We do at least two trips a year to Kachess. It is a favorite as it is very accessible for paddle boarding, fishing and kayaking. Amazing views and warm water later in the summer. Sites are on the larger size. One issue is that the closest dumping station is 26 miles away at Lake Easton State Park.
Explore Kachess Campground in 360°
This campground has a full virtual tour with interactive campsite markers. Walk through every loop, inspect individual sites, and see the views before you book.
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✅ Amenities & Features
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📖 About This Campground
Kachess Campground sits just off the forested northwest shore of Kachess Lake in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Set in dense old-growth conifer forest and surrounded by high mountains, Kachess Campground is considered one of the most beautiful sites in the Cle Elum Ranger District.
Kachess Lake Campground offers 150 sites that accommodate both tent and RV camping, including one designated group site that can accommodate up to 50 guests. The group site and 106 single family sites are available for reservation, and the rest are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Sites are equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, vault toilets. Drinking water is available. There are no electric hookups. One motorized boat launch, one non-motorized boat launch, a swimming area and picnic areas are also available to visitors.
Towering peaks, high-country lakes and old-growth forests provide visitors with a variety of landscapes. Kachess Lake, adjacent to the campground, is a reservoir that stores and provides water for irrigation for south-central Washington. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support an abundance of wildlife, including deer, porcupine, native fish and migratory birds.
Kachess is a prime location for fishing, swimming, boating, paddling and mountain biking in summer and early fall.
The campground is also a great base camp for day-hikers and overnight backpackers. Several access trails from the area give hikers the chance to create their own excursions, whether it be a day hike or an overnight trip.
Starting at the campground, the Kachess Lake Trail is a short loop next to the lake, enjoyable for hikers of all levels.
Anglers enjoy fishing for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon from boat or shoreline. Box Canyon Creek is closed to all fishing from the mouth, 2-miles up to the falls. Check current WDFW fishing regulations for additional restrictions.
⭐ 2 Reviews⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.6
Kachess Lake is incredible. The campground compliments it very well. Probably my favorite lake in WA. It’s a reservoir where the water will drop throughout the season, don’t panic if you show up by October and the water level is so low you can cross the lake by foot - they release water out of it over time through the dam. Cell reception is mostly located while sitting on the shore or in the lake. Cash only. Bring small bills because the hosts aren’t setup to make change. This is a fee area - day use ($8), and camping ($8). There’s 5 loops, each one very different in what you’d like your experience to be whether entirely secluded or out in the open with your neighbors. This is a National Forest run by a concessionaire. Passes accepted include America the Beautiful Military, Senior, and Access/Disabled. At this time, the discount is 50%. Generators are allowed from 8am to 10pm don’t complain about it. The campground was very clean, including the pit toilets. Multiple beaches and boat launches. Warm water. Perfect mix of the east and west sides of the cascades with the high alpine ecology of the cascades that is also just far enough east to hot in the summer. And the lake is WARM.