Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in South Cle Elum is the way to go. Finding a place to stay in Washington while traveling with your horse has never been easier. You're sure to find the perfect site for your Washington horse camping excursion.
Located along the west fork of the Teanaway River, the camp offers 55 campsites with fire rings and two ADA-accessible toilets.
Bumping Lake Campground sits just off the forested shore of Bumping Lake in the Cascade Mountains east of Mount Rainier National Park, about 45 miles northwest of Naches, Washington. Fantastic peaks, high-country lakes and old-growth forests provide visitors with unique and surprising landscapes, making the campground an ideal setting for both individual and family camping excursions.
In addition to being a prime location for hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding and mountain biking in summer and early fall, visitors can take advantage of skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter months. Bumping Lake is a popular destination for boating, water skiing, fishing and swimming. A boat ramp is located in the lower section of the campground. The American Ridge Trail is a popular among hikers and equestrians, meandering through more than 26 miles of towering forests, mountain meadows and past high elevation lakes from the Bumping River to the Pacific Crest Trail.
Bumping Lake was created naturally by glaciers and is fed by snowmelt. It is surrounded by rugged mountain terrain, wetlands and old-growth conifer forests. The area supports wildlife such as deer, porcupine, native fish and migratory birds. Endangered and threatened species, including the Northern Bald Eagle, the Northern Spotted Owl, gray wolves and grizzly bears also find havens in nearby ecosystems.
This location has limited staffing. Please call (661) 702-1420 for general information.
Visitors enjoy making a day trip to nearby Mount Rainer National Park, which offers sublime views of glaciers, subalpine ecology and volcanic landscapes. Hikers may want to traverse a portion of the spectacular Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), one of the world's premier National Scenic Trails. This trail showcases some of North America's most fantastic scenery as it winds its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington.
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
$22 / night
Lake Wenatchee State Park is a 489-acre camping park with 12,623-feet of waterfront on glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee and the Wenatchee River and is a great place for camping near Seattle. The park is bisected by the Wenatchee River, creating two distinct areas – south park, which features areas for camping, swimming and horseback riding, and north park, which is in a less developed, forested section of the park and a quarter-mile walk from the lake.
The park has 155 tent spaces, 42 water and electric sites, one dump station, seven restrooms, and 16 showers. In addition, the park provides two ADA campsites. Call 509-763-3101 for more information.
The south campground (sites 1 - 100) has parking pads 30 to 40-feet in length, with only two pull-through sites. Larger RVs and fifth-wheelers should use the north campground (sites 101 - 197) which includes 42 large pull-through utility sites. Maximum tents allowed are one family tent or up to two 2-3 man tents. Maximum vehicles allowed are two per site, additional vehicles may park in overflow areas.
BEAR WARNING: bears frequent this area, make sure to store food and garbage properly
This walk-in campground on Cooper Lake offers 22 tent-only sites.
$14 / night
Dispersed camping is the term used for camping in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Typically, it refers to roadside car camping, but also refers to backpacking in undeveloped sites. Dispersed camping means there are no services like trash removal, and amenities such as toilets, tables and fire pits, are not usually available.
It is your responsibility to plan ahead and learn the extra skills necessary for dispersed camping. Camping rules and regulations apply to make your experience safe, and to keep the natural resources scenic and unspoiled for other campers.
Dispersed camping along Forest Service roads is allowed where there is adequate space to safely park completely off the roadway and not on any vegetation. Whether car camping or backpacking, choose an existing campsite on bare or compacted soil. Unless signed as an area where a fee is required, dispersed camping is free. Dispersed camping is prohibited in developed campgrounds and areas posted closed or no camping. Some designated Wilderness areas have additional restrictions. For the best information on dispersed camping opportunities and local restrictions, please contact the nearest ranger district office.
Rules for Dispersed Camping These rules apply to car camping and backpacking
You may camp in a dispersed area in an individual Ranger District for up to 14 days within a 30-day period. After 14 days, you must move to another Ranger District or off the National Forest until the 30 days has elapsed.
Do not blaze new roads to campsites, create new campsites, clear ground, cut or harm vegetation or construct a trail.
Do not drive beyond constructed physical barriers, such as berms or gates.
Do not drive through streams or wetlands to access a camp.
If campfires are legal in your location and you choose to have a campfire, pick a site with an existing fire pit. Do not create new fire pits. Make sure your campfire is always attended and is dead out and cold to the touch before you leave your site. Fires may be restricted or banned based on the fire danger rating.
