If you want to see the beautiful scenery of Washington, Mud Mountain Dam is a great choice. It is a dam located in King County, Washington, just outside of Enumclaw. The dam, like most others, was created to help control flooding. It came to completion in 1948 and was created by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Mud Mountain Dam helps to control the large White River.
There is a convenient recreational area right near the dam. This is a wonderful place to enjoy the great outdoors with your family, friends, or even by yourself. There are plenty of activities that meet just about everyone's capabilities and interests.
Whether you're looking to enjoy a relaxing picnic, a casual stroll along the river, or an intense hike to really immerse yourself in nature, you're bound to enjoy the sights and attractions of the Mud Mountain Dam.
To get to Mud Mountain Dam you can follow Highway 410 for just four miles when you're coming from Enumclaw. There are signs directing you to the dam along the way. There is a separate parking lot for horse trailers that is just 1 ½ miles from the park entrance. There are quite a few winding roads around the area. This can make it difficult for larger vehicles such as RVs. As long as you take your time and drive cautiously around these parts, you should have no problem getting there.
Once you're at the dam, you can hike two miles of gravel road to reach the valley floor. It may be important to note that the park is closed on weekends during the winter, but you will still be able to take advantage of the Rim Trail.
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park campground is the closest public campground to the Mud Mountain Dam. There are a total of 50 campsites available, 19 of which have electric hookups. Twenty-five campsites are for tents only, and you will also find six yurts at this campground. You can easily reserve a campsite online, and camping is available year-round.
Each campsite has a barbecue grill, a fire pit, picnic tables, and is just a short walk from the showers and restrooms. There are automated pay stations at the campground where you can purchase day passes as well as boat launch permits. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park Campground has plenty of activities to enjoy when you're not at your campsite.
You can go hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, kayaking, and more. This is a great place to get away from the busy life of the city and enjoy time in nature. You'll be able to fall asleep to the sound of the Green River nearby if you crack the windows open in your RV. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park is a popular choice of a campground for locals and visitors alike!
All along the White River near the Mud Mountain Dam, there are picnic areas that are available to the public. This is an idyllic spot to bring the entire family to enjoy a delicious meal in the solitude of the outdoors. You'll be enchanted by the sound of the rushing river, birds chirping, and plenty of beautiful sites to see.
There are picnic tables available, but please bring your own food and clean up after yourself to help preserve the area.
You may not think of horseback riding when you think of a dam or river, but horseback riding is among the more popular activities to do in the area. Of course, you do have to bring your own horses along with any additional equipment you may need.
There are parking lots provided near trail entrances for your convenience. There are mostly gravel trails in the area for you to bring your horse on for a lovely ride through the wilderness and along the White River.
There is also a playground and wading pool available for kids and adults to enjoy during the summer months. There are multiple slides, swings, and things for children to climb on at the park. The wading pool is a relatively shallow circle of water surrounded by a concrete sidewalk and is fenced in. A fountain in the center of the pool pours down water for a bit of added excitement for the kids.
If you're able to take horses on the trails at Mud Mountain Dam, you are more than able to hike the same trails with your own two feet. Since the area is rather large there are several trails to hike on. The main trail visitors take is the Mud Mountain Rim Trail. This trail is a total of six miles from start to finish.
There is a 700 foot cumulative gain, so it's relatively relaxed. It is advised that you stay on the gravel trails as there are several steep Bluffs in the area. If you're bringing children on a hike please keep an extra close eye on them on this specific trail.
You can't visit Mud Mountain Dam without seeing a variety of wildlife. You just might spot an eagle, an owl, a bobcat, or whitetail deer. It is advised that you do not approach any wild animals for your own safety.
Depending on where you're planning to view wildlife, you may want to pack bear spray just in case. Speaking of packing, consider bringing a pair of binoculars to increase the chance of you seeing more wildlife in their natural habitat.
Another activity that just about anyone can do is outdoor photography. The Mud Mountain Dam and White River are great areas to photograph. Whether you're just looking to capture the beautiful scenery, take photos of you and your friends with a great background or even capture photos of wild animals, it is a fun activity to bring a bit of your trip home with you.
You don't need a fancy DSLR camera to get the job done, either. Feel free to bring a disposable camera, a professional camera, or just use the one on your smartphone.
