Can you reserve a site at Palmer Mountain?

No. Palmer Mountain is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Palmer Mountain, Washington — sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Palmer Mountain Management Area comprises more than 6,500 acres of public land and is managed by the BLM. It is a great place for hiking, backpacking, dispersed camping, horseback riding, hunting, mountain biking, and fishing at tiny Washburn Lake. The autumn is especially picturesque when the many stands of aspen trees create a brilliant yellow and orange background. Visitors are sure to find a favorite spot to enjoy the quiet, scenic views of the Okanogan hillsides, aspen tree groves, grasslands, and the serene waters of Washburn Lake.

Know Before You Go

Open season: Palmer Mountain Recreation Site is open YEAR ROUND, but the main access road is closed by snow in winter.
3 primitive campsites with fire rings; first come first serve.
No restrooms available.
No drinking water available.
Pack out all trash.
Please keep pets on a leash and dispose all pet waster in trash receptacles.
Cell phone coverage may be limited.

Point of Interest

Palmer Mountain is alive with color during spring and early summer, when many varieties of wildflowers bloom. At the higher elevations, wildflower season extends well into June and July when highland meadows seem carpeted with colorful blooms.

Getting there

From Tonasket, Washington: Travel State Highway 97 to the Loomis Oroville Highway and continue west towards Loomis. After approximately 12 miles, turn right on the Washburn Lake Road. Follow the gravel road to the parking area above Washburn Lake and to other public lands administered by BLM.

48.84476, -119.59473 · 48°50'41.1"N 119°35'41.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Official map for this area

Typical weather

Typically 88°F in Jul, down to 34°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	34	42	54	64	74	79	88	87	77	61	44	34
Low °F	23	26	31	37	44	50	55	54	46	37	29	24
Precip in	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

No Fees.

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

Common questions about Palmer Mountain

Can you reserve a site at Palmer Mountain?: No. Palmer Mountain is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Palmer Mountain

Oriole Campground 19.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Bonaparte Lake Campground 24.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lost Lake Group Unit 24.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lost Lake Campground (WA) 26.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Salmon Meadows Campground 17.1 mi · Campground
Sugarloaf Campground 17.9 mi · Campground
Kerr Campground 18.4 mi · Campground
Tiffany Springs Campground 19.2 mi · Campground
Camp Four Campground 25.8 mi · Campground
Chewuch Campground 27.4 mi · Campground
Beth Lake Campground 27.7 mi · Campground
Falls Creek Campground 29.4 mi · Campground

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-28.

Palmer Mountain