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Beverly Dunes campground near Mattawa permits pets throughout its primitive camping areas along the Columbia River. Tent and RV campers with dogs can utilize the free camping spots while enjoying views of the Saddleback mountains. Most campsites in the region lack specific pet amenities but maintain standard leash requirements. Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground offers pet-friendly sites with water and electric hookups, though campers report it can become extremely windy at night, making tent camping with dogs challenging during certain seasons. Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping areas also welcome pets with minimal restrictions, providing more rugged accommodation options. During summer weekends, Beverly Dunes becomes noticeably louder when OHV users frequent the area.
The trail system connecting many of these pet-friendly campgrounds provides excellent dog walking opportunities, though owners should remain vigilant for wildlife. No designated dog parks exist within these campgrounds, so visitors should bring portable containment options if needed. Leashed dogs can join their owners at the petrified wood interpretive trails at Ginkgo Petrified Forest, where the 1.5-mile path showcases numerous preserved specimens. Water access points along the Columbia River offer dogs swimming opportunities during warmer months. Most primitive camping areas lack waste stations, so campers should pack appropriate disposal bags. The closest veterinary services and pet supplies require a drive to larger towns. Midweek visits typically provide quieter camping experiences for dogs sensitive to noise and activity.
"No dog park. Great view of the lake from your door. We took a 4 mile, one-way, bike ride to the town of Vantage and then to the Ginkgo Petrified Forest."
"This place is close to home for anyone in central Washington, the sites are giant and the views are amazing."
"Walk in sites are really tight. Heavy winds at night. No running water bathrooms. Noise from highway at night is very noticeable. No recycling option."
"Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and path down to a rocky beach on the Columbia."
"It is hay cutting season, and semi’s are racing up and down the road 60 feet away from the front sites starting at 7:30 am and continuing until dark. Jake brakes will wake you up. Trust me."
"Location has trees, grass, picnic tables, full hook ups, basic and premium rates, showers(3 minutes hot water for .50, buy 2 tokens at a pop, you can walk down to the river."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Great little campsite near the petrified forest. Windy the day we were there - but beautiful location near river. We had a large herd of bighorn sheep as pre dusk visitors which was great to admire."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Great location so close to 90 but tucked away - will be staying here often"
"I prefer to park here when its not busy as the "Feathers" basalt columns are really pretty to camp up next to. The second open site down the road has pit toilets and is a much larger area."
"The landscape is gorgeous, there’s a sand dune right around the corner, and the sunsets are breathtaking."
"There's a trail down to the waterfall and one toilet but no tp so be prepared. Dog friendly and there's a boat launch at the very end of the drive."
GuideNice spacious sites. Lots of privacy between sites. No dog park. Great view of the lake from your door. We took a 4 mile, one-way, bike ride to the town of Vantage and then to the Ginkgo Petrified Forest. The town of vantage is very small with a lot of closed shops. Has a gas station and convenience store. That’s about it. Very scenic area and quiet and relaxing.
LegendEastern Washington near the water is my favorite type of landscape. It's a hot, windy, and a true desert climate. When you get near a body of water like you do along the Yakima River, the diversity of life expands and makes for great wildlife watching.
Umtanum Recreation Site is part of several BLM campgrounds lumped together along the Yakima River known as the Yakima River Canyon Campgrounds. All can be reserved ahead of time via the reservation.gov website: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/250985. Standard for most BLM camping in Washington, sites are very basic. Gravel parking, pit toilets, and a picnic table. This place does have a dumpster for trash, not all do. There are no hook ups, no drinking water, and in our case, very little shade. Neighbors are close and there is not a lot of privacy. The day use area is right there too, close to camping and can be loud. It is heavily patrolled by the wonderful BLM folks to keep everything clean and the people orderly. They also give out tickets if you don't mind the warnings for correct passes or day use fees.
The campground itself is one little loop with six sites. The loop is an offshoot of a very large gravel parking area for day use. Mostly boat launching and hiking access to Umtanum Creek and Umtaum Ridge trails. You can check the Information Board for rules on day use and camping fees, passes, and how to check to see if a site is reserved.
