Kachess

Campground · Washington · 143 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Wenatchee National Forest (NF) · Open Access

143
Bookable sites
110 ft
Max rig length
up to 50
People per site
2
Accessible sites
2,277 ft
Elevation
Kachess swimming beach view
Photo: RMRC · Recreation.gov

Overview

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.

Recreation

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.

Facilities

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.

Natural Features

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.

Nearby Attractions

The spectacular Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) can be accessed near the campground. One of the world's premier National Scenic Trails, it showcases some of North America's most fantastic scenery as it winds its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington.

Contact Info

This location has limited staffing. Please call (661) 702-1420 for general information.

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellations

Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. 

A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite.

Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.

Group Sites

Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.

No-Shows

A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.

No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.  

Refunds

Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.

Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.

For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. 

In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.

The facts

  • Season: Early June – mid-September — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
  • 143 bookable sites
  • 149 sites in total, including non-bookable
  • 2 accessible sites
  • Vehicles up to 110 ft
  • Up to 50 people per site
  • Loops: Beargrass, Box Canyon, GALE CREEK, Lodge Creek, Mineral Creek, RECR, Thetis Creek

Site types

  • 142 Standard Nonelectric
  • 6 Management
  • 1 Group Standard Nonelectric

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Grills
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups.

Book on Recreation.gov

149 campsites at Kachess

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceMax rigPeople
024BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel90 ft12 🐾
025BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel97 ft12 🐾
027BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel86 ft12 🐾
029BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel90 ft12 🐾
031BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel70 ft6 🐾
032BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel100 ft12 🐾
034BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel77 ft6 🐾
035BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel88 ft12 🐾
037BeargrassStandard NonelectricBack InGravel51 ft6 🐾
038BeargrassStandard NonelectricBack InGravel46 ft6 🐾
039BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel97 ft12 🐾
041BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel93 ft12 🐾
043BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel82 ft12 🐾
045BeargrassStandard NonelectricBack InGravel64 ft6 🐾
046BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel80 ft12 🐾
048BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel70 ft12 🐾
049BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel70 ft6 🐾
050BeargrassStandard NonelectricBack InGravel46 ft6 🐾
051BeargrassStandard NonelectricBack InGravel46 ft6 🐾
052BeargrassStandard NonelectricBack InGravel65 ft6 🐾
053BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel65 ft6 🐾
054BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel60 ft6 🐾
055BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel106 ft12 🐾
058BeargrassStandard NonelectricBack InGravel31 ft6 🐾
059BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel57 ft6 🐾
060BeargrassStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel110 ft6 🐾
062BeargrassManagementPull ThroughGravel90 ft12 🐾
137Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel23 ft12 🐾
139Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel18 ft12 🐾
141Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel23 ft6 🐾
143Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel21 ft12 🐾
145Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel22 ft12 🐾
147Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel24 ft12 🐾
149Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel24 ft12 🐾
152Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel23 ft12 🐾
153Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel23 ft12 🐾
154-HOST SITEBox CanyonManagementBack InGravel45 ft12 🐾
155Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel21 ft12 🐾
159Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel32 ft6 🐾
160Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft6 🐾
161Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel32 ft6 🐾
162Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel32 ft6 🐾
163Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel31 ft6 🐾
164Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel35 ft6 🐾
165Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel26 ft6 🐾
166Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel25 ft6 🐾
167Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel25 ft6 🐾
168Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel25 ft6 🐾
169Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel19 ft6 🐾
170Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel23 ft6 🐾
171Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel24 ft6 🐾
172Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel20 ft6 🐾
173Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel18 ft6 🐾
175Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel18 ft6 🐾
176Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel17 ft12 🐾
178Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel24 ft12 🐾
180Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel33 ft12 🐾
182Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel25 ft6 🐾
183Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel28 ft6♿ 🐾
184Box CanyonStandard NonelectricBack InGravel28 ft6♿ 🐾
001GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel37 ft6 🐾
002GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel26 ft6 🐾
003GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel26 ft6 🐾
004GALE CREEKManagementBack InGravel26 ft6 🐾
005GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel29 ft6 🐾
006GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel29 ft6 🐾
007GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel43 ft6 🐾
008GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel32 ft6 🐾
009GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel90 ft12 🐾
014GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel45 ft6 🐾
016GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel28 ft6 🐾
017GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel33 ft6 🐾
018GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel29 ft6 🐾
019GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel41 ft6 🐾
020GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel52 ft6 🐾
021GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel37 ft6 🐾
022GALE CREEKStandard NonelectricBack InGravel36 ft6 🐾
064Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel29 ft6 🐾
065Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel29 ft6 🐾
066Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel32 ft6 🐾
067Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel34 ft6 🐾
068Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel36 ft6 🐾
069Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel32 ft6 🐾
070Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel35 ft6 🐾
071Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel40 ft6 🐾
072Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel50 ft6 🐾
073Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft6 🐾
074Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel38 ft6 🐾
075Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel40 ft6 🐾
076Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel39 ft6 🐾
077Lodge CreekManagementBack InGravel46 ft6 🐾
078Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel36 ft6 🐾
079Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel38 ft6 🐾
082Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel48 ft6 🐾
083Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel44 ft6 🐾
084Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel47 ft6 🐾
085Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel26 ft6 🐾
086Lodge CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel34 ft6 🐾
087Lodge CreekManagementBack InGravel60 ft6 🐾
088Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel39 ft6 🐾
089Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel31 ft6 🐾
090Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel29 ft6 🐾
091Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel35 ft6 🐾
092Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel43 ft6 🐾
093Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel24 ft6 🐾
094Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel31 ft6 🐾
095Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel31 ft6 🐾
096Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel38 ft6 🐾
097Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel26 ft6 🐾
098Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel36 ft6 🐾
099Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel36 ft6 🐾
100Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel41 ft6 🐾
101Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel28 ft6 🐾
102Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel47 ft6 🐾
103Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel33 ft6 🐾
104Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel38 ft6 🐾
105Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel37 ft6 🐾
106Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel38 ft6 🐾
107Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel47 ft6 🐾
108Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel23 ft6 🐾
109Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel44 ft6 🐾
110Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel43 ft6 🐾
111Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel33 ft6 🐾
112Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel38 ft6 🐾
113Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel38 ft6 🐾
114Mineral CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel37 ft6 🐾
GROUP SITE ARECRGroup Standard NonelectricBack InGravel35 ft50 🐾
115Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel33 ft6 🐾
116Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel38 ft6 🐾
117Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel36 ft6 🐾
118Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel28 ft6 🐾
119Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel38 ft6 🐾
120Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel47 ft6 🐾
121Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel36 ft6 🐾
122Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel35 ft6 🐾
123Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel33 ft6 🐾
124Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel44 ft6 🐾
125Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel45 ft6 🐾
126Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel33 ft6 🐾
127Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel46 ft6 🐾
128Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel33 ft6 🐾
129-HOST SITEThetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel40 ft6 🐾
130Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel35 ft6 🐾
131Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel33 ft6 🐾
132Thetis CreekManagementBack InGravel42 ft6 🐾
133Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft6 🐾
134Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel41 ft6 🐾
135Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel39 ft6 🐾
136Thetis CreekStandard NonelectricBack InGravel23 ft6 🐾

Getting there

From Seattle, travel east on I-90 approximately 62 miles, or from Cle Elum travel west on I-90 approximately 20 miles. Take exit 62 and follow Kachess Lake Road for 5.5 miles to the campground, which is on the right.

47.35484, -121.24342 · 47°21'17.4"N 121°14'36.3"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 69°F in Aug, down to 32°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F323540465360686963493832
Low °F252629333843505147383024
Precip in11.77.98.86.54.73.31.31.64.09.013.712.6

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

More photos

Member photos

Common questions about Kachess

Can you reserve a site at Kachess?
Yes, Kachess is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Kachess have?
149 sites in total, of which 143 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Kachess?
110 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Kachess?
Yes, pets are allowed at Kachess.
Are campfires allowed at Kachess?
Campfires are allowed at Kachess. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Kachess also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Kachess's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • Single Campsite: $24; Double Campsite: $45; Group Site: $130 ; Extra vehicle: $8 , (2nd vehicle for single sites, 3rd and 4 vehicles for double sites) will be collected at the campground. Extra vehicle is defined as any vehicle (motorhome, trailer, or passenger vehicle) that is not towed in with the

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Kachess

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-08-01.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.