Favorite CAMPsite since full-timing

On Saturday when we drove through the campground at Newhalem in North Cascades NP, we narrowed our choices down to two sites:  #77 and #37.  Thinking that the sites might be taken quickly since it is summer and people are taking vacations, we left KOA a little after 8 am so we could get here in plenty of time to get one of these two sites.

We drove separately to the Newhalem Campground.  Chuck drove on to the Visitor's Center at Newhalem where they had RV parking and I drove to Site #37 to see if it was vacant which it was.  I backed the Honda into the site and started walking on a trail that went to the Visitor's Center and Chuck started walking towards me on the same trail and we met up a little over halfway.  It was a very pretty trail and made us look forward to hiking some more trails in North Cascades NP.

We walked back to the campsite and after looking over the site and confirming that we thought the motorhome would fit, we set up our "campsite saver" (the little pup tent we had bought at Wal-mart a few days ago).  Then, we drove over to Site #77 to see if that site was vacant yet.  Site #77 was still occupied until noon.  We decided to go ahead and take Site #37 and we are so glad we did.  It is probably our favorite CAMPsite since full-timing!!!!!! 

We drove back to the Visitor's Center and Chuck got the motorhome and drove it to site #37.  He got the motorhome backed in right where we wanted it the first time and we got it set up.  Chuck's outside setup jobs didn't take as long since we were "roughing it" and there weren't any hookups. 

It is a beautiful site that is tucked away giving you feeling of seclusion.

 

At the back of the site, it has a big picnic table, fire platform and grill for campfires, and two apx. 12x12 sand-filled sites for tents.

After getting set up, we enjoyed a lot of the afternoon just sitting outside.  The moss looks like green shag carpet in the trees surrounding us.

Later that afternoon, we hiked the River Loop Trail which is right behind our campsite.

The trail was shaded most of the way...

...with the occasional very big tree stump...

...and lots of moss.

There were huge ferns lining the path...

...and  the biggest trees we have seen since we started full-timing.

"Anybody in there?"

Chuck, the tree hugger:

As expected, the River Loop trail did go by a river, the Skagit River.

 

 

...and through more very, VERY, BIG trees.

According to a ranger, the trees are Douglas Firs and Redwood Cedars, some of which are hundreds and even thousands of years old.  AMAZING!!!

A lot of the trees closer to the river were covered in moss.

More moss and BIG ferns.  We were surprised to see such big ferns here up in the northwest.

This tree that had fallen across the trail previously had been sawn into for the path...

...and I thought this moss-covered tree was really unusual looking.

We finished the 1.8 mile River Loop trail...

...with the last 200 yards or so being more in the sun.  We came back to the campsite, sat outside and read for a little while and then went for about 3.5 mile bike ride to the Visitor Center and all around the campground. 

Since we were really camping and "roughing it" now, we grilled hamburgers, ate outside for supper, and had a campfire.

Tomorrow, we plan to do a little more exploring to other parts of North Cascades National Park.