Yakima River Canyon Camping
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Overview
A brief introduction to Yakima River Canyon
The gentle Yakima River winds through rolling desert hills and basalt cliffs, some rising more than 2,000 feet, for 27 miles between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington. The canyon offers excellent wildlife watching, fishing for Blue Ribbon trout, family-friendly rafting, and camping. The canyon's crevices and cliffs make a perfect home for the densest concentration of nesting hawks, eagles, and falcons in the state. The BLM manages over 9,000 acres in the Yakima River Canyon area, and the Yakima River State Scenic Byway provides access to BLM's four developed river access sites including Umtanum, Lmuma Creek, Big Pines, and Roza.
Know Before You Go:
- Open Season Yakima River Canyon Recreation Sites are open YEAR ROUND.
- Four Campground and Day-Use Sites available, including Roza, Big Pines, Lmuma Creek, and Umtanum.
- Fees - $15 overnight, $5 Day-Use
- Campsite Reservations May 1 to September 30; first come, first serve October 1 to April 30.
- No Drinking Water or hookups available.
- Cellular Phone Coverage is limited in many areas of the Yakima River Canyon.
Point of Interest:
Located just south of Ellensburg, the non-motorized trails at Ringer Road Trailhead offer visitors glimpses of the wildlife and birds that inhabit the riparian areas next to the Yakima River.Yakima River Canyon Brochure
Explore Washington Recreation: Yakima River Canyon
Umtanum Ridge Water Gap is a geologic feature in Washington state in the United States. It includes the Yakima Canyon (or "Yakima River Canyon"), and is located between the cities of Ellensburg and Yakima in central Washington. Washington State Route 821 (formerly numbered "U.S. Route 97") was once the main route between Ellensburg and Yakima. The old highway still runs close to the river through the canyon, with Interstate 82 (which replaced the old highway) currently carrying most traffic between Ellensburg and Yakima on large bridges nearby.
The Umtanum Ridge Water Gap was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1980. The landmark is characterized by a series of steep-sided ridges in the Columbia River basalt which are cut through axially by the Yakima River. A water gap was cut by the Yakima River through anticlines named "Manastash Ridge" and "Umtanum Ridge". These anticlines are part of the Yakima Fold Belt near the western edge of the Columbia River Plateau.
ARE Yakima River Canyon campsites SOLD OUT?
We can help! Many campsite reservations are cancelled daily. Just tell us when you’d like to camp at Yakima River Canyon, and how long you want to camp for. We’ll text you when a suitable spot opens up!
Scan for cancellationsContact Yakima River Canyon
- Recreation.gov
- Booking site: https://www.recreation.gov
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Other nearby parks
Open to camping at other nearby parks? Here are a few other parks you'll find in the vicinity.
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Map
View a map of Yakima River Canyon
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