Big Pines campground
Big Pines Boat launch
Big Pines Campsite with fire ring and parking space.
Big Pines Campsite 2 with fire ring and parking space.
Yakima River flowing through Big Pines campground

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
River Access River Access

Available sites

38 total sites

About Big Pines

The gentle Yakima River winds for 27 mi 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. An overnight and day use fee is charged and reservations are accepted through www.recreation.gov, campsites will only be held until checkout time (11am) the next day. If reservation holder doesn't show up by then, the site is released. Hookups and potable water are not provided. The recreation sites are open year round, with the largest crowds filling the sites on hot summer weekends.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Sep 16 to Dec 31

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
River Access River Access
Water Access

Water Access

  • River Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

38 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 01, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 02, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 03, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 04, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 05, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 06, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 07, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 08, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 09, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 10, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 11, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 12, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 13, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 14, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 15, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 16, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 17, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 18, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 19, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 20, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 21, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 22, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 23, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 24, Loop: Big Pines Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 25, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 26, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 27, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 28, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 29, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 31, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
🚐 33, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 35, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 37, Loop: Big Pines RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Pull-through
⛺ Campsite D, Loop: Big Pines Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ Campsite E, Loop: Big Pines Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ Walk In A, Loop: Big Pines Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ Walk In B, Loop: Big Pines Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ Walk In C, Loop: Big Pines Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire

Reviews (289)

What Guests Are Saying

Big Pines offers a beautiful and well-maintained campground with excellent river access, making it ideal for activities like fishing and river floating. Many reviewers praised the cleanliness of the facilities and the friendly staff, highlighting the large, level sites despite some concerns about noise and shade. While there were occasional issues like overflowing dumpsters and rowdy neighbors, the overall experience remains positive, encouraging repeat visits.

Review Summary

4.1
289 reviews
5
55.4%
160
4
22.1%
64
3
11.1%
32
2
4.5%
13
1
6.9%
20

Chris M

Verified

January 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 16, Loop: Big Pines

3

It was late in the season but the campground was still very busy. So I am asking why all the restrooms were not open? I cant say I am a fan of a two night minimum stay required to make online reservations.

Michael G

Verified

January 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: Big Pines

5

Great campsite beautiful area to visit will be back for sure!

Tom T

Verified

January 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 20, Loop: Big Pines

4

Campground is very nice! Only reason a 5 star review was not given was due to the time wasted trying to figure out how to obtain the actual permit for the stay. Would be nice if the email or website had explained that the permit would be waiting for me at the campsite.
Make the reservation a little more user friendly please. Thanks

Linda L

Verified

January 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 09, Loop: Big Pines

4

easy to get to and some great spots

Bill F

Verified

January 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: Big Pines

5

Had a great time.

Bill F

Verified

January 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: Big Pines

5

Had a great time.

William P

Verified

July 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 09, Loop: Big Pines

4

We had been camping at Big Pines for many years when it was known as "The Slab" before BLM built the campground. We really like the campground and it has made it a more pleasant experience with the bathrooms and established sites. We hadn't gone the last two or three years before returning this year.
BEWARE, the BLM has changed the rules when camping. It used to be that you could still use your camping pass as a day pass for the rest of the day you checked out. This year after we moved our motorhome to the day use parking we had barely gotten out to go up river for a float when the ranger was there with his ticket book. This was a few minutes before the check out time of 10:00. If I hadn't asked if I was parked in the wrong place, I think he would have waited for us to leave and given us a ticket. it was only after I told him I had a camping pass that he mentioned that it wasn't good after 10:00 AM. Forcing us to pay for two day passes. In my experience, it is pretty standard for camping passes state and national parks and lands to allow you to use the facilities until the end of the day as long has you have vacated the campsite. He said this policy had been in place ever since the campground was built, but I had never run into it before in many camping trips there.

William P

Verified

July 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 09, Loop: Big Pines

4

We had been camping at Big Pines for many years when it was known as "The Slab" before BLM built the campground. We really like the campground and it has made it a more pleasant experience with the bathrooms and established sites. We hadn't gone the last two or three years before returning this year.
BEWARE, the BLM has changed the rules when camping. It used to be that you could still use your camping pass as a day pass for the rest of the day you checked out. This year after we moved our motorhome to the day use parking we had barely gotten out to go up river for a float when the ranger was there with his ticket book. This was a few minutes before the check out time of 10:00. If I hadn't asked if I was parked in the wrong place, I think he would have waited for us to leave and given us a ticket. it was only after I told him I had a camping pass that he mentioned that it wasn't good after 10:00 AM. Forcing us to pay for two day passes. In my experience, it is pretty standard for camping passes state and national parks and lands to allow you to use the facilities until the end of the day as long has you have vacated the campsite. He said this policy had been in place ever since the campground was built, but I had never run into it before in many camping trips there.

Cyndy W

Verified

July 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 08, Loop: Big Pines

5

We always have a great experience there. The camp hosts are always friendly. 12 yrs going there the 3rd weekend in July and never had a issue

Cyndy W

Verified

July 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 08, Loop: Big Pines

5

We always have a great experience there. The camp hosts are always friendly. 12 yrs going there the 3rd weekend in July and never had a issue

Location & Directions for Big Pines

Blm Wenatchee Field Office, Wenatchee, WA 98801 United States

Elevation: 397 ft

Getting There

<p>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. Big Pines campground...

Nearest town

Wenatchee, WA - 91 mi

About over 1 hr (106 min) to downtown

Highway access

Big Pines campground is accessible via I-90, with the nearest exit being Ellensburg Exit 109, which connects to Highway 821 (Canyon Road). Canyon Road directly leads to the campground, located at milepost 9.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 20, 2026

Message us

Need help?

Our team is here to help you find the perfect spot for your next adventure.

Message us

Replies within minutes

Explore Wenatchee, WA

Population: 35,484

Nearby city: Kennewick, WA

Approx. 76 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 659 ft

Bureau of Land Management Logo
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management