Rasar State Park is an outdoor playground that boasts beautiful scenery, a meandering river with watersport options, excellent wildlife viewing, and 40 campsites, including 20 with water and electric hookups. Located nine miles west of Concrete, Washington, Rasar State Park was created in 1984 through a 128-acre land grant from the Daniel Rasar family and was expanded by an additional 40 acres in 1990. The campground and facilities of the park were constructed from 1993 to 1997.
The area surrounding Rasar State Park was the ancestral lands of the Skagit Indian Tribe. The tribe occupied lands along the Skagit River from Mount Vernon in the west to Newhalem in the east. The tribe is part of the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855, which consolidated many of the tribes in the area before moving to reservation lands that lay about 25 miles from Rasar State Park. The first European encounter with the Skagit Tribes was fur traders until the mid-1860s when settlers began to log the trees and use the Skagit River for transporting the cut logs to the mills. Today, the tribe has a casino near Sedro-Woolley which attracts a wide variety of clients from locals to people traveling by RV.
Rasar State Park boasts 4,000 feet of shoreline along the Skagit River which offers perfect fishing conditions. The hiking trails in the park have you traveling through second and old-growth forests with huge trees that are more than 400 years old. Other activities within the gorgeous environment are interpretive programs for visitors, bicycling along the Cape Horn Road, and plenty of unique wildlife to view.
The weather in Rasar State Park varies from season to season with temperatures in the summertime ranging from the mid-60s and 70s along with two to three inches of rain between May and September. Wintertime brings temperatures in the 40s accompanied by rain and snow, which averages from five to 12 inches per month.
You can access Rasar State Park at the intersection of Russel Road and Cape Horn Road from Washington Highway 20, also known as the North Cascade Highway, which runs east to west across the northern portion of Washington and Cape Horn Road. Driving along Highway 20 can be difficult and slow going at times as you travel through the upper portion of the Cascade Mountain Range. You can expect plenty of steep inclines while traveling in your RV or trailer and you will find plenty of turnouts along the highway to help keep a steady flow of traffic when your vehicle may not be up for the challenging steep inclines.
When you are driving east from I-5 to the park, you might encounter problems around Sedro-Woolley and just before Lyman before you reach the park’s entrance. Traveling west from Rockport along Highway 20 is more challenging as the highway follows the Skagit River, which meanders through the Cascade Mountain Range. You should always take advantage of any turnouts that will allow traffic to stay at a steady flow. Once you turn off at Cape Horn Road, you will travel south for a mile until you are inside the park.
Here there is one road that connects the campground and day-use facilities within the park. The road, although narrow, only has a few curves that are easily navigated. When you are driving within the park and the campground areas, please adhere to all posted speed limits. While you are driving through these two areas, be aware of pedestrians, bicyclists, and children playing.
The Rasar State Park Campground contains two loops with 38 campsites that are situated within a beautiful forested area, which allows for privacy. The west loop includes 22 campsites, and you can find electricity as well as water hookups in sites one through 11. There are three pull-through campsites with partial hookups in the west loop. The east loop has 16 campsites with electricity and water hookups available in sites 30 through 38 as well as four pull-through sites with partial hookups. There are four other pull-through sites on this loop, but they do not offer partial hookups. RVs and trailers are limited to 40 feet in length, although not all sites with hookups can accommodate larger RVs or trailers.
Each campsite is furnished with a fire ring, picnic table, and paved parking pad that will require leveling in most cases. There is a dump station to empty your holding tank near the entrance to the park. Each loop within the campground contains flush toilets and showers. There is an amphitheater as well as a children’s playground located just north between the east and west loop. Generators may be used from 8:00 AM until 9:30 PM. Pets are welcome but must be restrained by a six-foot leash at all time.
If you would rather go rugged, the walk-in campground here in Rasar State Park is the best choice in Washington. Camping in the walk-in area is a truly primitive experience, so you will have to park your RV in the parking lot and walk to the campsites. There are eight spacious campsites located south of the main campground along the park’s road. Each campsite is furnished with a fire ring and picnic table. There are vault toilets and freshwater drinking stations within the well-forested campground.
Rasar State Park is an ideal place for photographers during the winter months. Imagine snow-covered old-growth forest with trees towering over 200 feet into the sky that appears into your lens. Combine the majestic trees with the picturesque waters of the Skagit River, and you have everything you need to take a one-of-a-kind photograph that is priceless for years to come. The conditions might not be favorable every day, but on sunny days you can catch a postcard glimpse of Sauk Mountain’s snowy top.
Bring your binoculars in the rig because your eyes will be thrilled with the variety of birds that live in Rasar State Park throughout the year. The range of birds you can see is phenomenal with opportunities that have you witnessing the northern flicker, great blue heron, and red finch. Don’t be surprised to see a concentration of bald eagles waiting. Numerous owl species, such as the short-ear and barn owl, live within the old and second-growth forests of the park. Hawks are also plentiful here, and you can see different kinds of hawks from red-tailed to harrier hawks. The number of birds that are visible year-round make this state park a bird lover’s paradise.
Hopefully, you packed your snowshoes in the RV because there are plenty of opportunities in the winter months when snow is on the ground for you to enjoy. Trails within the park are well marked, which is especially appealing to RVers who want to go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. You can combine the popular summer hiking trails into a three-mile snow adventure that takes you through second-growth forest, a sandy beach at Skagit River, and then through a grassy snow-covered meadow.
When the snow is deep enough, and conditions are right, you can find some great ski runs in and around Rasar State Park, so don't forget to pack those skis in the camper. Mount Baker Ski Area is a popular ski resort with a base elevation of 3,500 feet and a peak of 5,089 feet. For beginners, the ski area has seven easy runs, 15 moderate trails, and eight expert-only trails. With just over 1,000 acres and an average snowfall of 641 inches, the powder is perfect here every year.
On a warm day, pack the family in the motorhome and head to Rasar State Park for a family get-together. They have a massive pavilion with seven picnic tables that can accommodate about 50 people. The pavilion also has electric, water, lighting, and an open fireplace. You can cook some BBQ on the two grills available, bring your own eats, or stop in town for some take-out. Pets are allowed as long as they are supervised and properly restrained. The pavilion is completely ADA accessible, close to the Skagit River, and restrooms are located within 200 feet.
When you are traveling with youngsters or if you like to learn interesting tidbits of information about places you visit, attending one of the many interpretive activities should be first on your list of things to do. Throughout the summer, the park offers ranger-led hikes, talks, and other activities including tips for fishing on the Skagit River. Children will be pleased earning the Junior Ranger badge, a program which has kids completing various tasks while learning more about the natural and cultural history of the area.
If you like RVing along the Skagit River, fishing is a must-do activity while you are staying at Rasar State Park. The park includes 4,000 feet of shoreline where you can cast your favorite lure, attracting trout, salmon, and whitefish. The river offers better conditions after the spring run-off. Salmon season starts a little later in the summer around August. Try your luck from the shoreline with a fly rod, and you could be surprised at the size of fish you pull out of the water.
Hiking is the most popular thing to do in Rasar State Park during the summer months. There are over 3.5-miles of trails within the park that have you hiking through incredible forests that tower more than 200 feet into the air. There are three specific trails in the park, including the Skagit Woods, River, and Field Trails. When you combine all three trails, you will hike from second-growth forest to the Skagit River shore to a meadow filled with grasses and flowers.
Being the second-longest river in Washington does not mean it is not the first choice when it comes to whitewater fun. You should pack your canoe or raft in the rig before heading to Rasar State Park because there are some excellent Class II and Class III rapids available most of the year. The upper section is the best spot for families, as it is rated Class II and approved for ages six and up. If you are a beginner, it is best to hire a guide who can help you the first time as there are some sections to avoid for safety reasons.
When you are tired of fighting the waves, take a break and relax with some swimming. The water is clear and cool, so it is a perfect afternoon activity on a hot summer day. The river can be a bit rough, and there is a current so children and non-swimmers should wear life jackets at all times in the water as there is no lifeguard. Pack the floaties, beach toys, and towels in the RV so you can be prepared to take a dip if you want to.
