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Dispersed camping near South Cle Elum in Washington's Cascade Range includes several primitive sites on forest service and BLM lands. The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area offers secluded camping spots with mountain views, while areas along the Cle Elum River and North Fork Teanaway Road provide riverside camping opportunities. French Cabin Creek Recreation Area, Kachess Lake Lakebed, and Liberty Town/Williams Creek feature additional primitive camping zones. Most sites require no reservations and typically allow camping for up to 14 days, though specific regulations may vary by location.
Access roads throughout the region range from moderately maintained gravel to rough, rocky terrain requiring high-clearance vehicles. The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area features steep, rocky roads with limited clearance, while routes to Kachess Lake Lakebed contain sharp rocks that can damage vehicle tires. Most dispersed sites have no amenities—no drinking water, toilets, or trash service. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly July through September when fire danger is highest. A Discover Pass is required for some areas, including the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area.
These primitive camping areas appeal to those seeking solitude and natural settings. The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area provides expansive views of the Cascade Mountains, with campers reporting wildlife sightings including elk and wild turkeys. According to one visitor, "This was a great hidden spot and we did not see anyone else the whole time." However, some locations like Kachess Lake Lakebed can become crowded during summer months, with reviews noting it can be "very dirty, dusty and noisy, dirt bikes are everywhere." Environmental impacts are a growing concern, particularly at Kachess Lake where one reviewer observed "mountains of garbage due to no garbage services." Forest service roads along the North Fork Teanaway River offer quieter alternatives with river access, though cell service is limited or nonexistent in most areas.
"After figuring out which gate to go through (make sure and shut the gate behind you), I took a road to the right with my truck and 19 ft. epro."
"**Ranger Review: Camp Fare Premium Meals at LT Murray Wildlife Area ** Camping Review: The LT Murray Wildlife Area is located in Thorp, between Cle Elum and Ellensburg."
"Great boondocking. We made it fine in our 26ft class c, but the big sharp-edged rocks were concerning to drive over."
"Dispersed camping , plenty space but some times overcrowded if temperature is above 80."
"For dispersed camping you gotta get out of the main "campground". Tons of options just off the beaten path."
"Ranger Review: GCI Waterside Pod Rocker with Sunshade at French Cabin Creek Dispersed Camping Camping Review: 5 stars
We have nothing but love for French Cabin Creek (F.C.C.) dispersed camping"
"Easy river access from all camp spots. Great trees for hammocks, ect. Would not recommend a low clearance vehicle; big rocks and roots on most roads."
"there are truly endless amounts of sites along this road- most along the river. they are super fun and each one is pleasantly different. couldn’t recommend this road more for dispersed camping"
"Stumbled on this by just exploring the backroads near the BLM campground down the road. Technically this is USDA Forest Service land, but it is RIGHT next to BLM land. "
"Stayed here for a week, had a great time near the creek with our dogs! Attempted some fly fishing after seeing some others give it a shot with no luck. Tons of dispersed camping up and down the road!"
"There are Porta POTTIES, other than that no amenities. First come first serve."
"If you're heading out here, I highly encourage continuing past the main entrance spots and pushing a little farther down the road/trail."
"We walked around and found a narrow path you could drive further into the spot and there were probably another 4 spots further back."
"There are ~5 dispersed campsites on this side road off the main North Fork Teanaway road. Some maps show this side road as "Loop Camp 973725"."
"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."
"Single campsite off the forest service road. No porta potty, no water, no electricity. Could accommodate a group. No picnic table. Not an actual metal fire pit but someone made a rock ring."
"We almost made it to the end of the dirt road before we found a lot with a fire pit that could fit our group of 4."
"Lots of dispersed camping opportunities leading up to the Rachel Lake Trailhead and the Box Canyon Creek Site on NF-4930. Also many spots on the NF-118 spur, which is where we stayed."
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.
RangerIt was MAGICAL- mushrooms, fall leaves, and moss everywhere. Keep in mind that there’s no signal, Starlink nor cell.. we also were freezing at night (35 degrees) in early October and the spots were tricky for our bigger rig. But if you have a smaller rig there’s tons of places off of road 73 for dispersed camping. Bumpy road to get there but keep on driving and you’ll find places with even firepits.
ScoutDriving here from Graham washington, I passed so many camp spots I was shook lol. Amazing camp site for free, I believe u need discover pass. the water is beautiful not many people here so many spots by the water Amazing, where i am u definitely need high clearance to even be close to water, Unless u tent camp away from your vehicle which is not far there are a lot of spots everywhere. The water moves fast and your up high bring your hammocks.
