Yakima River Canyon Recreation Sites (BLM), Kittitas/Yakima County, WA
Ellensburg, Kittitas and Yakima County, Washington. Developed river access sites; Open year-round.
Details
- Where
- Ellensburg, Kittitas and Yakima County, WA. No street address stated. Directions
- Getting there
- From Ellensburg, Washington, take Hwy 821 (Canyon Road) south into the Yakima River Canyon. Umtanum is located at milepost 16, Lmuma Creek is located at milepost 12, Big Pines is located at milepost 10 and Roza is located at milepost 7, a half mile above Roza dam and about 25 miles south of Ellensburg.
- Fees
- $15 overnight, $5 day-use.
- Access
- No drinking water or hookups available. Cellular phone coverage is limited in many areas of the Yakima River Canyon.
- Walk-in or reserve
- Campsite reservations May 1 to September 30; first come, first serve October 1 to April 30.
- Phone
- 509-665-2100
- Website
- blm.gov
- Managed by
- Bureau of Land Management, Wenatchee Field Office.
The gentle Yakima River winds through rolling desert hills and basalt cliffs, some rising more than 2,000 feet, for 27 miles between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington. The canyon offers excellent wildlife watching, fishing for Blue Ribbon trout, family-friendly rafting, and camping. The BLMs crevices and cliffs make a perfect home for the densest concentration of nesting hawks, eagles, and falcons in the state.
Notable Events
- 2021Western Rivers Conservancy purchased Yakima Canyon Ranch in December intending to transfer it to BLM for unified recreation and conservation management. blm.gov
- 2024BLM acquired 647 acres near Ellensburg through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, including the Bighorn, Beavertail, and Umtanum parcels. blm.gov