Clearwater Big House

Umatilla National Forest — riverside, hiking

Location: POMEROY, WA, WA

Price: From $75 per night

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (11 reviews)

Season: May through October

Clearwater Big House gives the feel of a winter chalet hideaway, even during the warmest months of the summer. Hiking, horseback riding and scenic drives abound, delighting guests year after year. The Clearwater Lookout Tower is a mile away.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/clearwater-big-house to be notified when sites open up.

Clearwater Big House offers a secluded chalet-style retreat with hiking, horseback riding, and scenic drives. Reviewers praise the spacious accommodations and peaceful forest setting, with one noting it sleeps 12 across the main house and bunkhouse.

Wildlife alert: American Badger, Snowshoe Hare, White-winged Crossbill, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Harrier, and California Quail present in the area.

Insider tips for Clearwater Big House: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with only 1 site. The Clearwater Lookout Tower is 1 mile away for scenic views. Bring your own sleeping arrangements or inspect mattresses upon arrival.

Skip Clearwater Big House if: You need hookups — no hookups available.. You require paved road access — 7 miles on Forest Service Road 40 required from pavement end.. You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only..

Best time to visit Clearwater Big House: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October per verified booking window.. Winter — Reviewers report snowshoeing and skiing access; chalet design suits cold months despite seasonal closure listing..

Nearby campgrounds: Clearwater Lookout Cabin (POMEROY, WA), Tucannon Guard Station (Pomeroy, WA), Wenatchee Guard Station (POMEROY, WA), Godman Guard Station (POMEROY, WA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Clearwater Big House

Cell signal at Clearwater Big House (POMEROY, WA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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CamperWatch›WA›Clearwater Big House
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Umatilla National Forest — riverside, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Clearwater Big House

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POMEROY, WA, WA★ 4.4 (11 reviews)From $75/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Clearwater Big House gives the feel of a winter chalet hideaway, even during the warmest months of the summer. Hiking, horseback riding and scenic drives abound, delighting guests year after year. The Clearwater Lookout Tower is a mile away.

Best for:HikersSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need hookups — no hookups available.✕ You require paved road access — 7 miles on Forest Service Road 40 required from pavement end.✕ You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with only 1 site.

The Clearwater Lookout Tower is 1 mile away for scenic views.

Bring your own sleeping arrangements or inspect mattresses upon arrival.

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October per verified booking window.

Best: Winter

Reviewers report snowshoeing and skiing access; chalet design suits cold months despite seasonal closure listing.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: American Badger, Snowshoe Hare, White-winged Crossbill, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Harrier, and California Quail present in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
Getting there →

From Pomeroy, Washington (35 minutes): Take 15th Street south for approximately 17 miles until the paved road ends. Continue on Forest Service Road 40 for 7 miles to Clearwater Junction (where the fire lookout is located). Turn left onto Forest Service Road 42 for 0.25 mile, and then turn right into the Clearwater Guard Station area. The rental cabin is the two-story building. Automobile access to this site runs from approximately mid June through the end of October, depending on weather conditi

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Umatilla National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Umatilla National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Clearwater Big House cost per night?+
Clearwater Big House costs $75 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Clearwater Big House open?+
Clearwater Big House is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Clearwater Big House have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Clearwater Big House?+
Clearwater Big House is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Clearwater Big House?+
Clearwater Big House is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Clearwater Big House?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Clearwater Big House is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Clearwater Big House open, and what are check-in times?+
Clearwater Big House is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Umatilla National ForestPomeroy Ranger District
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$75 /night★ 4.4 (11)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Clearwater Big House cost per night?+
What season is Clearwater Big House open?+
Does Clearwater Big House have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Clearwater Lookout Cabin

POMEROY, WA

From $50/night

Tucannon Guard Station

Pomeroy, WA

From $100/night

Wenatchee Guard Station

POMEROY, WA

From $50/night

Godman Guard Station

POMEROY, WA

From $75/night

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