Dispersed camping opportunities abound in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Cashmere, Washington. Several free primitive sites are located along Forest Service roads, including Derby Road (NF7400), Chumstick Mountain, and FS Road 7601. These areas feature established sites with basic fire rings but no amenities. According to reviews, Derby Road offers "incredible near-360 mountain views" though sites are "exposed to the wind." The Chumstick Mountain area provides excellent sunset views of the valley and experiences minimal traffic compared to other areas in the forest.
Visitors must bring all necessary supplies as no services exist at these locations. Water sources are scarce or nonexistent; campers should pack in all water needed for their stay. Many forest service roads have heavily washed out areas where higher ground clearance vehicles are beneficial. As one camper noted, "Service roads did have some heavily washed out areas and rocks that higher ground clearance and AWD/4WD would be beneficial, but a 2WD car could make it to some sites." Cell service varies by carrier, with Verizon generally providing better coverage than T-Mobile.
Fire restrictions are common during summer and fall months. While many sites have stone fire rings, seasonal burn bans may prohibit their use. Campers should check current fire regulations before their trip. Private property borders some camping areas, particularly along the first few miles of Derby Road, so watch for posted signs. Most sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and require no permits or fees. The best dispersed camping locations are typically found by traveling farther along forest roads, away from main access points. These remote sites offer greater privacy and often feature better views of the surrounding mountains.
"As described, little to no water sources. Private property marked in some areas. Camp sites are just off the road so there is some road dust. In May there was plenty of wood for burning."
"Found a spot with incredible near-360 mountain views! Exposed to the wind though. Have to go pretty far in along Derby road to find campsites."
"One fireplace - check if fire ban is active!"
"It was ok don't like the fact that we had to park our vehicle so far away from campsite because it was a bitch to get to camping area"
"Within the almost 4 million acres of the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest, lie countless locations for dispersed camping."
"The views of the mountains all around are insane!!! Loved watching the sunset and sunrise up here. It is very windy!"
"Felt quite private despite being right off the forest service road. Each of the 3 spots had easy access to the river. It's only 2 miles away from the Stuart and Colchuck Lake TH too!"
"There are multiple pull off spots along this road, each with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. I camped at two different pull offs. Didn’t worry too much about not finding a vacant spot."
"If you go straight there is private property. Turning right is a loop back to where you started. Anyways, the sites are large and well spaced."
"There was one RV here when we got here, stayed at a spot close to the road, didn’t like that we could hear all the cars. The RV left the next day so we stole his spot right by the creek."
"Was a perfect Weeknd to Disperse camp, really quite, no toilets no water, Verizon coverage good."
ScoutIt was fairly easy to get to this area however despite our best efforts we only found one established campsite with a fire ring. Road getting here was mostly paved with some debris on the roadway. We lost GPS signal just before arriving and passed NF200. I gave 3 stars because we were unable to locate other sites. Maybe it was just me but we drove quite a while on NF200 and only found the one right at the entrance.
LegendRoad closures due to a bridge out closed off probably the better sites up top but we did find a great spot off the road with a view. Enjoyed a nice evening under the stars and a campfire.
RangerNot far off main road, and gravel road not bad at all. Absolutely no cell coverage, a few designated spots.
ScoutLots of camper trailers, basically a cow field. If you want a private spot you have to traverse a sketchy road that if you don't have awd and decent tires and ground clearance you'll be screwed.
LegendThe reviews here seem to be from two different places
Parking lot up by the logging operation is fine
Down the road by the creek is a bunch of permanent trailers
Be nice if people reviewed the proper spots
LegendAmazing but a bit dirty and lots of other campers. We stopped for a river visit but didn’t stay the night
ScoutWas a beautiful spot - road was a bit more narrow and rocky than we expected, but there are a few spots you can pull up before the narrow part of the road. Once you go up, there are a couple spots with really nice views. We were there on a Thursday and no one else was there!
