Bonaparte Lake Campground

Colville National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Tonasket, WA, WA

Price: From $20 per night

Price range: $20–$125 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (59 reviews)

Season: May through October

Bonaparte Lake Campground is located on the southern edge of Bonaparte Lake east of Tonasket, WA, in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The setting of the campground is in a mixed ponderosa pine and Douglas fir conifer forest at the base of Bonaparte Mountain. This campground has a group site, multiple family and individual campsites available.Bonaparte Lake’s elevation is at 3,600 feet and is home to multiple waterfowl species including the rare northern loon.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/bonaparte-lake-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Bonaparte Lake Campground offers 33 sites in a scenic mixed conifer forest setting on the southern edge of Bonaparte Lake, with popular fishing opportunities for rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout. The campground provides essential amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, flush toilets, and drinking water.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, American Beaver, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Long-eared Owl, Gray Jay, Hairy Woodpecker, and Rough-legged Hawk documented within 8km

Insider tips for Bonaparte Lake Campground: Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Bring a boat or kayak to access trout fishing on Bonaparte Lake Suitable for self-contained RVs despite lack of hookups

Skip Bonaparte Lake Campground if: You need RV hookups - none available at most sites. You plan to camp outside May through October - seasonal closure. You prefer smaller, less-booked facilities - federal campground books up quickly.

Best time to visit Bonaparte Lake Campground: May-October — Official seasonal operation period.

Nearby campgrounds: Lost Lake Group Unit (TONASKET, WA), Swan Lake Kitchen (Republic, WA), Snow Peak Cabin (Republic, WA), Kettle River Campground (Davenport, WA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Bonaparte Lake Campground

Cell signal at Bonaparte Lake Campground (Tonasket, WA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch›WA›Bonaparte Lake Campground
Bonaparte Lake Campground — photo 1
Colville National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Bonaparte Lake Campground

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Tonasket, WA, WA★ 4.5 (59 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Bonaparte Lake Campground is located on the southern edge of Bonaparte Lake east of Tonasket, WA, in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The setting of the campground is in a mixed ponderosa pine and Douglas fir conifer forest at the base of Bonaparte Mountain. This campground has a group site, multiple family and individual campsites available.Bonaparte Lake’s elevation is at 3,600 feet and is home to multiple waterfowl species including the rare northern loon.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV48 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
ADA sites1 sites
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Flush ToiletsBoat Launch

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups - none available at most sites✕ You plan to camp outside May through October - seasonal closure✕ You prefer smaller, less-booked facilities - federal campground books up quickly

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand

Bring a boat or kayak to access trout fishing on Bonaparte Lake

Suitable for self-contained RVs despite lack of hookups

Best: May-October

Official seasonal operation period

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: American Black Bear, American Beaver, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Long-eared Owl, Gray Jay, Hairy Woodpecker, and Rough-legged Hawk documented within 8km

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
509-486-2186· Colville National Forest
Getting there →

From Tonasket, Washington, take State Route 20 East for 24 miles. Turn left onto the Bonaparte Recreation Area turnoff (Okanogan County Road 4953). Continue on Okanogan County Road #4953 for approximately 6 miles to the Bonaparte Lake Campground entrance on the left hand side of the road.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Colville National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Colville National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Bonaparte Lake Campground cost per night?+
Bonaparte Lake Campground costs $20–$125 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Bonaparte Lake Campground open?+
Bonaparte Lake Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Bonaparte Lake Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Bonaparte Lake Campground?+
Bonaparte Lake Campground can accommodate RVs up to 48 feet.
How do I make reservations at Bonaparte Lake Campground?+
Bonaparte Lake Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Bonaparte Lake Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Bonaparte Lake Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Bonaparte Lake Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Bonaparte Lake Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$20 /night★ 4.5 (59)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Bonaparte Lake Campground cost per night?+
What season is Bonaparte Lake Campground open?+
Does Bonaparte Lake Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

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