Just outside of Montesano, along the wild and winding banks of the majestic Chehalis River, a campground and park is awaiting your next family adventure. Under soaring eagles and swooping osprey, next to the salmon-filled waters of Grays Harbor, Friends Landing is quickly becoming one of the best places to spend an afternoon, night or weekend with friends and family. Offering over 150 acres of fantastic recreation opportunities, including hiking, fishing, camping and bird watching, Friends Landing should be on your outdoor destination short-list.
Located halfway between the ocean beaches and Olympia, Friends Landing is sure to help inspire more adventure. Perfect for sunsets, picnics and a place to introduce yourself and those important in your life to camping, this area of land run by the Port of Grays Harbor might just become the next outdoors hotspot in Western Washington.
For residents of Grays Harbor, a trip to Friends Landing is like visiting your own private park close to home. Close, but not too close, to Montesano and the highway, the forests and river helps this region feel like you are far away from everything, making it a great spot to take a walk after work or on a weekend. The 152 acres of Friends Landing help get us out of daily routines and make us feel like we are experiencing the great outdoors. Highlighted by the 1.7 mile loop trail around Lake Quigg, incredible camping, unrivaled water access and a sense of tranquility, Friends Landing has something for everyone.
Friends Landing has seen a lot of growth in the past few years thanks to the work put in by the Port of Grays Harbor. The role of the Port is to provide waterfront access and Friends Landing became an important piece to expand their role in the eastern side of Grays Harbor County. The mission of the Port of Grays Harbor for Friends Landing is simple: maintain and make the areas already being run by the Port even better. Using community feedback for projects in the area to guide decision making, the Port is currently raising funds and working to replace the playground equipment to better serve visitors.
“We want Friends Landing to be a premier outdoor accessible recreational facility,” explained Alissa Shay at the Port of Grays Harbor. “The campground is probably the number one thing to draw tourists, with amenities being a reason to stay. Tourism is part of our mission statement, working to serve locals and provide and encourage tourism through the beauty of the parks. It is a nice stopping point on the way to and from beaches, a great place to stretch your legs and get a look at the inland, river beauty of Grays Harbor.”
For those hoping for more than an afternoon of recreation, Friends Landing is also an up and coming campground, sporting 18 RV sites and 10 tent sites. With very few 100% occupancy nights, this is your best bet for a last minute camping experience right along the Chehalis River. While weekends in the summer may be busy, there are many days when you’ll have a choice of open spaces. Friends Landing is unique to many campgrounds in eastern Grays Harbor as it is on the river and includes lake and river access.
Those hoping for the best campsites should check out numbers 17 and 18 in the RV section, right along the riverbank. For tent campers, don’t worry about hearing the noises of generators and doors slamming all night. The tent camping area is separate from the RV area, so you’ll only hear the frogs and cricketsReservations are available for campsites, helping guarantee a spot for your perfect weekend trip. To reserve a spot, call (360) 249-5117 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The campground includes showers and restrooms for visitors, helping make this a great place to introduce your family or those new to camping into the lifestyle. It also has numerous picnic tables as well as two large covered picnic shelters for your next family reunion or company picnic. The shelters can be reserved at no cost, simply call and reserve your spot. In addition, Friends Landing offers free WIFI for those visiting the park, letting you share your experience online with friends and family. The park even has its own Snapchat filter, something very few campgrounds in the state have.
Friends Landing is also an amazing place for boating, offering a $2 a day boat launch, with another boat launch for non-motorized watercraft like kayaks and canoes. Those who do decide to kayak, SUP or canoe out of Friends Landing need to remember that the lake is influenced by the tide, leading to a lot of pull along the western shore. And, as always, wear a life-jacket.
If fishing is your thing, the waters along the Chehalis River offer year round fishing. For more information on the seasons and best times for different species of fish, check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
“There is something for everyone at Friends Landing,” says Alissa Shay. “It is a great way for people of all ages to interact, get outside and have fun. The quiet time of year is March and April and then again during October and November. But, it is absolutely beautiful in summer months, with all the trees in full bloom – everything on the trail is green and beautiful and the weather is warm.”
Considered a secret spot by locals, Friends Landing near Montesano is sure to captivate your adventurous spirit and rekindle your connection with the beauty of nature around Grays Harbor. Make Friends Landing your next weekend destination.
Friends Landing
300 Katon Rd., Montesano
360-482-1600
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