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Established Camping

Cle Elum River Campground

Cle Elum River Campground, near Ronald, Washington, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying some outdoor fun. With its scenic surroundings and access to hiking trails, it’s a popular choice for campers who appreciate a good adventure.

This campground is known for its clean facilities and friendly atmosphere. Visitors have highlighted the nearby hiking opportunities, especially the Lake Ingalls trail, which offers stunning views and vibrant fall foliage. As one camper noted, “The hikes nearby are fantastic in the fall because the foliage is vibrant and changing.”

You can expect a laid-back vibe here, with amenities like drinking water and fire rings for cozy evenings under the stars. While there’s no picnic table at each site, the spaciousness allows for a comfortable setup. Some campers mentioned that the campground can get a bit noisy due to its proximity to the road, but many found it easy to overlook given the beautiful surroundings.

For those who enjoy winter sports, the area is also great for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing during the colder months. With a little store nearby for snacks and drinks, you’ll have everything you need for a fun-filled stay. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer retreat, Cle Elum River Campground offers a solid base for exploring the great outdoors.

Description

National Forest

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Overview

Cle Elum River Group Campground is located within the Cle Elum River Campground situated just off its namesake river in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Set in a mixed-conifer forest at an elevation of 2,300 feet and surrounded by high mountains, this campground offers a large site suitable for large family and group camping excursions.

Recreation

In addition to being a prime location for hiking, fishing, swimming and birding in summer and early fall, the Cle Elum River area offers excellent skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter months. The campground is closed during the winter months. The adjacent French Cabin Creek Sno-Park accomodates skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers. Anglers will find the waters teeming with rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon in the river as well as the nearby reservoir.

Natural Features

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest offers stunning scenic views, with high, glaciated alpine peaks, valleys of old growth forest and rugged shrub-steppe country making up the diverse landscape. Elevations range from below 1,000 feet to more than 9,000 feet. Precipitation varies greatly throughout the area, ranging from approximately 140 inches along the Cascade Crest to only 10 inches along the eastern edge. Visitors can expect many days of warm, sunny weather in the summer, and winters with clear skies and plenty of snow. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support an abundance of wildlife, including deer, porcupine, native fish and migratory birds.

Contact Info

This location has limited staffing. Please call (661) 702-1420 for general information.

Nearby Attractions

Speelyi Beach is a great place to spend the day. Featuring a wide sandy beach surrounded by conifer forest on Cle Elum Lake, visitors will have plenty of space to wade, swim and splash around. Those searching for deeper water will enjoy a kayak outing along the shore at sunset. The spectacular Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is accessible near the campground. It is one of the world's premier National Scenic Trails and showcases some of North America's most fantastic scenery as it winds its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington.

Charges & Cancellations

Group Sites Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use 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.

Fee Info

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Location

Cle Elum River Campground is located in Washington

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Cle Elum, Washington, take State Highway 903 north for 15 miles. Turn left at the campground sign. At the T in the road turn right into the group site.

Address

23931 Salmon La Sac Road
Ronald, WA 98940

Coordinates

47.351055 N
121.104394 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Available

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

Reviews

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4 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 10, 2019

Great campground!

Great campground. Tons of great hiking, swimming, and fun around. There’s a little store not too far for beer and snacks, and jet ski rentals across from the store. Toilets were clean and it wasn’t too noisy, thanks to camp hosts. The campground doesn’t offer a lot of privacy between most sites, and there is noise from the road, but if you can handle that, it’s a great place to camp! Nice trail next to site 1 takes you to the creek and then to the lake.

Reviewed Oct. 31, 2018

Best ever for hiking

This is a favorite campground. The hikes nearby are fantastic in the fall because the foliage is vibrant and changing. Must go on the Lake Ingalls hike. Campground is clean and space is good for sure. Really enjoyed it.

Reviewed Oct. 31, 2018

Best hike nearby!

Really loved this campground mainly because there is an awesome hike nearby! Stayed at this campground on a Friday night- got into the campsite around 6:30pm. We found our site easily, and set up our tent for the night. There was actually more people than I thought, but it was because it was also hunting season during this time. The hunters were super friendly! We woke up that Saturday morning and did Lake Ingalls for the fall hike. This hike is hands down my favorite in Washington, especially this time of year. The fall colors are perfect. We even saw some mountain goats which was super cool. The hike to the lake does require some path finding, so make sure you know your way. The campground was great, although we didn’t stay long. Just that one night. Would definitely come back again!

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Cle Elum River Campground by Drew W., October 31, 2018
  • Review photo of Cle Elum River Campground by Drew W., October 31, 2018
  • Review photo of Cle Elum River Campground by Drew W., October 31, 2018
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Cle Elum River Campground?

    Cle Elum River Campground allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Cle Elum River Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Cle Elum River Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Cle Elum River Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is available, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is available.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Cle Elum River Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Cle Elum River Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Cle Elum River Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Cle Elum River Campground?

    There are 1 campsites at Cle Elum River Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts