Dosewallips Salmon Camp
Nov 7th-9th: Dosewallips River: Brinnon, Washington
Where the river runs wild and the salmon return, we gather to connect, learn, & give back!
This intimate autumn camp-out is your chance to connect with nature, your family, and traditional skills in the heart of the Olympic Peninsula. Nestled along the Dosewallips River during salmon season, we’ll come together for hands-on learning, riverside living, and meaningful connection around the fire.
What to Expect:
Together, over two nights on the Dosewallips River, we’ll share skills, stories, and simple meals around the fire. Elk still walk these lands, salmon swim upstream, and the river offers us both challenge and renewal.
Here’s what you’ll experience:
Group Shelter Builds
Learn how to build a strong and simple group shelter — working with hands, teamwork, and the raw materials of the forest. A 3-hour immersive skill session.Friction Fire
Spark flame the old way, with bow drills and ancestral techniques that bring you closer to the heart of fire.Primitive Scavenger Hunt
Kids and adults alike will explore the land with curiosity and play — hunting for natural treasures while learning ecological awareness.Pottery & Paint
Shape clay and natural pigments into art you can take home, guided by earth-based creativity.Tracking Class
Step into the quiet of the forest and learn to read the signs of animals who move across this land — including elk.Fishing on the Dosewallips
With November 1st opening day, salmon and other fish begin their run. With the right license, you’ll have the chance to fish the river alongside others.Cold Plunge in the River
Experience the clarity and resilience of immersing yourself in the brisk November waters of the Dosewallips.Nature Games & Walking Stick Art
For both kids and adults, these playful and creative sessions bring laughter and grounded joy.Primitive Salmon Smokeout
Gather together for one of the oldest traditions — smoking fish over fire in community, honoring the salmon’s gift.
Join us on the Dosewallips, River On The Olympic Peninsula!
Choose your accommodation:
Honoring the River & Giving Back!
The Dosewallips River is more than a scenic backdrop—it’s a story carved in water. The name comes from Dos-wail-opsh—a figure in Twana/S’Klallam folklore who was transformed into the mountain that guards the river’s source. As the river flows, it carries the legacy of transformation, the life of salmon, and the heartbeat of ancestral wisdom.
At Dosewallips Salmon Camp-Out, we gather not just to learn, but to remember. A portion of every ticket goes directly to the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, whose work restores salmon habitat, educates youth, and nurtures the health of this watershed.
By joining our gathering, you help keep the river alive—keeping its myth, its salmon, and its community rooted in future generations.
For Families with Little Salmon
Bringing little ones along? 🐟 Don’t worry — whether you’ve got baby salmon in a carrier or kids eager to explore, there will be a dedicated nature craft & play space just for them. Volunteers will be on hand to help guide simple activities and keep the little ones engaged, so parents can relax into workshops and riverside time knowing their children are cared for and included.
