T
Teresa A.
Legend
LegendWenatchee Confluence State Park Campground
Overnight stay
We spent a pleasant evening in this beautiful park. Facilities are clean and well kept. Sites are spread out with plenty of grassy area between each site.
Tent Camping near Ephrata, WA
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Tent campsites near Ephrata, Washington range from simple clearings to primitive backcountry sites within the shrub-steppe landscape of central Washington. Crab Creek Camp provides a simple clearing for tent camping with proximity to water, while Frenchman Coulee Backcountry Campsites attracts climbers with its dramatic canyon walls and tent-friendly areas. Several Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sites like Burke Lake West and Caliche Lake provide basic tent camping access with seasonal availability between April and July.
Many primitive tent camping areas have minimal or no amenities, requiring self-sufficiency. Most sites lack drinking water, with visitors needing to bring their own supply. Vault toilets are available at some locations including Frenchman Coulee, Lind Coulee, and Burke Lake West, but not at more remote sites like Crab Creek Camp. Fire restrictions are common throughout the region, particularly during summer months when fire danger increases. Drive-in access varies significantly, with some areas requiring high-clearance vehicles to navigate rough, potholed dirt roads. Tent pads are generally unmarked and may consist of gravel, dirt, or compacted soil.
The backcountry tent camping experience in this region offers stark, dramatic landscapes with exposed terrain and limited shade. Rocky Coulee Recreation Area provides tent pads on crushed rock with picnic tables and designated fire pits when burn bans aren't in effect. The area offers opportunities for wildlife viewing, including bighorn sheep at certain locations. Frenchman Coulee is particularly popular with rock climbers who use the tent camping areas as a base for accessing nearby routes. According to one visitor, "It's primarily a rock climbers base camp, but also serves well for a great overnight stop where you can camp right on the edge of the canyon, get in some nice vista views, and a short hike to a falls." Another noted that "weekends get busy with rowdy Seattle climbers," suggesting weekday visits for those seeking solitude at primitive tent sites.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Ephrata (30)
1. Crab Creek Camp
2. Frenchman Coulee Backcountry Campsites
"This is a well-known primitive camping area for rock climbers and other outdoor recreation folks (there are also hiking, biking and boating opportunities in the Frenchman Coulee recreation area)."
"Plenty of car camping and is a popular spot for rock climbing. There's a trail down to the waterfall and one toilet but no tp so be prepared."
3. Burke Lake West
"It was next to some farmland after a Dave Matthews concert @ the Gorge. No amenities where we were, but quite beautiful."
4. South Outlet - WDFW
5. Caliche Lake
"Probably wouldn’t want to tent camp here, not a lot of flat cleared ground, but we found a small clearing that was perfect for a night."
"Close to the highway though and you can hear cars. It was a convenient place to stay after a concert at the Gorge."
6. Alkali Lake
7. Lake Chelan State Park Campground
"This is a great park and a premium camping location on the popular Lake Chelan. A favorite location for west siders to escape the rain for some guaranteed sunshine in Central Washington."
"We camped in the tent camping side towards the lake (site 89) and had a decent amount of privacy."
from $12 - $41 / night
Check Availability8. Rocky Coulee Recreation Area
"Walk in spots. Walk-in is about 100 yards. Quiet. Some wild life. Frogs and sheep. Good place to drop in and find a spot last minute depending on the day and time of year."
"Picnic tables and tent pads on crushed rock probably 1/4-. I couldn’t find where to park."
from $10 / night
Check Availability9. Old Vantage Highway
"The campgrounds are right next to all the climbing vantage has to offer. You can park right next to your site, have fires."
10. Lind Coulee Island Site
Drive Time
- 51 min from Wenatchee, WA
- 1 hr 29 min from Yakima, WA
- 1 hr 35 min from Kennewick, WA
- 1 hr 47 min from Spokane, WA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Ephrata, WA
8 Photos of 30 Ephrata Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Ephrata, WA
433 Reviews of 30 Ephrata Campgrounds
Emily A.
RangerPerch Point Wild Camping Area
Surprisingly great!
I’m really pleasantly surprised by this site. It’s right on the way (closest we’ve ever gotten to stay because we’re a bigger rig). Close to town!!! Has a perfectly nice bathrooms nearby. Beautiful sunsets. Lots of room for spreading out. Not popular for late September. Mosquitos are out at night but not during the day time!
