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

Mark T

Verified

July 12, 2026 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: Big Pines

4

Campground was clean and well maintained.
However, the new asphalt coating had not cured and as a result outdoor chairs sank into it and trailer tire scrubbing while backing in caused damage to the new coating.
Even though this year was not great, we will be back next year. The campground, river and canyon is a wonderful place to spend some relaxing time.

Christina G

Verified

July 12, 2026 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: Big Pines

1

Not shaded by many trees, the site was extremely rocky, and the wind nearly wrecked our tent. Good things are they are big sites and access to the river is nice. Ended up not staying the entire time.

Dick P

Verified

July 17, 2026 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: Big Pines

5

The staff working the area were first class, being very nice and friendly. Enjoyed there company and knowledge of the area.

Gene C

Verified

July 17, 2026 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: Big Pines

2

I was a no show because of the wind.
Our 35 ft 5th Wheel is new to me and the forecast winds in Ellensburg were 25 to 35 with gusts.
Did not want to have issues in the canyon, Hwy 821 is a very narrow road in places with no escapes.
Have rescheduled for July 20 and 21.

I have visited this park many times while fly fishing.
Looking forward to spending the night (except for the snakes - I hate snakes..... )

Olivia L

Verified

July 19, 2026 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: Big Pines

2

I guess I didn’t know this going in, but this seems to be kind of a rowdy party campground. Multiple sites playing music on speakers well past one, two AM. If it was just one site doing this I would have complained, but it seemed to be the general vibe of the campground, so this is the place to be if you’re into that. Also most of the sites had no shade and there didn’t seem to be anyone enforcing any rules because our neighbors cranked up their generator before 6 am. Bring your earplugs or join the party.

Catharine Z

Verified

August 9, 2026 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: Big Pines

5

Fantastic location for river floating!

Charles J

Verified

August 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 03, Loop: Big Pines

4

Can't go wrong with sites 1 through 3! There's a little more cell reception with T-Mobile than I remember. Even with gusty wind and some wildfire smoke, we still had a great time. Sunday through Monday there was almost no one there. Minus one star because the dumpster was overflowing the whole time we were there. It's a cool place to camp after the river float.

Rod B

Verified

August 17, 2026 • Stayed at: 03, Loop: Big Pines

3

Nice site, but if you are in a trailer and the neighbor is in a tent, you will see them entire time. Train is very loud as well. But overall a very nice area

Adam S

Verified

August 20, 2026 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: Big Pines

1

Fires and local smoke plus high 90s temps made arrival impossible (nearby roads closed) yet the cancellation was not met with a refund. Cheap cheap cheap and terrible service over a $38 fee. Brutal and pathetic.

Patrick N

Verified

September 6, 2026 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: Big Pines

4

Good signage. Sites easy to find. Looks like the campground was replaced recently. Vault toilets were clean.

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

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Explore Wenatchee, WA

Population: 35,484

Nearby city: Kennewick, WA

Approx. 76 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 659 ft

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Managed by the Bureau of Land Management