For those who love the perfect combination of wilderness camping and productive fishing spots, America’s national parks offer some of the most pristine opportunities available. These protected natural havens not only provide breathtaking landscapes but also host some of the country’s most unspoiled fishing waters. From remote alpine lakes to rushing rivers and coastal shorelines, national park campgrounds give anglers unique access to diverse aquatic ecosystems and their finned inhabitants. This guide explores the best national park campgrounds where fishing enthusiasts can cast their lines by day and sleep under the stars by night, highlighting what makes each location special, what species you might catch, and essential information for planning your perfect outdoor adventure.
Yellowstone National Park: Fishing Bridge RV Park
Despite its name, fishing is actually prohibited from the actual Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone National Park due to conservation efforts for the cutthroat trout that spawn there. However, the nearby Fishing Bridge RV Park serves as an excellent base camp for anglers wanting to explore Yellowstone’s legendary fishing opportunities. Located near Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-elevation lake in North America, visitors have access to trophy-sized cutthroat trout and lake trout in the expansive waters. The campground provides modern amenities including electrical hookups, making it ideal for RV travelers who want comfort after a long day on the water. Anglers should note that Yellowstone requires fishing permits and has specific regulations to protect native fish species, including catch-and-release requirements in many areas.
Olympic National Park: Sol Duc Campground
Nestled alongside the Sol Duc River in Washington’s Olympic National Park, this campground offers anglers premier access to one of the Pacific Northwest’s finest steelhead and salmon fisheries. The river runs clear and cold through ancient forests, creating perfect habitat for several species of Pacific salmon, steelhead, and resident rainbow and cutthroat trout. Sol Duc Campground features 82 sites surrounded by magnificent old-growth forest, providing a peaceful and immersive natural experience. The peak fishing seasons align with salmon runs, typically from late summer through fall, though resident trout can be caught year-round when the park is open. After a day of fishing, campers can soak their tired muscles in the nearby Sol Duc Hot Springs, an added luxury not found at most fishing destinations.
Grand Teton National Park: Colter Bay Campground
Situated on the eastern shore of Jackson Lake with the dramatic Teton Range as a backdrop, Colter Bay Campground offers anglers one of the most scenic fishing experiences in the national park system. The 350-site campground provides direct access to Jackson Lake’s abundant populations of lake trout, brown trout, and native cutthroat trout. Beyond the lake, the nearby Snake River presents moving-water opportunities for fly fishing enthusiasts seeking cutthroat trout in a classic Western river setting. The campground offers excellent amenities including a marina where boats can be rented, making it possible to access the deeper parts of the lake where the largest lake trout typically reside. For families, the combination of swimming beaches, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing opportunities makes this a versatile destination even when the fish aren’t biting.
Everglades National Park: Flamingo Campground
For anglers seeking a completely different fishing experience, Flamingo Campground at the southern tip of Florida’s Everglades National Park offers access to some of the most diverse fishing opportunities in the national park system. This unique location sits where freshwater marshes meet the saltwater of Florida Bay, creating productive estuaries that support everything from largemouth bass and panfish to saltwater species like tarpon, snook, and redfish. The campground has both tent sites and RV sites with amazing views over Florida Bay, where spectacular sunrises and sunsets provide bookends to days spent on the water. Fishing can be done from shorelines, or more serious anglers can launch boats from the nearby marina to explore backcountry waters rarely seen by casual visitors. The winter dry season (November through April) typically offers the most comfortable camping weather and excellent fishing conditions, avoiding the intense heat and mosquitoes of summer.
Glacier National Park: Many Glacier Campground
Located in the northeastern section of Montana’s Glacier National Park, Many Glacier Campground sits in a spectacular alpine valley surrounded by massive peaks and pristine lakes. The campground provides easy access to Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine, both home to abundant populations of native westslope cutthroat trout and introduced rainbow trout. These crystal-clear mountain lakes offer exceptional scenic beauty while fishing, with opportunities to spot wildlife like moose, bears, and mountain goats along the shorelines. The 109-site campground fills quickly during the short summer season, so reservations are essential for those planning to visit during peak periods from June through September. For those willing to hike, numerous backcountry lakes in the area offer even more secluded fishing experiences for wild trout in waters that see relatively little pressure.
Acadia National Park: Seawall Campground
Maine’s rugged coastline provides the backdrop for Seawall Campground in Acadia National Park, offering anglers excellent access to both freshwater and saltwater fishing opportunities. The campground is less crowded than others in the park, providing a quieter experience while still maintaining proximity to several productive fishing locations. Freshwater anglers can target brook trout, landlocked salmon, and bass in the park’s numerous lakes and ponds, while saltwater enthusiasts can fish for mackerel, striped bass, and bluefish along the rocky Atlantic coastline. The 214-site campground is nestled in a spruce-fir forest just a short walk from the ocean, offering both wooded and open sites for tents and small RVs. Fall brings spectacular foliage and some of the best fishing of the year, particularly for those targeting the sea-run fish that move closer to shore during this season.