Follow Leave No Trace principles and come prepared to “Pack it in. Pack it out.” Pack all trash home. Dispose of human waste in a sanitary manner. In high use locations, areas above tree line and snow-covered areas it is not possible to bury human waste in a sanitary manner. It will need to be packed out and disposed of at home using a wag bag, blue bag, portable toilet or another Leave No Trace approved method.
Do not block roads or gates.
Keep food and scented items secure from wildlife by keeping a clean camp and store items in your vehicle or use a wildlife resistant storage canister.
Failure to follow regulations can lead to legal consequences. Additional Forest rules and links to report crimes can be found on our Law Enforcement page.
Cottonwood Campground is located along the Naches River in the Northern Cascade Range of Washington. Craggy peaks, mountain meadows and old-growth forests provide visitors with unique landscapes within the Okanogan National Forest. Warm summer days and access to a multitude of recreational activities make it an ideal setting for both individual and family camping excursions.
Cottonwood Campground offers outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to fish, swim, hike and enjoy a multitude of recreational activities throughout the year. Numerous hiking trails can be accessed near the campground and in the surrounding area. Nearby American Ridge Trail, open to hikers, backpackers and horseback riders, extends over 26 miles from Bumping River to the notable Pacific Crest Trail. Visitors enjoy whitewater rafting on the nearby American River or splashing around in Naches River, which can be accessed from the campground.
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest's high, glaciated alpine peaks tower along the Cascade Crest. Lush valleys of old-growth forest define its western boundary, and at its eastern edge, rugged shrub-steppe country comprises a more arid region. Elevations range from below 1,000 feet to over 9,000 feet. The Naches River, adjacent to Cottonwood Campground, is a tributary of the Yakima River in central Washington. In its upper reaches, the Naches River flows through rugged terrain and areas of pristine wilderness. The river was used by Native Americans and settlers throughout history. It has served as a natural corridor between the east and west sides of the Cascades via Naches Pass.
This location has limited staffing. Please call (661) 702-1420 for general information.
Boulder Cave National Recreation Trail is one of the most popular places in the Naches District. Visitors can walk the accessible trail along the river or explore Boulder Cave. Interpretive signs along the trail explain the geology, plants, animals and fire history of the area. In the fall, thousands of people come to experience whitewater rafting on both the Tieton and American Rivers.
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
$20 / night
This camping area has an improved dispersed camp area for groups. Seasonal stock water available at the creek.
Welcome to Barn Valley. 4 acres of fully cross fenced private land for you to come enjoy. What's cross fenced mean? Simply put, you get a private camp section enclosed in so your furry critter can roam free and you don't have to worry about uncle Carl stealing your beers in the middle of the night from the campsite nextdoor.
We are ideally located 300 yards from river access(follow western fenceline to the river, stay within 5 feet of fence, rest is private land), minutes from hiking, biking, fishing and horse back riding destinations. Oh, is it winter? Snowshoe, ski and snowmobile then!
With the Teanaways ideal weather, every day can be an adventure.
Potable Water accessible at center section of the 3 middle campsites. Pull pump up and push back hard and water will come out (it comes out fast and with lots of pressure, be ready).
Each campground has atleast a 9'3" wide cattlemen gate (sites 1 and 3 have 14'+ gates). Most RVs and vehicles can fit through (measure your vehicle mirror to mirror and trailers widest points), and main homes 1/2 acre wide driveway makes it easy to navigate a back in travel trailer as well. Site 1-3 are 50 Feet Wide by 90 feet long. Each one can have a fire until late Aug (fire ban). Please douse fires after done. Blue Jug near pump along fence.
10-15 minutes to breweries, distilleries and restaurants. 1 hour to North Bend/Leavenworth, 1.5 to Bellevue. Welcome to tranquil Barn Valley! Every adventure, hiking, biking, snowshoeing etc.. is accessible from property or a short drive away.
Note: If you're coming to camp in the winter. Be smart, pack warm and only drive capable 4x4/all wheel vehicles with good traction tires and a plan for deep snow. We do not shovel. Spare shovel located at pumphouse.
Sites are dog friendly ( do not leave your animals unattended). Equine/group lot is site 4. It is 2 acres and allows for only one person to book and pay for all other attendees. Just like sites 1-3, please be respectful of others and ask permission to approach other peoples animals, property and campsites. Park vehicles inside fenceline (inside your campsite).
Quiet hours at sunset. NO generators past 10pm.
