Umtanum
Yakima River Canyon — riverside, fishing, hiking
Location: Wenatchee, WA, WA
Price: From $15 per night
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (6 reviews)
Season: Year-round
The gentle Yakima River winds for 27 miles through massive basalt cliffs and rolling desert hills between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington. The Canyon offers excellent wildlife watching, plant viewing, fishing in a Blue Ribbon trout stream, family river rafting and camping. The Bureau of Land Management administers over 9700 acres in the Yakima River Canyon area, including five developed river access sites.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/umtanum to be notified when sites open up.
Umtanum offers a stunning location along the Yakima River with 27 miles of canyon scenery through basalt cliffs and rolling desert hills. Google reviewers consistently praise the beautiful location, clean sites, and excellent trails for hiking and photography.
Wildlife alert: Bald Eagles, Common Mergansers, and Columbian Black-tailed Deer are present in the area. Also watch for Pygmy Short-horned Lizards, Southern Alligator Lizards, and Wandering Garter Snakes.
Insider tips for Umtanum: Arrive early in the day as the campground fills before 4pm Bring extra layers — temperatures drop cold after sunset despite desert location Explore the main canyon trail and the loop through the side canyon that splits after the train tracks
Skip Umtanum if: You need RV hookups — only electric hookups available and most sites lack hookups; suitable only for self-contained RVs. You prefer spontaneous camping — book early as this is a federal campground with high demand.
Best time to visit Umtanum: Spring-Fall — Year-round access available, but note that temperatures drop significantly after sunset and campground fills before 4pm during peak season..
Nearby campgrounds: Big Pines (Wenatchee, WA), Roza (Wenatchee, WA), Windy Point Campground (Naches, WA), Riders Camp (Ellensburg, WA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Umtanum
Cell signal at Umtanum (Wenatchee, WA): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
The gentle Yakima River winds for 27 miles through massive basalt cliffs and rolling desert hills between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington. The Canyon offers excellent wildlife watching, plant viewing, fishing in a Blue Ribbon trout stream, family river rafting and camping. The Bureau of Land Management administers over 9700 acres in the Yakima River Canyon area, including five developed river access sites.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryArrive early in the day as the campground fills before 4pm
Bring extra layers
temperatures drop cold after sunset despite desert location
Explore the main canyon trail and the loop through the side canyon that splits after the train tracks
Year-round access available, but note that temperatures drop significantly after sunset and campground fills before 4pm during peak season.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Seattle, take I-90 east to Ellensburg Exit 109 (Highway 821 Canyon Road). At the traffic circle, take the second exit onto South Canyon Road. Stay on the road, which will take you south through the Yakima River Canyon. BLM's Umtanum campgrounds is located at Mile Marker 17 along this route.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Yakima River Canyon fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Yakima River Canyon before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Umtanum cost per night?+
What season is Umtanum open?+
Does Umtanum have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Umtanum?+
How do I make reservations at Umtanum?+
What is the cell service like at Umtanum?+
What season is Umtanum open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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