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Campground Map
Where Is Bender Creek?
Triangle Recreation Camp at Bender Creek is situated 21 miles east of Granite Falls, Washington on the Mountain Loop Highway (see location page). This location makes it easily accessible from the Seattle-Tacoma and British Columbia areas, serving the more than one million gays living along the I-5 corridor. 

The site is located along the shoreline of the south fork of the Stillaguamish River in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, offering approximately forty acres of primitive camping facilities. Since our first year (1996) at this location, the grounds are being developed to match the previous grounds at Index. The grounds, at present, resemble Index in 1979 when we first walked on to that property. While we like to think of our camping at Index these last few years as primitive -- Triangle Recreation Camp at Bender Creek gives "primitive" a whole new meaning. However, the campground is ours and our responsibility for development and upkeep.

When Is the Campground Open?


Triangle Recreation Camp at Bender Creek is open for camping 7 days a week during the regular camping season, which generally begins the second Saturday of April and continues through the second Saturday of October. Check the schedule page for details, which of course is weather dependent.  

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What Type Of Supplies Should I Bring? Refer to the Supplies Checklist
If you are planning on spending the night bring all the necessary items with you: drinking and cooking water, a good flashlight (or two), tarps, ropes, a tent, a sleeping bag, and food that is easy to prepare. It is approximately ten miles to the nearest mom & pop grocery store for basic supplies, and the nearest supermarket (Red Apple) is 22 miles away, just off the main street in Granite Falls...so plan ahead.
NOTE:
Semi-permanent campsites that use any propane, kerosene, or other combustible fuels ARE REQUIRED to bring a working fire extinguisher and have it on-hand, within easy reach of any stove, lantern, heater, etc. that is in use.
How Do I Get My Supplies To My Camp Site?
For the Limited Camping area
It's a long way from the highway to the established campsites near the river. It will make finding a site much easier if you bring in a few items by hand and find your site first. You can leave the hand-carried items at your site as a marker, and return to your car for the rest of your supplies. This way, you don't find yourself wandering all over Bender Creek searching for a site with a full load of supplies. 

TRC supplies several wheelbarrows for our members' use. The path from the load/unload area is a bit bumpy, but navigable. Remember: don't overload the wheelbarrows! They tip easy when maneuvering the trails and it's not fun having to dig your supplies out of the underbrush along the trail. Depending on where your site is located, you can take one of two trails to the site area. 

    Remember - return the wheelbarrows to the load/unload area when you've finished unloading your supplies...there's usually someone waiting to use one. Wheelbarrows are not allowed on the highway or shoulder and cannot be used to carry items across the highway to or from the main parking area or to or from cars parked on the shoulder of the highway. 

    For the Semi-Permanent Camping area
    Semi-permanent campers are required to have at least one wheelbarrow belonging to their site. They may use TRC wheelbarrows on a limited basis, returning them to the load/unload area in a timely fashion.

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How Long Can I Camp?
Camping will again be on a semi-permanent basis and a limited camping basis. 
  • Semi-permanent camping will require a camping membership and a forty-eight hour commitment each week during the camping season.
  • Limited camping will require an additional fee, unless you have a Regular Membership. 14 day maximum stay.
All campers are required to abide by the standing rules and help in the maintenance of the grounds.

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Can I Bring My Pets?
Pets are welcome at Trianlge Recreation Camp at Bender Creek as long as they are on a leash and under control while out of your campsite. We ask that you be considerate of your fellow campers and keep the trails and neighboring campsites clear of any animal waste. Animals that are offensive or in any way disturb other campers can be banned from TRC. Remember, you may think that Fluffy or Butch is cute and cuddly, but not everyone likes animals or necessarily wants a Retriever or Collie knocking them down on the trail, jumping on them with muddy feet or snapping at them. If a stray or unleashed dog is seen on the trails, the owner will be given their first warning. A second warning results in the animal being permanently banned from the campground. This rule will be strictly enforced. 

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Can I Make A Campfire In My Limited Campsite?
No. However, there are several communal fire pits located in the Limited Camping area for everyone to enjoy. All other open fires are prohibited in the limited camping area, and violation of this rule may result in immediate expulsion from the campground and termination of future camping privileges. 

Can I Make A Reservation?
Reservations are not accepted, limited campsites are available on a first-come first-served basis only. Most days we have sufficient tent sites available to accommodate everyone, though this is not always the case for RV campers. 

The only time that tent sites are at a premium is on camp-wide party weekends (Black Forest Party, Underwear Party, etc.), but so far we have not had to turn anyone away.

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Can I Camp On The Beach?
No. The beach is an asset of TRC at Bender Creek. Having one or two campers set up a tent just in the tree line next to the beach limits the beach access for other campers. The beach is to be made available to EVERYONE, therefore CAMPING WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE BEACH/TREELINE IS PROHIBITED! Campers have set up their sites just in the trees next to the beach, only to have a Board member or Development Committee member tell them to break camp and move. Why set up camp twice?  gay camping
 

Comments or Suggestions?

Contact TRC or Contact Webmaster
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