This is a fun and family friendly location. Main home is an airbnb and family cabin that uses northern pasture and reserves the right to the main homes parking and fenced in area for their animals. Please keep it safe for all and close all gates after passing through them. Pack out what you pack in. NO toilets, no trash cans, no nonsense. Just have fun. The valley is special for all. Lets keep it that way. Lots of deer, birds and grasshoppers.
$25 - $75 / night
Yakima River RV Park! Your Gateway to the Yakima River Canyon Corridor. We are located in Ellensburg in the heart of beautiful Washington State! This area boasts some of the best fly-fishing for Rainbow Trout, along with unlimited possibilities for outdoor recreation. Besides fly-fishing, river rafting, hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife photography, bird watching and water sports, the main attraction to Ellensburg is the warm weather and sunshine. Ellensburg has a full range of art galleries, restaurants, wineries, breweries and is home to the Kittitas County Barn Quilt self-guided tour. Bring your family and pet. Vacation in your recreation vehicle. Camp in this quiet, peaceful RV Park in the country, away from freeway noise. Wake up hearing the birds singing and watch the fantastic sunsets in the evening. Yakima River RV Park is a beautiful campground, just minutes south of Ellensburg, on the majestic Yakima River! The RV sites are spacious and pull-through with 30 and 50 amp power, with beautiful lush grass for tent sites. Check-in hours are between 1:00 p.m. and dark. Reservations may be made ahead.
$15 - $42 / night
Welcome to Silver Ridge Ranch If your family enjoys outdoor activities in the majestic northwest, Silver Ridge Ranch is the place for you. Our campground offers spacious RV and Tent campsites with full amenities, glamping Yurts, plus Lodge guest rooms for overnite rental. There are beautiful lakes and ponds nearby for fishing, boating and swimming, and mile after mile of trails with scenic views for hiking, biking and horseback riding. In the Winter, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also popular.
Silver Ridge Ranch is located in beautiful Easton, Washington, a 1 hour drive southeast of Seattle off Interstate 90.
Ranger
Stayed here a few days a couple years ago and it was a great place. The campsites are nice and spacious with good privacy from other campers. The lake level was pretty low when we were there so you had to walk out a bit of distance to get to the water. But it's a nice sandy shore so great for the kids swimming and the water is so shallow for a long way out so you don't have to worry about the kids. It's a beautiful lake and nice area.
Traveler
Nice area by a creek, very peaceful and quiet during the day, a ton of people around and lots of passerby’s. As soon as it got dark, someone decided to sneak around my campsite with a flashlight and stand outside my tent for some time. Packed up quick and zoomed out of there, very uncomfortable and would not recommend for solo campers.
GuideVery cool spot with new generation trees growing out of old generation stumps, close to river for water, very popular spot so found a lot of trash but loved the sites and hiking trails nearby
Scout
I was unhappy we could not find this place on Hipcamp.
I was excited to find it on dyrt.com
I am sad the former owner emailed me to explain he had sold it to a neighbor and it is not available.
Scout
About a 20 minute drive from Clu Elum. Free with a Discovery Pass but no one checked while I was there. Plenty of spots even late on a Friday. No water or trash but some vault toilets
GuideA lit if the spots are on the smaller side, so we had a bit of trouble finding one that could fit our motorhome, but it was worth it. The place is beautiful. Super dark at night, and besides the sound from the interstate and cars driving up and down, it's quite. Even with the noise, it's peaceful and perfect for a little getaway. We have Verizon and have decent service, even with crappy weather.
ScoutSo dark I couldnt even see my own hand in front of my face! I loved it. Quiet enough, could hear gentle highway hum but cant see anything but trees n nature. Earplugs ftw. Some bugs but nothing major. Plenty of spots along the road. U dont need to go all the way to coords. Just pick a spot along road n park. Some wild raspberries at our spot :) firepit nice, a little trash but not much. Thats the cost of free. Spot is free, the cost is picking up a few pieces of trash. Seems fair to me!
Scout
The 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
GuideWent up at the end of 4th of July weekend. Found a great spot but it was apparent that the group before us used everywhere to go to the bathroom and covered it with paper towels. PRO TIP: make the hole first for when you need it and you want have any excuse not to use it! PLEASE LEAVE NO TRACE! Other wise we really enjoyed a quick night away in our van.
ScoutHad an amazing time staying at this campground with our family.
We brought our RV, but you can tent, or rent a Yurt or Igloo. Horses are welcome too! The new owners are doing a great job turning the property around. There is a large recent renovated cabin that fits up to 20 people you can stay as well.
There is a bar & cafe open as well on the weekend with amazing views. Highly recommend.