- DDuane H.
GuideSmokiam Campground & Kampers Korner
Nice clean not spectacular
It is basically a gravel lot along soap lake. It has full hookups and costs $52/ Night. Easy to get in. You have to use the QR code box on the board beside the gate. It works easily and you get your gate code by email quickly. The internet is strong but slow. We are using our Verizon with 5g signal. Showers nice and hot.
Dustin W.GuidePerch Point Wild Camping Area
Pretty view, lots of bugs, stinky
Pros: The lake has a really pretty sunset view. Spots are spaced out and the ones by the water have picnic tables. Easy drive in. Not many people here Cons: we visited in mid September, arrived around sunset, and the bugs were BAAAADDD, like real bad by the water. Went up to an inland site and they were still active but not as terrible. You can hear road noise. Also smells like horse manure
Update: some random man came and parked right next to us at 0630 to “walk his dogs”
- Betsy W.Ranger
Quincy Lake
Quiet!!
Pit toilets clean and stocked. Sites spread out. Only one other camper on a Saturday. Diverse landscape with variety of birds Verizon 2 bars on ridge 1 bar in lower sites. No trash or water.
Lisa M.LegendAnkeny #1
Free but nothing special
We camped here for one night. It’s about a mile down a dirt road that is fairly well maintained. Several gravel campsites. Right next to the lake, although you can’t really see it with all the bushes. But there is a gravel boat ramp that you could launch a kayak or a canoe from. There is a vault toilet, but it’s pretty sketchy. Was nice and quiet. Only one other camper here with us.
- Charlie Y.Guide
Coulee City Campground
Crosscountry traveler
Discovered this CG around dusk...We needed a site for the night...Full hook up...kiosk serviced CG....Decent CG clean, safe,secure...We decided to stay a couple of nights in order to visit Coulee Dam....glad we did! Woke up after nite #2 to find a flat tire on my tow vehicle...picked up a large screw somewhere the night before....Tried to plug it myself to no avail......sought out advice from local mechanic...he recommend Les Schwab Tire shop in either Ephrata or Coulee Dam....We drove to Ephrata(incredibly scenic drive)..arrived at Les Schwab tire shop an hour before they closed....very busy place.....I told the salesman I would like to have the tire pulled off the rim and a patch put on from the inside.....He said well as you can see we're very busy but I'll try and get it done before we close...20 minutes later the salesman calls and tells me my tire is repaired and ready to be picked up....He printed out an invoice...COMPLIMENTARY REPAIR....NO CHARGE....I couldn't believe it....The tire wasn't bought at one of their dealerships as I live on the East coast...So I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EPHRATA Les Schwab Tire Shop should you ever be in the neighborhood.........Coulee City municipal campground saved the day.....I was able to extend the visit long enough to make the necessary repairs...Incredibly scenic area in the high desert.... I saw on one review about prickly little tree droppings...yes indeed all around on the ground....but high desert and you can expect such things....A fair amount of dog droppings ...so watch your step. Overall we were pleased with the campground....price was decent
- Lisa M.Legend
Wenatchee Confluence State Park Campground
Beautiful Campground
Beautiful state park right on the Columbia river. There are several pull through sites as well as lots of back in sites and dry camping sites. Most of the sites have water, electric and sewer hook ups. On asphalt pads. Showers were clean and lots of hot water. Great hiking and biking trails in the area. Right next to a huge park that has a playground and volleyball and horseshoe pits. Grass everywhere! Did get charged $15 extra for being out of state resident.
Liv M.
TravelerMoses Lake Mud Flats and Sand Dunes
Didn’t stay but nothing wrong
Just wanted to provide a reason why we choose not to stay here since no one has rated this in 4+ years.
We drove through around 11pm on the Sunday after Labor Day weekend. On our way back from a Gorge show to Montana. It just didn’t seem like a good place to try and scope out a site in the pitch black. People clearly were camping but we had to sent up a tent. If we had our van probably would’ve stayed. There’s not a lot of information, but there’s a area where camping isn’t allowed and we seemed to find where it was, but would’ve had to drive around in currently occupied areas and potentially get stuck in sand. Thought about trying to drive down a spur road near where Google said there was a trailhead but we’re also unsure if vehicles were even allowed down that road.
