Umtanum Campground, near Ellensburg, Washington, is a cozy spot along the Yakima River Canyon that’s perfect for a quick getaway. With a handful of sites, it’s a great place to park your RV or pitch a tent and soak in the stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

This campground is known for its friendly atmosphere and access to outdoor activities. Visitors rave about the nearby hiking trails, with one camper noting, “The hiking is a pleasure in the area, with lots of wildlife.” You can also enjoy fishing or floating on the river, making it a popular spot for summer fun. Just be aware that it can get busy during peak times, especially around holidays.

Amenities are basic but functional, with picnic tables and fire rings available at each site. While there’s no drinking water or electric hookups, the vault toilets are kept clean, and there’s a dumpster for trash disposal. As one reviewer mentioned, “Nice spacious private sites” make it a comfortable place to unwind after a day of exploring.

If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat with easy access to nature, Umtanum Campground is a solid choice. Just remember to bring your own water and firewood, and you’ll be set for a memorable camping experience.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/250985?tab=seasons

## Overview

The gentle Yakima River winds for 27 miles through massive basalt cliffs and rolling desert hills between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington. This area is popular for wildlife viewing, fishing, and floating the river.   
  
## Recreation

The Yakima River Canyon is a popular destination for plant and wildlife viewing, including bighorn sheep, various birds of prey, and mule deer. This section of the river is classified as a Blue Ribbon trout stream, but is catch and release only. One of the most popular summer activities is floating the river, which is a family friendly Class 1 river with no rapids. Rafters often put in at Umtanum and take out at Roza. 

## Facilities

All four BLM-managed recreation sites offer picnic tables, fire rings, nearby dumpsters and vault toilets. Hookups and potable water are not provided. Big Pines campground is where the majority of the campsites are located, and contains two group campsites. Umtanum, Lmuma Creek, and Roza also offer campsites. Umtanum and Roza receive high day-use visitation during the summer months. Roza offers a concrete boat launch. Motorboats are prohibited upstream from Roza.  
  
## Natural Features

Within the Yakima River Canyon Campgrounds there are four developed Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sites with river access: Umtanum, Lmuma Creek, Big Pines, and Roza. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the massive basalt cliffs, rolling desert hills, riparian vegetation, and the cool water of the Yakima River.   
  
## Nearby Attractions

The cities of Ellensburg and Yakima, Central Washington University, and Cowiche Canyon trails are near by. Umtanum recreation site offers a footbridge to cross the Yakima River and access to Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Lands on the west side of the river.

Umtanum Campground - Yakima River Canyon

Join the fun near Ellensburg. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Ellensburg is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Ellensburg

The Best Camping Near Ellensburg, Washington

There are only a handful of sites here and they are packed in very tight with no privacy.  Sometimes there aren't options so you have to take what you can get. There is a boat ramp here and s pack bridge to go for a hike up a desert canyon.  

Small tight spots

Though you don't need to camp here to enjoy the desert joking across the river, it gives you quick access for any early morning stroll before it heats up.  Additionally if you like Flyfishing, the bridge offers you good bank access to cover some water.  The campsites are small and packed right, but if you don't mind neighbors, this is a decent site.  

Nice desert hiking nearby

My husband and I don't really ever make our way around the Yakima area, only because the hiking there is more "desert" feel and in the summer the rattlesnakes are out and about. The weather in the Yakima area in the summer is amazing, though (hot!!). We decided to make a day trip to do some hiking in the Umtanum area, which is within the Yakima River Canyon. The path was really good, clear, and easy to find. There were a few waterfalls, and creeks to cross to just know that your shoes/feet might get a little wet. The weather was perfect when we came in July. Make sure if you go in the summertime to bring plenty of water, because it is very hot. We luckily didn't see any rattlesnakes! There really isn't a "view" ending point, but the hike itself is beautiful. After we were done hiking we stopped and had a delicious dinner at Bron Yur (Spelling?), it is a pizza place that makes the most amazing pizza!! Highly recommend going there if you are ever in that area. We drove home by going Highway 12 and saw the most amazing views of Mt. Rainier.

Loved the hiking!

Eastern 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.

Epicenter for Summer River Floaters

We enjoyed one night at this national campground.  Nice spacious private sites. Clean fire rings and adequate bathrooms.  There was wild roosters running around which was difficult for our retrievers who are pheasant hunting dogs.  The mossy cliff was beautiful and fun foot bridge.  We were warned there’s a lot of rattlesnakes in summer,but we camped in February. 

Great off the road stop

We stayed here 10 days or so. It is a nice split between towns, Ellensburg and Yakima. The hiking is a pleasure in the area, with lots of wildlife. Many deer in the area, even walking through the campsite at times. The park does get pretty busy for day use, like hiking and fishing but nothing too crazy. The suspension bridge is awesome!

Nice, clean campground.

Horrible don't go here. Leave room for me when I'm in the area.

Yakima river baby

This is 1 of about 3 campgrounds along the Yakima River. We stayed 1 night when passing through from Idaho headed to Olympic National Park. Campground is small. We fit our 32feet trailer and parked the truck beside it. Lots of turn around space due to the on site boat launch. About 6 sites. $15 a night, or $7.50 with access pass (America The Beautiful pass). Amazing views if you continue the drive through the canyon. Cable suspension bridge for foot traffic in the Campground  and small boat launch. Vault toilets, but no water or dump station. Still a great 1 or 2 night stay Campground. Verizon and Tmobile 2 bars of service, but slow.

Great overnight campground 

The site offer approximately 10 sites that can be used for tent or RV camping.  Moderately spaced from the other sites.  Parallels the river.   The tent areas are all level, ground mainly dirt/gravel.  Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. We did not hear the road noise.  Can’t speak to the condition of the toilets as we didn’t use them.  This is a favorite of the locals for fall fishing so you need a reservation…

Off-road Tent camping

Spent overnight here. Many cars in the pkg lot—hikers &amp; fishermen. By early evening, everyone was gone except for 3 of us campers. 
There is road noise which is close, but that quiets at night as well.
The train is also close, but I don’t mind hearing trains.
Overall, a lovely place to hang for the night and take in a hike right there at the site.
Good pit toilets too!

Photos of Umtanum Campground - Yakima River Canyon

Real photos from real campers