Tolt MacDonald Park, WA

What a beautiful place! The campground is in 500+ acre Tolt-McDonald Park, far enough away from any busy road so that there is no traffic noise, just the sound of the Tolt River rapids. All the RV sites are drive-through, with water and 20, 30, and 50-Amp service. (There is a privately-run RV dump on the way to the park.) The sites are wide because of the driveway. No trees between sites, but some bushes between sites offer some privacy for the back half of the sites. The 17 RV sites are around a huge lawn, with the restroom building at one end, and a path down the middle that is part of a long, level, paved bike/walking trail. There is a shower in each restroom, so the whole building is heated (which was really nice, since the lows were in the 30s in April, 2022) Access to both rivers is at the South end of the RV loop. There are tent-only sites to the North, and also yurts and more tent sites across a picturesque foot bridge over the Snoqualmie River. There are carts available to roll your stuff over the footbridge.

This place is great if you plan to spend most of your time on the river, or trails, but not so much on at your site.  The lots for most tents/trailers and RVs are pretty close together, not a ton of privacy.

On the plus side the river is beautiful, mostly slow, and shallow, and pretty clear.  BUT BRING A LIFE JACKET, accidents happen all the time on this river and I wouldn't put my kids in with out a life jacket. 

There are some cool yurts, cabins and platforms for tents on the other side of the river and plenty of hiking. Trails go along the water, and up into the woods behind the campground.  As of now it is clear cut once you get over the ridge.  This is sad in one breath, but gorgeous in very next.  There is wildlife in the area so come prepared (black bears, bobcats, coyotes). 

Overall a great place, but like most western Washington campgrounds it's better in good weather by a significant margin.  It may flood in the winter, and when it's rainy it's pretty soggy.

Carnation is a neat small town that the park is at the very edge of.  Plenty of options for groceries and laundry.

Campground Review:

This park is big, beautiful, and very family friendly. I've been camping in this park a few times and the only complaint I have during a high traffic weekend (like a music festival - TimberFest happens here yearly) is that there are not enough rest rooms! There are plenty of huge camping spots that include fire pits, picnic tables, and room for your car. There are also spots with RV hookups if you roll like that. If you venture across the Shakey bridge there are hiking trails, access to the water, and plenty of trees to hang your hammock in. There are also additional more remote camping spots on the other side of the bridge. You can access the water from both sides of the bridge so don't fret! This park is super close to downtown Redmond so if you are looking for an easy trip, or something a little more remote on the other side of the bridge, this is the spot for you.

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt I get the opportunity to test awesome products! At Told MacDonald Park I tested out my Belmont Blanket. I've had the opportunity to use my Belmont Blanket Hella Good blanket a couple of times now and it has been a great addition to my trips. The soft side is super soft (and baby friendly) and the waterproof side is great to put down on the grass (or facing up in your hammock) to keep any condensation off of you. The blanket also has a great rustic look to it that all my friends loved. I leave it in the back seat of my car all the time in case I want to go hang out in the sand or grass, or need some emergency warmth. I've owned a couple of other adventure blankets and now that I have this one it has become my go-to blanket. Sleeping in my hammock with it was awesome for an extra layer of warmth - underquilt on the bottom, Belmont Blanket on top! Overall I would highly recommend this blanket to adventurers, campers, and casual picnickers alike. You don't have to be a nomad to enjoy a nice cuddle in this blanket.

We were eager to see Seattle, especially Jason Jr. who had been waiting a year to go. First, we wanted to make a stop at the REI flagship store downtown for some climbing gear. We circled the block several times unable to find parking that could accommodate our 45 foot length. There was another store, just outside of town at Redmond Town Center with plenty of parking and a Red Robin. Woo-Hoo! After some ropes, harnesses, D-rings, hiking shoes, pocket knife, climbing book, etc. our pocket book was a little sore. We were exhausted from the long day of driving and eager to get to the campground.King County Tolt MacDonald Park was on the Snoqualmie and Tolt Rivers. It looked like a very nice place to camp, fish, hike, etc. but we didn't intend on spending much time there. There were only a small amount of sites but they had full hookups which is always great. There were trails and a suspension bridge that went across the river. But our main reason for being here was to see Seattle. The next morning, we rented a minivan so it would be easier to get around town. Our first stop was the Space Needle. The elevator ride to the top was pretty quick. Then you could go out on the deck and walk around to see the views of the city and Puget Sound. Afterwards, we found a skate park around the corner for the boys to release some energy. In Seattle Center there were many cool attractions like the glass museum, children's museum and lots of parks to sit and relax. After skating for about an hour, we rode the monorail to the Pike Place Market downtown. We were hoping to see some fish being thrown around. We couldn't find the right spot but it was still a neat place to buy fresh produce, seafood and unique items from local vendors.