Cowiche, WA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Cowiche. Find the best campgrounds near Cowiche, WA. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
"Fire pits were nice plus a park bench each. Bathrooms clean, showers were still winterised sadly (cold only). Trains were slightly noisy during the night.
Very nice place to stay, helpful staff 👍"
"They have great bathrooms and showers picnic and covered areas, great play set for kids. Clean water electricity dump area and full hookup pull through areas"
$22 / night
"Bathrooms were clean and stocked. This campground is right off the highway, so you do hear ocasional road noise. The river is pretty loud though."
"The water in the hose wasn't clear so I wouldn't use it for drinking without boiling but the 🚻 are clean and stocked. I enjoyed my time there and recommend it for a peaceful camping experience."
$27 - $54 / night
"We camped on site #42 and it was perfect location. We didn't want to be right on the water as our dogs would be in it 24/7. This site you could still see the water and hear it."
"Large sites, some with access to the River. Highway noise was pretty loud in some of the upper sites. Bathrooms (pit toilets) were very clean and the camp host was lovely! Nice recreation area nearby."
"We were in sites 15 (20’ truck camper) and 16 (30’ Class A RV), which both have water/electric hookups."
"The campground is located on the side of HWY 12 on a small rocky peninsula, this surprising spot on Rimrock Lake (reservoir created by the dams built about 100 years ago) is run by a retired couple for"
$24 - $48 / night
"There was a woodsy area behind the site where kids could play. The bathrooms are fancy out houses no place to wash hands. Lots of bugs in the evening."
"Loved our weekend at Bumping Lake! Our site in the Upper Campground was really nice and spacious, with a very new seeming fire pit and picnic table."
$25 - $35 / night
"Clean raised tent bed with pea-gravel raked evenly good for 6-7 person tent . Fire pit is decently sized approximately 3x2 with a flip top grill that covers half of it."
"There were clean facilities available, as well as drinking water and trash bins. Our lot was spacious with a nice picnic table, fire pit, and area for our two person tent."
"This is a great place to camp and ride ORVs they have a beginners loop trailhead attached to this site as well as a trail head to a larger trail system."
$38 - $270 / night
"Arriving later than expected, when it is darker than can be believed, is bad enough. Then there is setting up in the dark: ARGH! "
"The on-site store was pretty good size, from what I saw they had camping gear and regular convenience store stuff. When we got there there was only 1 other tent/ family set up a space away."
$25 - $45 / night
"Pit toilets, running water, and trail access to majorly awesome backcountry hiking the Walupt Lake is the place for you and your next adventure."
"nice tall shade trees and beautiful access to the lake. trails are around and a large beach to relax on. sites are large and trees are close enough to hang a hammock. note: road to get here is entirely"
ScoutThe bathrooms were filthy Quiet hours were not enforced The place is falling apart and looks decrepit: from fences to bathrooms The only dirt roads and sites(no gravel or asphalt anywhere) make everything filthy Site boundaries are practically impossible to determine as a number is the only way to see, no side lines Our site did not even have a picnic table
ScoutWe camped on site #42 and it was perfect location. We didn't want to be right on the water as our dogs would be in it 24/7. This site you could still see the water and hear it. We found many paths down to the water, even some places to soak if we wanted. The bathrooms (glorified outhouse) were always clean and had toilet paper. There is no running water, so we brought our own. Everyone was pretty quiet and the hosts were wonderful. We will definitely come back again. We drove into Yakima to check out WilRidge winery and go pick cherries.
GuideCame last minute during father's day weekend looking for a tent site. The booth host was very helpful letting us know that there was only two spots left and answering many more questions. We were able to find a perfect site for my family of 4. Clean raised tent bed with pea-gravel raked evenly good for 6-7 person tent . Fire pit is decently sized approximately 3x2 with a flip top grill that covers half of it. Paved road gravel parking space big enough for a trailer/camper . Dumpster and water spicket as well as a bathroom with pay to use shower's . ¢50-1 token = 3 minute shower. Small playground with a basketball court by the bathrooms. Lovely river walk trail follows the Yakima River . Activities for children such as the Jr. Ranger program. Gas station is close just cross the highway sells firewood as well . Overall great first time at the campground friendly staff will be coming back.
LegendCrossing through the dry and rugged terrain of the eastern most portion of Washington, the pleasant surprise of the forest campground of Swauk could not have come at a better time. Just after the rolling hills met the forested tree line this quaint campground welcomed me to the Washington I had wished to find on my adventures. It was a first taste of the glory of the Pacific Northwest and a perfect way to find the solitude and beauty of the land during late fall.
Pulling into Swauk you first will find a recreation area where cross country skiing is permitted during the winter months and during summer months families can enjoy horse shoe pits, picnic and barbecue areas. Parking here is plentiful and invites you to enjoy the land in its entirety.
I noticed a small trail behind a shelter area and followed it to the gentle moving stream which passed throughout the back of not only the recreation area but also the camp. Here you could truly get a glimpse of the beauty and wonder of the trees opening up and increasing in size, the ferns growing wild and abundantly and the pine needles lining the forest floor creating a barrier which seems to trap sound and create a hush over the entire area.
The shelter when I had passed housed a large fire place and additional picnic tables making this a perfect location for those chilly nights you find in the forest.
Just beyond the recreation area the campground welcomes campers with large sites and plenty of room to spread out and enjoy a day, a weekend or a week. A self service pay station is located at the entrance to this portion. Single sites are $18 while doubles are $36, envelops are available alongside other rules and regulations for the campground.