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
ScoutWe attempted to go here. We followed "the dyrt" and then clicked on recreation dot gov link for driving directions which told us to take HWY 12 to SR1200 then SR1000. We even looked it up on google maps and it seemed totally do-able. We'll we made it about 7 miles on SR1000 and came to the top of a very very steep incline. Sent a scout vehicle ahead and they couldn't make it across a big gulley. Saw another small Ford truck attempting to cross towards us at the same area, and they bottomed out and had to turn around. We also had to turn back down SR1000 and go all the way back to HWY 12. We were trying to haul a 24ft travel trailer. Its completely impossible as of 9/2026. Find alternate route, because that SR1000 is dangerous trying to haul a trailer or a camper. Not to mention, the beginning of SR1200 was super narrow and sketchy.
ScoutWe left someone left trash everywhere
Rustic camping near South Cle Elum, Washington encompasses Forest Service roads and public lands between 2,000-5,000 feet elevation. The area receives significant snowfall between November and April, limiting access to most primitive sites during winter months. Summer temperatures typically range from 45°F at night to 85°F during daytime hours.
River activities: Access points along the Cle Elum River provide swimming and floating opportunities. One camper at North Fork Teanaway River - Dispersed noted, "We had a nice short walk through a secluded walk in site that led to a rocky river bed."
Hiking: Multiple trail systems connect to dispersed camping areas. At French Cabin Creek Recreation Area, a visitor mentioned several nearby trails including "Pete Lake trail, Salmon la Sac trail, Domerie Peak trail, French Cabin Creek trail and Thorp Creek/Little Joe Lake trail."
Wildlife viewing: Early morning and evening hours offer the best wildlife spotting opportunities. In the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area, one camper reported, "We saw large elk, deer, many birds, and were visited by some wild turkeys in the night."
Privacy and solitude: Many dispersed sites offer significant distance from neighboring campers. A visitor to L.T. Murray Wildlife Area shared, "After going through the gate (and closing it) we head down the gravel road directly in front of us. We saw multiple places to pull into and drove about 10-15 minutes before pulling off into a nice private area."
No reservation requirements: Most areas allow flexible arrival times without advance planning. A camper at Salmon la Sac Road Dispersed Camping noted, "Lots of space for big groups, but it does get crowded on the weekend. Lots of little secluded spots which are more quite at night."
Cell service variability: Some locations maintain connectivity while others offer true disconnection. At Kachess Lake Logging Road Campsites, one visitor reported, "Spotty cell service--a cell phone booster helped a lot."
Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly by location and recent weather. At Liberty Town / Williams Creek Dispersed Camping, a camper observed, "Some of these sites can be tricky to get to unless you have a good vehicle for it. I don't think I would have been able to get to the further in dispersed sites if I was driving a Civic."
Weekday/weekend differences: Site availability changes dramatically throughout the week. One visitor to White River Dispersed Camping reported, "We arrived mid afternoon on a Friday and there were plenty of options to pick from but it did fill up by around 9pm."
Environmental impacts: Trash accumulation affects popular areas. A reviewer at Kachess Lake Logging Road Campsites noted, "The site was trashed. We picked up a full garbage bag of trash."
Water safety: River access points require supervision. Near Salmon la Sac Road Dispersed Camping, a camper mentioned, "Once the weather warms up the river lowers and slows down. Lots of area for kids to create their little pools to swim in."
Insect preparation: Bring appropriate repellents, especially in early summer. A visitor to Liberty Town / Williams Creek advised, "If you do get a spot, bring a citronella candle, the mosquitos are thick."
Toilet access planning: Most sites lack facilities entirely. A camper at Salmon la Sac noted, "Outhouses are sparse so bring tp."
Size limitations: Most primitive sites accommodate smaller rigs only. At Kachess Lake Logging Road Campsites, campers reported, "There are only one or two sites on this logging road that are available for RVs our size (ours is a Class A 35') about a mile up the compacted gravel road from the lake."
Road surface challenges: Sharp rocks pose puncture risks. An RVer at L.T. Murray Wildlife Area mentioned, "We towed our 24 ft trailer up this road which turned out fine but definitely pushed the limits. Roads were very rocky at times but tolerable."
Leveling preparations: Bring substantial leveling blocks for uneven terrain. At French Cabin Creek Recreation Area, one RVer shared, "We dry camp in our 32ft class A motorhome with no issues whatsoever. The sound of the Howson Creek will lull you to sleep at night."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near South Cle Elum, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near South Cle Elum, WA is L.T. Murray Wildlife Area with a 4.5-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near South Cle Elum, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 73 dispersed camping locations near South Cle Elum, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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