Lying on the southeastern corner of the park and at the head of Lake Cushman, Staircase is the closest campground to the mainland and therefore very popular with locals and tourists alike. It fills up very quickly on the weekends, which can be frustrating to campers traveling the long winding gravel road that provides the only in/out access. This road can experience severe traffic delays, the campgrounds was closed in late summer 2020 for several weeks for just this reason.
Staircase provides access to popular backcountry campgrounds such as Wagonwheel and Flapjack Lakes. Trails also lead deeper into the ONP Interior to Camp Pleasant, then link up with the Enchanted Valley Trail before leading to areas far north.
If you find this campground full, think hard before trying to push further west. While Graves Creek Campground is only 12 miles (19km) northwest as the crow flies, would-be campers must drive 120 miles (193km) around the Olympic National Forest to reach it. Port Angeles to the north is closer.
