Washington Hiker/Biker Campsites?

[BikingBrian]

I've cycled the Oregon and California coasts and found the hiker/biker sites to be cheap and plentiful. Next on tap is Washington. I found this link which shows that they're aren't many hiker/biker sites on the Olympic Peninsula route.

http://www.bikingbis.com/2014/02/19/washington-state-lists-parks-with-bikehike-campsites/

But the end of that link says, "Although Washington state doesn’t have such an official policy, I was assured by a parks customer service specialist several years ago that “they would do their best not to turn away any camper arriving under their own power (hiking or biking) but would find a site even if it was just for the night.”" Is that the collective experience of the group here?

[staehpj1]

I only was in that situation once there, but yes they squeezed me in next to the bathrooms.

[BikingBrian]

I only was in that situation once there, but yes they squeezed me in next to the bathrooms.

That wouldn't be any worse than some of the "normal" hiker/biker sites in Southern California! 

[staehpj1]

I only was in that situation once there, but yes they squeezed me in next to the bathrooms.

That wouldn't be any worse than some of the "normal" hiker/biker sites in Southern California! 

It wasn't bad at all really.  I was happy to have a spot.

[adventurepdx]

I found this link which shows that they're aren't many hiker/biker sites on the Olympic Peninsula route.
http://www.bikingbis.com/2014/02/19/washington-state-lists-parks-with-bikehike-campsites/

Two things here:
First, that map on the link isn't accurate, and it is missing some hiker/biker state parks. For example, it doesn't list Cape Disappointment, the most SW park on the Pacific Coast. And I know for sure there is a hiker/biker site there. It also doesn't list Beacon Rock in the Columbia Gorge.

Secondly, pretty much all the state parks on the coast are located south of the Olympic Peninsula. On the peninsula itself (at least the west side), there is only one state park between Grays Harbor and Port Angeles: Bogachiel. What you're going to be more concerned with here is the other campground operators: Olympic National Park, the Olympic National Forest, and the other operators. Olympic NP doesn't have hiker/biker sites (at least when I rode it 4 years ago), but park rangers managed to find me a camping spot when we ended up at full campgrounds. None of the spots were great, but serviceable.

[Guppy]

Slight seqway on this topic.  How were the hiker/biker sites in California from SF south to the border?  I've head that quite a few no longer have hiker/biker sites (eg South Carlsbad).

[cgarch]

Olympic NP doesn't have hiker/biker sites

We've only been to the NPS Olympic campground at Fairholm (or Fairholme) once (2009) but it did have specific HB sites [down a rather steep trail]. Nice too. Kalaloch does not. If you plan to visit Kalaloch before Labor day a reservation is highly recommended.

[adventurepdx]

We've only been to the NPS Olympic campground at Fairholm (or Fairholme) once (2009) but it did have specific HB sites [down a rather steep trail]. Nice too.

I went to Fairholm in 2010 and don't remember a hiker/biker, at least the Park staff didn't say anything about it. And the campground was full, so they set us up in a not-so-great spot near a service road.

[JHamelman]

Slight seqway on this topic.  How were the hiker/biker sites in California from SF south to the border?  I've head that quite a few no longer have hiker/biker sites (eg South Carlsbad).

From the Pacific Coast Section 5 addenda (http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/map-addenda/):

Some of the CA state parks have closed their hiker/biker sites due to vagrants. You can find a updated list of hiker/biker sites by searching "Activity/Facility" at this site: www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex/

Hope that helps.