Once you have secured your campsite at this location you will place your tag on the site itself in a small plastic placard located at the entrance of each site to signify it is taken. this allows you to navigate away from the campground to explore the forest and the many areas of interest near the Cascade Loop or the Gingko Forest.
Vault toilets can be found in two locations, one at the mid point of camp and the other at the entrance and provide facilities, however no running water is available at these sites. Running water can be found in the recreation area however if it is needed. You will want to make sure you are able to sustain without power however because that is not available at any portion of the campground.
This site overall is a great way to enjoy Washington and I found that visiting was an unexpected treat. To visit the facilities make sure you understand that this is not a State facility thus the Discover Pass is not accepted. Instead you will want to make sure you display a National Park Pass, as this is a site maintained by the Forest Service, though I will say no one was there to check it and there was no clear signage to mark this.
Tips:
* Bring your own firewood. There are signs posted throughout camp mentioning that you cannot cut trees in the area for any reason. There is no firewood station at this campground either so if you are planning on having a fire make sure you come prepared.
* Because this site is a part of the Forest Service there are also signs posted about saving the vegetation. This means you will want to park only in the areas that are marked clearly. If you have a rig which does not fit within the bounds, consider another site at the campground.
* If you need supplies you will want to find them in the larger cities or towns along the way. When I was here I noticed there are very few stops which provide basic essentials for many miles.
TravelerThis was a lovely campsite. It was smaller, yet felt large enough so you had your own privacy and space. There were clean facilities available, as well as drinking water and trash bins. Our lot was spacious with a nice picnic table, fire pit, and area for our two person tent. Everyone around us was respectful of one another and wasn't too loud late at night. There are trails behind the campsite that lead down to the river, or just a short drive away is the 'beach' and bridge overlooking the lake. It is peaceful and although the highway is close by, seeing the beauty of the area makes you think and feel you are deeper in nature. I would definitely stay here again for a longer period of time!
GuideThis place was great they had a ton of room and lots of trees between put campsite and the others. The lot was mostly sandy and the tent area was very flat. There was a woodsy area behind the site where kids could play. The bathrooms are fancy out houses no place to wash hands. Lots of bugs in the evening. To get to the lake you drive up to where it says boat launching site.
there is also a near by marina where you can rent fishing boats for 25$ and hour.
we had a great time.
GuideSites 9-12 are reservable, walk in and right against the river. The river was running high while we were there, so it drowned out most of the road noise. All four of these sites has room for 2 cars in the parking area. The hosts were super friendly and helpful and did a nice job keeping the grounds and bathrooms clean. It's windy and cooler along the river. Had we known about the wind, we'd have brought a different tent! Fishing seems like it must be decent given the number of people with poles and the number of flies we found. The sites each have a firepit and a picnic table.
Site 9 is huge with room for several tents and hammocks. There's little to no vegetation between it and site 10, but the river drowns out conversation and music noise, so it feels more private and the space between the sites allows you to create a natural open barrier between groups.
We were in site 10, which was also large. The best tree for tethering hammocks (or the dog) from had, unfortunately, been used as a toilet recently with lots of TP at its base. This also affected our tent placement... Nobody wants to sleep with their head in someone else's poop or pee. Beach access can be found down a steep-ish hill, but with the river running high, only allowed for a few rocks to sit on. When the river is running lower it looks like it would have a nice beach area. The top of the dirt is pretty soft, but a few inches down it becomes quite rocky. MSR Hedgehog stakes did OK given the sail that was our tent.
Site 11 is smaller with more foliage, so it seems somewhat more private, but lacks direct beach access. It sits highers than site 12 with trees and a downward sloap between the two.
Site 12 has the best privacy and easy, level beach access, with a large hill on one side and smaller one on the other. It sits lower than site 11 with the upward slope and foliage to create a screen. It also has a nice, flat walk in from the parking area.
Bathrooms are Porta-Potties. They were kept fairly clean while we were there. The outside two "filled" the fastest, the inner two have sinks with soap dispenser, running water activated with a foot pump. The hosts kept the soap, water and TP full the whole weekend. From sites 9 - 12, the walk to them was very short and easy so I'm not sure why someone felt like the tree was the better, easier option. People are disappointing that way.
There's no running water at this time so bring your own.
Dogs need to be leashed or tethered and cannot be barky. If your dog barks a lot and disturbs other people, you may be asked to leave. Ours is pretty quiet, so we did OK and our neighbors on either side didn't seem bothered by her friendly antics the few times she tried to say hi to them. Site 10 had a good place for a Knot-a-Hitch, if you have one. See pictures.
All and all, we'd stay here again as a basecamp for exploring the area, but only if we could be against the river and we'd definitely bring a better tent for the breezy conditions. Our preferred sites would be 9 or 12. Pro tip: hand sanitizer will remove pitch/sap from the pine trees. ;-)
GuideFire pits were nice plus a park bench each. Bathrooms clean, showers were still winterised sadly (cold only). Trains were slightly noisy during the night.
Very nice place to stay, helpful staff 👍
TravelerI don't car camp a whole lot, and usually prefer backcountry camping, but if you're looking for a spot that has the best of both worlds; I.e. Pit toilets, running water, and trail access to majorly awesome backcountry hiking the Walupt Lake is the place for you and your next adventure. The camp hosts were a friendly and knowledgable couple and we enjoyed camping by the lake at night and exploring high country hiking trails by day.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Cowiche, WA is Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 21 reviews.
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