ScoutFound a cool site closer to the water when a random tweaker came through our site from his site down the hill with a whole ass machete cutting through some greenery then came back with a buddy while we were down by the river filling our water and rinsing off in our swimsuits STILL WITH THE MACHETE IN HAND and starts hollering to scare us off so they could fish??? If you wanted the spot near the river to fish just use that spot and not come through someone else's and scare them off. Be careful if you come here bc he seemed like he's been here before and likes to frequent this site
Scoutbe sure to check the keechelus reservoir level before going because fs-9070 is closed when reservoir is less than 49% capacity
Dispersed camping opportunities in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest provide free camping near Cashmere, Washington. The forest spans elevations from 1,000 to over 9,000 feet, creating diverse camping experiences from riverside locations to mountain viewpoints. Camping areas typically receive less precipitation than the western Cascades, with hot, dry summers and cold winters making late spring through early fall the optimal camping seasons.
Fishing spots access: North Fork Teanaway River dispersed sites offer easy access to the river. "It's a mild scramble to get down to the river, but worth it. The water was clear and cold. Very pretty," notes camper Don, though he cautions that fishing isn't permitted in this section.
Mountain biking proximity: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Dispersed Camping on Derby Rd NF7400 provides convenient access to mountain bike trails. Sara S. confirms this location is "super quiet. Great place when you need to escape" while mentioning its proximity to "great MTB trails."
Hiking trail access: FS Road 7601 Dispersed offers practical camping options for hikers. Renee G. highlights its convenience: "It's only 2 miles away from the Stuart and Colchuck Lake TH too!" Another camper notes it's "a perfect spot near trailhead" when preparing for Enchantments trails.
River proximity: 4th of July Trail Levenworth sites feature riverside settings. Brandon K. appreciates that "this spot still offered the tranquil sound of river flowing over boulders" while Sydney D. mentions the site has "a cool natural rock staircase down to the river."
Mountain views: Campsites at higher elevations provide panoramic perspectives. At Chumstick Mountain Dispersed Camping, Alyson M. reports "the views of the mountains all around are insane!!! Loved watching the sunset and sunrise up here," though noting the area "is very windy!"
Privacy levels: Some dispersed areas offer more secluded options. At Liberty Town/Williams Creek, ChiAnn M. notes "spots are far enough away to give you good privacy." Similarly, at North Fork Teanaway River, vicki observed "some sites were close together while many were nice and secluded."
Road conditions vary: Road quality differs significantly between camping areas. Phoebe H. reports for FS Road 7601: "The road did get quite bumpy and rocky at points," while Ciara W. notes for Derby Road that they "went as far as we could in our Ram Promaster till there was a crazy steep and washed out climb."
Wind exposure: Several campsites experience significant wind, particularly at higher elevations. At Old Bluett Pass Dispersed Site, campers report consistent breezes, while Meghan at Chumstick Mountain observes "it gets pretty windy at night but there are treelines you can position against."
Site availability: Competition for spots increases on weekends and during peak season. Sydney D. advises: "I highly recommend getting there early because we got there and parked at 11 AM and hiked to the trail head till 5:30 and every 15 min cars were driving by slow to see if anyone was there."
Creek access spots: Sites near water provide natural entertainment for children. At Liberty Town/Williams Creek dispersed camping, one visitor had "a great time near the creek with our dogs!" Anna Marie at FS Road 7601 found "there was even a little access point for kayaks and canoes and calm water for the kids."
Site selection strategy: Finding family-friendly spots requires planning. At Liberty Town / Williams Creek Dispersed Camping, Paige P. advises to "have a back up plan! This is a busy place," and warns families to "bring a citronella candle, the mosquitos are thick."
Flower viewing opportunities: Seasonal wildflowers add educational value. At North Fork Teanaway River, vicki mentions "we had a nice short walk through a secluded walk in site that led to a rocky river bed. We also had a horse trail across the road that we walked. Lots of wild flowers to enjoy."
Rig size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate only smaller RVs or vans. Quinn Z. cautions at Williams Creek: "Some of these sites can be tricky to get to unless you have a good vehicle for it" and advises "I don't think I would have been able to get to the further in dispersed sites if I was driving a Civic."
Leveling challenges: Finding flat parking requires scouting. Cheryl M. describes an Old Bluett Pass site as "1 large, not terribly level, high clearance needed, site with fire ring and lots of parking options."
Road dust considerations: Position RVs away from main roads when possible. At North Fork Teanaway River, vicki notes: "Our only complaint was that our site was right off the road and we experienced moderate traffic which caused a lot of dust."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Cashmere, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Cashmere, WA is Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Dispersed Camping on Derby Rd NF7400 with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Cashmere, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 56 dispersed camping locations near Cashmere, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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