Rocky Mountain National Park: Moraine Park Campground
Situated in a wide valley surrounded by mountain peaks, Moraine Park Campground in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park offers easy access to some of the finest high-country trout streams in the continental United States. The Big Thompson River flows near the campground, providing opportunities to catch native greenback cutthroat trout, Colorado’s state fish and a species found nowhere else in the world. With 244 sites available, this campground serves as an ideal base for exploring the park’s numerous alpine lakes and streams, many of which hold healthy populations of wild trout in breathtaking settings. At an elevation of 8,160 feet, summer temperatures remain comfortable even when lower elevations swelter, creating pleasant fishing and camping conditions. The campground’s open layout offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, including regular elk sightings during the fall rut season.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Deep Creek Campground
Nestled in the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Deep Creek Campground sits alongside one of the park’s premier trout streams, offering anglers immediate access to excellent fishing opportunities. This stream is regularly stocked with rainbow trout and also contains wild brown and brook trout, providing diverse fishing possibilities within walking distance of camp. The 92-site campground is smaller and more intimate than many national park facilities, creating a peaceful atmosphere surrounded by lush Appalachian forest. Beyond Deep Creek itself, anglers can explore numerous other streams in the area, all supporting healthy populations of wild and native trout in America’s most visited national park. The combination of moderate climate, year-round fishing opportunities, and proximity to the outdoor-oriented town of Bryson City makes this an excellent choice for those wanting to combine fishing with other recreational activities.
Voyageurs National Park: Kabetogama Lake Campground
Unlike most national parks, Minnesota’s Voyageurs is predominantly water, with interconnected lakes making up much of its area – creating a true paradise for fishing enthusiasts. Kabetogama Lake Campground provides boat-in camping sites that are only accessible by water, ensuring a unique and intimate experience with the park’s aquatic environment. The massive lake system holds trophy-sized northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, and crappie, making it one of the premier freshwater fishing destinations in the Midwest. The remote campsites offer genuine solitude, with many featuring their own docks where anglers can tie up their boats and fish directly from camp. Summer brings warm days perfect for swimming and fishing, while fall offers spectacular colors and exceptional fishing as the water cools and fish become more active before winter.
Shenandoah National Park: Big Meadows Campground
Located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Big Meadows Campground provides anglers with access to some of the East Coast’s most pristine mountain streams. The park contains over 70 streams with native brook trout, offering endless opportunities for small-stream fishing in beautiful, forested settings. The 221-site campground sits at an elevation of 3,500 feet, providing cooler temperatures during summer months when the lowland areas of Virginia can be oppressively hot and humid. Many of the park’s best fishing streams, including the famous Rose River and Hughes River, are within a short drive of the campground, allowing anglers to sample different waters during their stay. Fall brings spectacular foliage along with some of the best fishing conditions of the year, as the native brook trout become more active in preparation for their autumn spawning season.
Kenai Fjords National Park: Exit Glacier Campground
For anglers seeking the ultimate Alaska fishing experience, Exit Glacier Campground in Kenai Fjords National Park offers a unique combination of accessibility and wilderness. While the small, primitive campground itself is not directly on fishing waters, it serves as the perfect base camp for accessing the renowned Resurrection River and its tributaries, home to all five species of Pacific salmon during their respective runs. The nearby town of Seward also offers charters into the park’s coastal waters, where halibut, lingcod, and rockfish can be targeted against a backdrop of calving glaciers and forested mountains. The campground is small with only 12 sites, creating an intimate experience with the Alaskan wilderness while still being road-accessible, unlike most of the remote park. Summer brings the famous salmon runs, with different species arriving throughout the season, while resident Dolly Varden char can be caught year-round in the area’s streams.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area: Boulder Beach Campground
Straddling the Arizona-Nevada border, Lake Mead offers a completely different desert fishing experience compared to the mountain and forest settings of most national parks. Boulder Beach Campground sits directly on the shores of Lake Mead, providing immediate access to some of the best warmwater fishing in the Southwest. Anglers target striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, and catfish in the massive reservoir created by Hoover Dam. The campground features 154 sites with little shade, reflecting the desert environment, but the lack of trees means nearly every site has spectacular views of the deep blue waters against the stark desert landscape. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable camping weather and excellent fishing conditions, while summer fishing is best done during early morning or evening hours to avoid the intense desert heat.
Essential Gear and Planning Tips for National Park Fishing Trips
Successfully combining camping and fishing in national parks requires proper preparation beyond what typical campers might need. Always secure fishing licenses and thoroughly review the specific fishing regulations for each park, as they often have unique rules to protect native species, including restrictions on bait types, barbless hook requirements, and catch-and-release zones. Pack versatile fishing gear suitable for the target species, including backup equipment since sporting goods stores are often far from park boundaries. Consider the seasonal timing carefully, as many high-elevation parks have short fishing seasons while others peak during specific fish migrations or spawning periods. Finally, practice proper food storage techniques to avoid attracting wildlife to your campsite, as many of the best fishing parks also have significant bear populations, requiring the use of approved bear-resistant containers or food lockers provided at campgrounds.
Conclusion
Whether you’re casting for native cutthroat trout in crystal-clear alpine lakes or pursuing trophy bass in desert reservoirs, America’s national parks offer some of the most rewarding fishing experiences available to outdoor enthusiasts. The combination of carefully managed fish populations, protected watersheds, and spectacular natural settings creates fishing opportunities that simply can’t be matched elsewhere. By selecting campgrounds that provide direct access to these pristine waters, anglers can maximize their time on the water while enjoying the unparalleled camping experience that our national park system provides. From the Alaskan wilderness to the Florida coastline, these twelve destinations represent the finest marriage of camping convenience and angling opportunity, ensuring memories that will last long after the fish stories have been told around the campfire.