Mill Creek emerges from Lake Isabella. A birdwatcher's paradise, from here you can kayak into Lake Isabella or tube downstream. This is private access -- the expansive wetlands prevent neighbors along this stretch of creek and the northern reaches of the lake. You will only share this special space with the occasional kayaker passing by. There is a beaver dam just upstream, and if you remain by the creek at twilight you will hear them stir from dens along the bank. Kayakers can usually pick their way over the beaver dam. There is easier access to the lake 1.5 miles away via a WDFW public boat launch, though the benefit to launching from our shoreline is access to a stretch of the creek and lake filled with Spatterdock Lily and rarely seen by man.

When hunger stirs you from your creek-side paradise, gather picnic supplies and stroll northward along the trail system to a secluded upland clearing. Here you will find a table underneath a multi-trunked Big Leaf Maple where you can dine surrounded by birds, woodland creatures, and the occasional curious owl.

Back at the RV site, there is a picnic table for outdoor cookouts (propane stoves are permissible) and a wicker patio set with seating for 6. A power stand at the site provides a 30 amp receptacle, a regular 15-amp receptacle, filtered potable water ready for direct connection to your RV (we have heating cables for the winter), and fiber internet. Most cell carriers have good service in the area, as well. We do not have sewer hookups; however, a public dump site is located at Potlatch State Park 14 miles away and at many of the state's rest areas. Immediately across the driveway sits a 50" circle propane fire pit with two half-moon stone seating areas, perfect for roasting S'mores or gazing at the stars in a region remote from city lights.

With just a single RV site, the nearest neighbor several acres away, and only State and County land between the property and Hwy 101, you can expect a private stay in a forested setting with easy freeway access on one side and an idyllic private creek side nature preserve on the other. We welcome you to the beauty of Washington's Olympic Peninsula.

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Key Notes:

Parking: We can accommodate only 1 RV, but you may bring multiple passenger vehicles for travelling up into the mountains. The RV and all passenger vehicles must fit within the 15'x65' parking pad of the RV site -- no vehicle may park along other portions of the driveway, as that would block passage for staff and for guests at the rental cottage. Vehicles may not park in the meadow or on the landscaping, and the road adjacent to the property has no shoulder. Please plan accordingly -- 15' x 65' is a large space.

No Tents, Camping, or Sleeping in Cars [exception: vehicles outfitted with dedicated sleeping units]: Under Mason County ordinance, we are only permitted to rent to a single RV per night. We are not permitted to operate a campground. This means we cannot allow tents, camping, or sleeping in cars -- all guests need to sleep in the RV or a dedicated sleeping unit which affixes to a vehicle.

Pets: Pets are permitted to be off-leash, but please keep the following in mind: 1.) unsupervised pets could make their way through the narrow strip of forest and onto US 101; 2.) do not allow pets to approach neighbors walking down the street given the possibility of a negative interaction – not all neighborhood pets are friendly; 3.) please keep pets away from our offices and the rental cottage for similar privacy reasons -- the area surrounding the RV site is over 1/2 acre and should provide ample room; 4.) do not allow pets to harass wildlife; 5.) pets may not enter the wetland during the spring (nesting) and must be on leash and on-trail in the wetland at all other times.

Noise: Quiet hours are 11 pm to 6am, though quiet is relative out here. Generally, if you keep noise at reasonable levels, sound should not travel far enough to be heard by neighbors. Realistically, noise is only likely to be heard by us and we are not easily bothered. In the rare event we find something too noisy, we will politely let you know.

Wetlands: The wetlands on the property are gorgeous, but they are also critical for maintaining water quality and protecting the shellfish industry. Accordingly, they are protected by law and there are restrictions on use. Access may only be via the trail; no off-trail use is permitted. Hand-launched non-motorized vessels (eg, kayaks and canoes) can be launched into Mill Creek, but use of the shoreline must be gentle. We are not permitted to perform maintenance within the wetland other than to clear blow downs from the trail. They are to be kept in a wild state. Therefore, entrance into the wetlands carries inherent risk. This can include, but is not limited to: 1.) slip and falls from natural, uneven terrain, 2.) trees falling, particularly during wind events, 3.) drowning, 4.) dangerous wildlife encounters, etc. Entrance into the wetlands is done at your own risk and you should behave as you would on any wilderness trail. Look up as well as around you for any possible dangers. Do not enter the forest if conditions are unsound, such as during winds or rainstorms. Be on the lookout for wildlife. We frequently encounter beavers, otters, deer, rabbits, voles, birds, and other common wildlife. There is some potential for mountain lions and bears, as the property does connect through conservation lands and the lake to larger tracts of forest land and, ultimately, the Olympics. Accordingly, we expressly waive all liability for personal injury occurring within the wetland. By entering into the wetland, you assume all risk, take full responsibility, and waive any claims of personal injury, death, or damage to personal property occurring within the wetland.

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Location

Shelton, Washington

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