If it wasn’t Labor Day weekend maybe we could’ve driven around more and found a good spot. There were porta potties. People were definitely awake that late but didn’t see anyone driving around and being super crazy.
Guide to Ephrata
Tent camping near Ephrata, Washington offers primitive experiences in a shrub-steppe environment where summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F. The region sits at approximately 1,280 feet elevation and receives under 8 inches of annual rainfall, creating a desert-like landscape. Most camping areas open between April and October with some locations requiring permits or passes.
What to do
Rockclimbing access: Frenchman Coulee Backcountry Campsites serves as a strategic base camp for climbers. "This is a well-known primitive camping area for rock climbers and other outdoor recreation folks (there are also hiking, biking and boating opportunities in the Frenchman Coulee recreation area)," notes one visitor.
Wildlife viewing: Rocky Coulee Recreation Area offers chances to see desert wildlife in their natural habitat. "We had a large herd of bighorn sheep as pre dusk visitors which was great to admire," reports a camper. The area includes maintained trails where wildlife spotting is common.
Water recreation: Several camping areas provide access to lakes and waterways for swimming or paddling during hot summer months. "Great little campsite near the petrified forest. Windy the day we were there - but beautiful location near river," shares a camper about Rocky Coulee. Another notes at Caliche Lake: "Not reaaally a campsite per se, but there are a few spots that can be used for camping."
What campers like
Affordability: Most primitive camping areas require minimal fees or permits. A visitor to Rocky Coulee mentioned, "For $10- a great place," making the area budget-friendly for overnight stays.
Scenic desert landscapes: The stark terrain offers unique views unlike typical forested campgrounds. At Caliche Lake, campers appreciate the surroundings: "It was very beautiful and private but it's right off the highway so you can hear traffic all night. Ideal if you're just looking for somewhere to crash before you get back on the road."
Solitude on weekdays: Several camping areas become crowded during peak periods but offer solitude midweek. One camper at Old Vantage Highway notes the challenges with crowds but adds, "fortunately it was not full so it seemed better."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Most primitive camping requires complete self-sufficiency. At Burke Lake West, a camper reports, "Coordinates woulda taken us down a dirt road with a lotta potholes so we just pulled a bit off the road and car camped. It was next to some farmland after a Dave Matthews concert @ the Gorge. No amenities where we were, but quite beautiful."
Weather extremes: The region experiences intense heat during summer days followed by cool nights. Rocky Coulee campers warn: "No shade!! And it does get very hot, even though there is some lake effect."
Road conditions: Access roads to many camping areas require careful navigation. "Small camper trailers can work in some areas but the roads leading to campsites are very rocky and some are steep," warns a Frenchman Coulee visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Bring water supplies: No reliable water sources exist at most primitive sites. Pack 1-2 gallons per person per day during summer months.
Consider Lake Chelan for amenities: Lake Chelan State Park Campground offers more family-friendly facilities than primitive sites near Ephrata. "This was our first time at Lake Chelan since we our new to the PNW. We wanted to go somewhere for Mother's Day since the weather was going to be beautiful! So with this being our son (who is two) first official camping trip we wanted to make sure there would be stuff to keep him occupied."
Plan for exposure: Most tent sites lack natural shade. Bring portable shelters, sunscreen, and cooling options during summer camping trips.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most dispersed camping areas have restricted space for larger vehicles. A camper at Frenchman Coulee notes: "There is not a lot of room for big rigs so I would not suggest staying here If you're 20+ feet long. Plenty of car camping and is a popular spot for rock climbing."
Leveling challenges: The terrain at primitive sites often requires careful positioning. Tent pads at Rocky Coulee are "nicely maintained area with picnic tables and campfire pits," but RV parking areas may need leveling blocks.
Short-term stays: Many primitive sites work better for brief stopovers than extended camping. A Caliche Lake visitor shared: "This area isn't much of a campground and you wouldn't want to spend an extensive amount of time at but I stayed here for two nights while breaking up a long trip."
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ephrata, WA is Crab Creek Camp with a 3-star rating from 1 review.
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