We arrived on July 3rd in the afternoon. The campground was very quiet and all the sites were reserved. The morning of July 4th, the recreation site turned into a total madhouse. BLM Rangers, Law Enforcement, making constant rounds to patrol the never ending hoards of people coming to park and float the river. There was a lot of noise, dust, drunk and rowdy folks. Friday was calm again until afternoon, Saturday was not as bad as the 4th but still pretty crazy. It was also hot! No shade to be had in our site. After hiking in the morning, we spent a lot of time across the bridge, in it's shadow, in the river.
If you are using this spot as a base to do some hiking, fishing, or floating it's very convenient. I am sure in Spring and Fall when river floating is not at it's peak, it's gorgeous and peaceful. The raptors and songbirds are splendid. We saw Bighorn sheep on the hill, big rock squirrels, wild turkeys with babies, and fish. No rattlesnakes or ticks, but this is prime territory. Hiking down the Umtanum Creek trail, over the suspension bridge, is one of my favorite hikes ever.
ScoutWe were passing through and Horn Rapids was perfect for our use. It has a nice little mini mart, drive through spots, full hookups, playground for the kids, clean bathrooms/showers, and allows pets. It is also close to Safeway and right outside the gate is a camper trailer friendly gas station with diesel.
We will definitely be adding this spot to our route again when we pass through.
RangerMartha Lake was a pleasant surprise. We stayed overnight on the 4th of July in our Sprinter van to give our dogs a break from the fireworks. Although there were some fireworks nearby, they didn’t bother the dogs at all.
Martha Lake requires a Discovery Pass, and you're allowed to stay for up to three days. There were three other car campers the night we stayed, but we were spaced out enough that I could only see one other vehicle in the distance.
There’s a bathroom near the entrance, but we never had to use it since we had our own onboard. Fishing is allowed, and we camped right next to the lake.
Hands down, I’d camp here again if I’m in the area.
LegendThis is a Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing access site. It is free with a Washington State Discovery Pass for $30/year. This annual pass will also gain you admission to state parks. There are several boat launch sites here and a number of those Sani Cans. The area is spread out over open land with smooth rocks. It can be a bit bumpy if hauling a trailer unless you stick to the smooth rock roads. No shade except along the shore.
For a free site, it has its good points: easy access to highway 24/243 which will bring you to I-90, quiet, wide open space, near the Vernita Bridge Rest Area for free tank dump site. If you arrive on the last weekend of October, there is a huge king salmon fishing derby with about 100 entrants so you will have company. But, it is usually quiet midweek in the spring and fall. It may be busier in the summer midweek as there are lots of fishing enthusiast ps and boaters who live close by in the Tri Cities area.
If you need a quiet place for one night or are hauling a river fishing boat, this is a good place to stay.
GuideWe tried to find a campground nearby because it was getting late and somehow this site never popped up on this app for me -but, we ended up seeing a sign for it and turned in and were pleasantly surprised. Water fountains, sinks, flush toilets, fire pits and all of that. There are (harmless) spiders all over the trees and bushes (but I've read that about almost all of the surrounding campgrounds). Not sure whether they enforce payments or not, but the sign said it was $15 per site with $5 for an additional car. This was a nice place to stop in the middle of nowhere. Also, most of the campsites were empty so we were able to have our pick from some great spots. Plus, we made friends with a very friendly cat who was staying there.
GuideRelatively new campground. They are in process of completing a playground and dog walk. They have a pool and hot tub. All laundry, bathroom and shower facilities require a code. Sites are average. Some come with grills and patio furniture. All come with picnic tables. Lush grass sites, very clean. Some highway noise but not that bad. Close to several towns and RV stores.
LegendNote: Lake needs Washington Discover Pass
Stopped while traveling through for an overnight stay.
Camping areas are big gravel lots next to the lake.
Had no problem with level.
There is some noise from I90, but not really that bad.
Nobody else was at the lake when we stayed.
Great overnight stop with a lake view out our back door.
RangerClose to Moses Lake and Wenatchee - perfect getaway for the weekend. Beautiful sites near the river and the area is rapidly growing with activity. Seems like everyone has a dog. 😆
The Mattawa area sits in a transition zone between the Columbia Basin's desert terrain and the Saddle Mountains, with elevations ranging from 500-1,000 feet. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F while receiving less than 8 inches of annual rainfall. Camping options stretch along the Columbia River with many sites offering direct water access despite the arid landscape.
Explore the Petrified Forest: Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park offers a fascinating geological experience. "Hike and Bike spot did not include a table or cooking grill/fire pit. It also sits next to restrooms. This is a nice desert campground with green lawns and close proximity to the river. Winds picked up dramatically at night," notes Tim J. from Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground.
Visit the waterfall at Frenchman Coulee: The dramatic canyon landscape provides interesting hiking opportunities. "Waterfall, gorge, amazing scenery! There is a pit toilet and there were some people climbing. No accessible water. Only a couple miles from the highway. It was windy, as this whole area is," reports Tee C. about Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping.
Swimming and fishing access: The Columbia River shoreline offers multiple activity points. "The campsites are in great condition (gravel pad, picnic table) and the water access is great for kids - rocky coastline and calm water. We caught one fish and our 9 yr old caught minnows in a lagoon," shares Julie M. about Sand Hollow Campground.
Seasonal wildlife viewing: Many campers appreciate the natural inhabitants of the area. "Very isolated and the river gave off a very mellow vibe. The boat ramp area is great because of the view and the wildlife. We saw many ducks and some geese floating down the river at high speeds. Also saw coyotes and friendly bees," writes Kevin C. about Vernita Bridge.
Expansive star viewing: The minimal light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing. "Very quiet. Weekends can get kinda busy due to hikers and rock climbing enthusiasts. On clear nights you can see all the stars. Which is my favorite! There are lots of sites to camp," reports Billie J. about Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping.
Well-maintained facilities: Campers frequently note the cleanliness of park amenities. "This is our second time visiting this park and we're surprised how clean and well kept the park is. The bathrooms are great. The showers are the best we found, the hook ups are always in good repair," shares Dean S. from Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground.
Extreme wind conditions: This area experiences significant wind events that affect camping comfort. "Big nice full hook up developed campground. Upper loop is more sage brushy & less manicured lawn than the lower loop. Great views and pretty private spots. If there is a concert at the Gorge don't even try here as it will be a full party palace. Can be very windy," warns Mels about Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park.
Concert impact on campgrounds: Sites fill quickly during events at the Gorge Amphitheatre. "This was a great alternative to the crazy cost of camping at the gorge. Unfortunately some of the sites, including ours, were a bit torn up and very sandy. It was the middle of wildfire season (high winds) and not much blockage for our poor tent that got destroyed in the wind," shares Ali D. about Vantage Riverstone Resort Campground.
Limited shade coverage: The desert environment offers minimal natural shade. "Dusty. Minimal to no shade. Walk in sites are really tight. Heavy winds at night. No running water bathrooms. Noise from highway at night is very noticeable," reports Quaneisha P. from Sand Hollow Campground.
Accessible swimming areas: Look for gradual entry points for children. "The campground seems almost brand new. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and path down to a rocky beach on the Columbia. The sites are definitely not large enough for most RVs," notes Nicole C. about Sand Hollow Campground.
Best sites for families: Choose upper loop sites for more privacy. "Very cool state park in the middle of the Wanapum Recreational area and on the shores of Wanapum Lake/Columbia River. Two camping loops, one on a bluff overlooking the river with pretty views (the loop you want to be on) and the other further away from the water," advises Brian C. about Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground.
Midweek visits recommended: Weekends bring higher usage and noise levels. "I have stayed here many times. It is an ohv area so weekends, especially holiday weekends, can get loud and crowded. During the week it is very quiet and peaceful," explains Jacob V. about Beverly Dunes.
Wind protection strategies: Park strategically to shield your unit. "Campground was across from a gorge. There was a campstore with all necessities. Sites are all grassy and gravel. The wind was so bad we couldn't use our awning or slideout," cautions Susan V. about Vantage Riverstone Resort Campground.
Dump station availability: Plan your water usage accordingly. "Discover Pass required. Not for regular camping. Used for staying overnight and getting up early to hit the water," notes Jennifer R. about Vernita Bridge regarding limited facilities.
Site selection for pet owners: Find sites with adequate space for dogs. "Location has trees, grass, picnic tables, full hook ups, basic and premium rates, showers(3 minutes hot water for .50, buy 2 tokens at a pop), you can walk down to the river," describes Matthew S. about Vantage Riverstone Resort Campground, providing pet friendly camping near Mattawa with decent spacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mattawa, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mattawa, WA is Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mattawa, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 89 dog-friendly camping locations near Mattawa, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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