Guide
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.
TravelerYou can hear the road from most camping spots. When we arrived at our site there was garbage all over the place in a fire pit so we cleaned it up.
There was a nice long trail that took us to the river. That was nice. Cleaning up sucked because the floor got muddy.
Lots of mosquitoes.
Lots of camping spots. We left Friday evening and most spots were taken.
GuideThis spot was truly beautiful. Green as far as the eye can see, with a creek by that provides the perfect white noise to fall asleep to. The road is fairly accessible, though there are some fairly large potholes that could damage smaller vehicles, and the road could become muddy after raining. On weekends you might have to drive pretty far down the road to find an unclaimed spot, but I didn't have a hard time on a Tuesday night. There was some trash, including broken glass in firepits and a few beer cans spotted in the woods, but for the most part it was clean! The sites further down the road are definitely cleaner. No bathrooms, so plan on dropping the kids off at the pool before visiting. Seeing as there is water nearby, there are plenty of mosquitoes. Bring some bug spray! There are towns within 15 minutes of the road.
ScoutMy family and I have stayed at Bumping Lake for years. It’s off grid and the spots are large and private. The lake is great. There is a lot of hiking and biking trails.
Scout
FYI, the website it not available and I the reservation line has been disconnected.
GuideWe found a site right by the river. Some shaded sites are available too. Camp host was very friendly and helpful.
GuideBeautiful and quiet. We stayed one night with car and rooftop tent. Arrived late 7pm but there were enough spots left. Toilets clean. River nearby.
Traveler
Outside the picturesque town of Leavenworth, lies the most stunning body of water in the Pacific Northwest. This was our first camping trip and we could not have picked a better time or place. We visited in September when summer was slowly becoming fall. The weather was cool but not unmanageable and the camp ground was near empty. The only sounds that could be heard were the wrestling of leaves, the gentle lapping of waves, and the nightly screaming of elk in the distance.
At the time of our visit, there was a burn ban but we were allowed to use a propane fire pit.
We plan on going back when it’s a bet warmer so we can take our kayaks.
Our dog loved it!
Guide
We came early June to try and hike near Mount Rainier. Unfortunately it was way too snowy and foggy to do any hiking. However, this campsite was incredible. Right by the river with bathrooms and clean sites.
Traveler
So my partner and I had chosen to stay here for a few nights, we didn't reserve online, when we got there the ranger allowed us to go see which spot we liked, because there was a lot open. We chose spot 64 the one way in the back for tent campsites. When we got there, there was 3 others tents up in the area, spread apart of course a good length too. I read that there was a "Homeless" problem, but I didn't see one homeless our whole stay...besides myself lol I bought a power station and had to charge it at a RV spot #15. There I charged my phone and laptop. I did leave my shampoo and conditioner in the showers and those were taken, who can blame em, they were good ones. Lol my own fault. Anywho...bring some shower sandals because the showers are dirty...but they are FREE. Bathrooms are nice and clean. We didn't get bothered once, we got left alone, and even though we looked like the crazy tweaker tent there, cuz we had tarps over our tent....but it was raining. Lol A skunk did cross our path and ran behind our tent...but that's all the action. During this time it was $25 a night for tents. It was close to town but not TOO close....BIG park. For dogs and kids...good park
Scout
Very quiet sprawling camp area
ScoutThey 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
ScoutWe had 2 opportunities to stay at this campground in the fall of 2023. This is a very picturesque location and very quiet. Full hookups are available as well as pull through sites.
GuideMy friend slept in her vehicle(end of the road) and I camped next to the river. There were no other tent campers on this day; many RVs and campers on the way to the river. I highly recommend for peace and solitude.
ScoutI visited with friends from Victoria BC. It's our tradition to rent an RV and drive down to Washington at least once every few years. This Spring we did just this, getting to the Yakima Sportsman State Park with little hiccups. The site was average, but not clean and our neighbors looked like the greasy type. We still had a blast because instead if renting an RV we bought a used cheap one and got it cleaned from Auto Detailing Victoria before hitting the road. Most of our camping was done on the road, so this campsite was actually a relief to us even if it wasn't great. Better than camping in a parking lot!
TravelerI would not return unless many changes were made- my first time here and probably my last
GuideThis is my second time. It is free good spaces to camp with a lot for trees. I always sleep on my car but people camp on tents on the forest. Dogs welcome
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near South Cle Elum, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near South Cle Elum, WA is Teanaway Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near South Cle Elum, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 equestrian camping locations near South Cle Elum, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
