Upper Crystal Lake Camp campground
Upper Crystal Lake Camp
The nearby points of interest include the scenic Crystal Lake Trail, which is a great spot for hiking and birdwatching. Visitors can also explore the nearby Snoqualmie Pass and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area, which is home to beautiful alpine lakes, waterfalls, and hiking trails.
The campground amenities include potable water, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground is first-come, first-served with 15 campsites available. An interesting fact about the area is that it was once used as a logging camp in the early 1900s.
The best time to visit Upper Crystal Lake Camp is during the summer months (June to September) when the average temperature ranges from 60°F to 80°F. It is important to note that the campground is located at an elevation of 4,500 feet, so visitors should be prepared for cooler temperatures during the night.
What's on-site at Upper Crystal Lake Camp
Key facilities Snoflo tracks for this campground. Confirm with the operator before booking -- amenities can change seasonally.
Plan your trip down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max so trends jump out at a glance.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks. Hover any point for the full breakdown.
Other campgrounds in the area
Snoflo-tracked campsites within driving distance of Upper Crystal Lake Camp, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Crystal Lake Camp | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Sheep Lake Backcountry Camping | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Dick's Lake Camp | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Upper Palisades Lake Camp | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Deer Creek Camp | ✓ | ✗ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Upper Crystal Lake Camp -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| American River Near Nile | 206 cfs | → |
| Greenwater River At Greenwater | 122 cfs | → |
| Cowlitz River At Packwood | 1,380 cfs | → |
| White River Below Clearwater River Nr Buckley | 2,550 cfs | → |
| Puyallup River Near Electron | 547 cfs | → |
| Carbon River Near Fairfax | 377 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Upper Crystal Lake Camp -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nohrsc Morse Lake | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Crystal - Campbell Basin | 2.3 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Morse Lake | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Crystal Base | 0.3 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Cayuse Pass | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Crystal - Green Valley | 24.5 in | 0.0 in | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, boat launches, and paddle runs so a camping night can grow into a full weekend.
Parks
- Wilderness Norse Peak
- Wilderness Clearwater
- Mount Rainier National Park
- Wilderness William O. Douglas
- Wilderness Tatoosh
- Federation Forest State Park
Points of interest
- Clear Creek Overlook Interpretive Site
- Salmon Falls Interpretive Site
- Mather Memorial East Portal Information Site
Paddle runs
- Headwaters At American Lake To Confluence With Ranier Fork
- Confluence With Chinook Creek To Southern Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
- Headwaters On The Southeast Flank Of Mount Rainier At An Elevation Of 5500 Ft To Confluence With Chinook Creek
- Headwaters At The Terminus Of The Ingraham Glacier To Ends 1/4 Mile North Of Box Canyon
- Begins 1/4 Mile North Of Box Canyon To Ends 1/4 Mile South Of Box Canyon
- Begins 1/4 Mile South Of Box Canyon To Southern Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
Camping essentials & Leave No Trace
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Take all trash, food scraps, and gear back with you to keep campsites clean and protect wildlife.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe animals from a distance, store food securely, and never feed wildlife to maintain natural behavior and safety.
- Know before you go
- Check weather, fire restrictions, trail conditions, and permit requirements to ensure a safe and well-planned trip.
- Minimize campfire impact
- Use established fire rings, keep fires small, fully extinguish them, or opt for a camp stove when fires are restricted.
- Leave what you find
- Preserve natural and cultural features by avoiding removal of plants, rocks, artifacts, or other elements of the environment.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Upper Crystal Lake Camp as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Upper Crystal Lake Camp
Can I make reservations at Upper Crystal Lake Camp?
This campground does not appear to accept reservations -- it's typically first-come, first-served. Arrive early on summer weekends.
How fresh is the weather data on this page?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from the NOAA / yr.no public feeds. Streamflow data is pulled live from USGS streamgauges and snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation. For longer trips, the 5-day hourly meteogram shows snow + rain accumulation hour-by-hour.
How do I get to Upper Crystal Lake Camp?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the campground.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed through the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this campground, set a threshold (temperature, snowpack, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other campgrounds near here
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within driving distance of Upper Crystal Lake Camp.