Grey Owl Hollow

100%

193 reviews

· Rochester, Thurston, Washington · 20 acres

Hosted by Seth & Yvonne M.

Tent site

· 24 guests max

Staff verified

Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.

Once a working farm, Grey Owl Hollow sat fallow for over 20 years. In 2017, Seth left the corporate world and he and Yvonne dedicated themselves to the stewardship of this charming locale. The densely planted lumber forest was trimmed and thinned, allowing deer and other wildlife migration while providing shady campsites for nature lovers. Seth has begun planting a redwood grove in the high meadow and Yvonne is adding hazelnut and walnut trees to the 80-year-old apple orchard. Grey Owl Hollow is in trust and is intended to remain a nature sanctuary for future generations. Our 20 acre piece of heaven includes a fir tree forest for cool camping in the heat of summer. Romp with your dog through the rolling meadow, meditate or play in the 35' labyrinth and - in early fall - help yourselves to blackberries and apples in the orchard. Black-tailed Columbian deer are regular visitors, while coyotes, owls, and frogs may serenade you in the evening. We are firm believers in the value of time in the woods as a balm for physical, psychological, and emotional distress. Seth, your host, is a certified Forest and Nature Therapy guide, and two-hour guided walks are available as an extra with your booking. At Grey Owl Hollow, we are dedicated to providing a delightful camping experience with whimsy, wonder and tranquility.At Grey Owl Hollow, we are dedicated to providing a delightful camping experience with whimsy, wonder and tranquility. At present, we are only available for a limited number of group-bookings each year. Please contact us to arrange an open booking. Our 20 acre piece of heaven includes a fir tree forest for cool camping in the heat of summer. Romp with your dog through the rolling meadow, meditate or play in the 35' labyrinth and - in early fall - help yourselves to blackberries and apples in the orchard. Black-tailed Columbian deer are regular visitors, while coyotes, owls, and frogs may serenade you in the evening. We are firm believers in the value of time in the woods as a balm for physical, psychological, and emotional distress. Seth, your host, is a certified Forest and Nature Therapy guide, and two-hour guided walks are available as an extra with your booking. We are within easy driving distance of a number of bike trails, river access and are about 45 minutes from the front gate of the Olympic National Park. Grey Owl Hollow is actively working on habitat restoration, forest health, and fire resiliency. We are committed to helping these 20 acres thrive and heal from decades of exploitation.

What to expect

Tent site

You'll have this Hipcamp all to yourself.

24 guests max

Campfires allowed

Firepit, communal. Please keep fires small and well contained. There is a hose with a spray attachment - please be sure to fully douse any unattended fires.

Toilet available

Flush toilet. 2 pedal flushing toilets are located in the privy.

Pets allowed

On leash. If your dog is well trained, you may let them off-leash in the high meadow.

Potable water available

Spigot, hose, pump or well. Water is available at the campground sink and hose, the privy sink, and the spigot near the Shire campsite.

Showers available

Hot water . Approximately 10 minutes of hot water per shower is available.

Bins available

Compost bin, recycling bin, trash bin. PLEASE crush cans and plastic bottles to save space. (Fun can crusher provided.) Please pack out your paper and cardboard.

Picnic table present

One table and firepit grille per campsite.

Cooking equipment absent

A campfire grille is located beneath your picnic table.

No wifi

Things to know

Getting there

Check in: After 2:00 PM

Check out: Before 12:00 PM

On arrival: Head straight to site

Cancellation policy: Flexible

Minimum nights: 1 night

Accepts bookings: 12 months out

Short walk

No wheelchair access

Max 10 vehicles

During your trip

Leave it better

Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

ExtrasAvailable at checkout

Forest and Nature Therapy Walkexperience

$40.00

*The price is for up to 6 guests - please select "1" if your group is that size or smaller!" Seth is a certified Forest and Nature Therapy guide and will be happy to conduct a 2 hour forest therapy walk at your request! Forest therapy is a discipline that seeks to engage the senses to fully interact and experience natural spaces. Doing so can reduce stress-levels, improve immune response, and even enhance creativity. In a growing number of countries, time in nature is recognized as a palliative for many ills, and some have even incorporated it into their national health programs. Such walks are very low impact and can be adjusted to meet any needs. For more information on what these walks are like and what they can do, check out https://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/

100%

243 ratings · 193 reviews

Yan Y.

4 reviews

Recommends

· September 2024

Magical camping haven for families

Tent · With kids

Seth’s land offers the best group camping experience I've had. The setup is incredibly thoughtful, with all the amenities families and kids need—clean water, trash disposal, showers, and a cozy fireplace. The land itself is both spectacular and whimsical. The labyrinth and the little zen stone garden are particularly amazing. It was also a real treat to meet the friendly donkey and goat, adding even more charm to the experience. Highly recommended!"

Jason Q.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2021

Group trip

Had a great time! Very quiet, lots of fun things for kids to explore.

Jody R.

3 reviews

Recommends

· August 2021

Group trip

Utterly magical! We absolutely adored our first stay last year, but since then, Seth & Yvonne have added multiple new giant swings, a handdrawn map full of secret lands and treasures for kids to hunt down and discover, and a group campfire/gathering area. The privy is as adorable as ever and we used the whole grounds for a giant game of hide and go seek with both kids and adults. We have gone two years in a row and hope to make this an annual trip. It is also the perfect spot for Seattle and Portland friends to meet up. Yvonne brought the goat by to say hello and he frolicked with my 8-year-old, and Seth dropped by at just the right time and pointed us to a perfect hiking spot for our group of adults and kids (Porter Creek Falls in the Capitol State Forest). Highly recommend.

Lisa G.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2021

Group trip

A wonderful camp-ground. Lovely touches all around with fun places to explore. Access to drinking water, bathrooms are simple but great, sites are roomy. Looking forward to returning!

Morgan J.

14 reviews

Recommends

· August 2021

What a magical place!! Feels like your inside a fantasy novel! So much care & love has been put into the place. There are little treasures everywhere. Such a great place to just wander. I would highly recommend the Nature Walk. Seth is a kind soul & his connection to the land is contagious. I will definitely return!

Karen L.

2 reviews

Recommends

· August 2021

Came back for another stay

Group trip

We like the campground so much, we took our friends with us for another stay. Our kids all had a great time exploring the campground and finding the hidden items on the campground scavenger hunt. We picked blackberries, and not only did the kids try out all the various swings in the campground, a couple of us grownups did too! (The exhilarating swing in the Tarabithia site is agreed to be our favorite... especially when ridden in the dark!) The owners are friendly and engaged us and the kids multiple times. We will definitely be back!

Location

Rochester, Thurston, Washington, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla and Sq’ʷayáiɬaqtmš (Chehalis) First Nations according to

Native Land Digital.

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking