Dispersed camping near Peshastin, Washington offers primitive sites within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, which spans 4 million acres across the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range. Winter snowpack typically lingers at higher elevations until late spring, making many access roads impassable before May. Summer temperatures range from 75-90°F during daytime, with nighttime temperatures dropping to 40-50°F even during warm months.
What to do
Mountain biking access: Forest Service Road 7601 provides excellent staging for mountain biking adventures. "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. The road does go up to a busy trailhead, so traffic in the morning starts early," notes Jonah C. at FS Road 7601 Dispersed.
River recreation: Riverside sites offer swimming and paddling options during summer months. "This spot did have a cool natural rock staircase down to the river. 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," reports Sydney D. from 4th of July Trail Leavenworth.
Hiking to alpine lakes: North Fork Teanaway River provides access to several trailheads. "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," explains Vicki at North Fork Teanaway River Dispersed.
What campers like
Secluded river camping: Hidden spots along waterways provide natural sound barriers from road noise. "This pull in is nestled behind a HUGE rock. The little loop has enough room for big rigs, it's flat, it has one fire circle, little to no shade, large enough for 6 average sized vehicles, right on the river, and due to the big rock (depending where you park) the road noise is blocked out," notes Sydney D.
Proximity to trailheads: Sites near popular hiking areas serve as convenient base camps. "Awesome spot! 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!" shares Renee G. from FS Road 7601.
Mountain vistas: Higher elevation sites provide sweeping views. "Within the almost 4 million acres of the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest, lie countless locations for dispersed camping. This area of the southeast corner of the NF has very little traffic compared to others, we saw only one ATV for the whole time we were there," reports Meghan from Chumstick Mountain.
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many sites require high-clearance vehicles. "This would get 5 stars if it weren't for the terribly bumpy and long road up to the main site. My Toyota Highlander made it up, but I was a little nervous. It seemed like there was only one large spot at the top/end of road," explains Alyson M. at Chumstick Mountain Dispersed Camping.
Early arrival recommended: Competition for prime sites intensifies on weekends. "We went as far as we could in our Ram Promaster till there was a crazy steep and washed out climb. Had to turn around," notes Ciara W. at Derby Road.
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be problematic, especially near water sources. "MOSQUITOES WERE AWFUL AT NIGHT FYI. A forest service rig pulled up on us in the AM and just waved :)" warns Paiton L. from Lake Wenatchee Airstrip.
Tips for camping with families
River access sites: Locations with gentle water features provide natural entertainment. "We camped right along the river, and there was even a little access point for kayaks and canoes and calm water for the kids," recommends Anna Marie C.B. from FS Road 7601 Dispersed.
Safety considerations: Some roads have significant traffic during peak periods. "Our only complaint was that our site was right off the road and we experienced moderate traffic which caused a lot of dust," reports Vicki from North Fork Teanaway River.
First-timer friendly areas: Select sites with established amenities for easier family camping. "Beautiful scenery, not hard to find, and lots of spaces open along the road. The road did get quite bumpy and rocky at points, but I assume this is normal for dispersed camping (this was my first dispersed camping experience)," shares Phoebe H.
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Many dispersed sites accommodate smaller rigs only. "The little loop has enough room for big rigs, it's flat, it has one fire circle, little to no shade, large enough for 6 average sized vehicles," notes Sydney D. from 4th of July Trail Levenworth.
Alternative parking areas: Some locations offer larger parking lots for bigger vehicles. "We turned at (47.8178974, -120.7258512) which you travel a short distance down a well maintained FS road to a very large gravel and dirt parking area. You can park in this parking lot if you choose, lots of space, great internet speeds," advises Paiton L.
Roadside options: Simple pullouts serve as practical overnight spots. "There are lots of pull offs along this road that would be suitable for car camping, but not big rigs or tents. We were originally parked at one of the roadside pull offs until we saw an empty designated dispersed site up the road so we moved there instead," explains Alyson M.
