🌤 Weather at Wanapum Recreation Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33–77 °F | 54–93 °F | 30–82 °F | 26–48 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Smyrna, 15 mi away, elevation 560 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Wanapum Recreation Area is a camping and day-use area next to the Columbia River near Vantage, Washington, and part of Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. It is not a separate state park: Washington State Parks runs it as the recreation area in the southern part of Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, and both share one address. Camping and boat launching facilities were added here after Wanapum Dam was completed in 1963.
Quick Facts
| State | Washington |
| Nearest City | Vantage |
| Part of | Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park |
| Address | 4511 Huntzinger Road, Vantage, WA 98950 |
| Hours | Summer 6:30 a.m. to dusk, winter 8 a.m. to dusk (as of October 2026) |
| Phone | (509) 856-2700 |
| Accessibility |
|
Location & Getting There
Washington State Parks gives the address as 4511 Huntzinger Road, Vantage, WA 98950, the same address it lists for Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. The campground lies on the shores of Wanapum Lake on the Columbia River.
Things to Do
Day use centers on a picnic area and a sandy beach with a swim area. There is no lifeguard on duty at the swim beach. A double-lane boat launch gives you access to the Columbia River for water sports and fishing. Washington State Parks lists bird watching, boating, camping, fishing, hiking and swimming as activities here.
For camping, you can choose full-hookup or hiker/biker campsites from spring through fall (as of October 2026). The maximum site length is 60 feet. The park brochure lists 50 reservable full-hookup sites and two hiker/biker sites. Tents are strongly not recommended: high winds are frequent, especially in the evening, so secure light items. Tent campers may use full-hookup sites but pay the full fee.
Best Time to Visit
As of October 2026, the area is open 6:30 a.m. to dusk in summer and 8 a.m. to dusk in winter, and campsites are offered spring through fall. The area is heavily used during The Gorge Amphitheatre concert season, and facilities fill early on weekends. For off-season closures, check the Washington State Parks winter schedule before you go.
Visitor Tips
The park page lists the Discover Pass ($45/year or $10/day) under fees: as of October 2026, $10 for a one-day pass or $45 for an annual pass. It also lists a $7 watercraft launch fee for the day and a $10 per night overnight unattended vehicle fee. Dogs are allowed on a leash, fires only in designated areas, and horses are not allowed. For questions, call (509) 856-2700 or email [email protected], and check the park page for current alerts such as burn bans.
Explore More Parks in Washington
Wanapum Recreation Area is part of Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, which Washington State Parks runs. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Washington guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Wildlife & Nature
Wanapum Recreation Area sits in a shrub-steppe landscape next to the Columbia River. For Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park and Wanapum together, the park brochure says more bird species are reported here than at any other site in Kittitas County, and that deer, elk, rabbit, bighorn sheep and coyote are common mammals. The park lies within the traditional territories of Sahaptian and Inland Salish Indigenous people, whose present-day descendants include members of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Nearby Attractions
The Ginkgo Petrified Forest Interpretive Center explains the Ice Age Floods and shows petrified wood from the Ginkgo lava flow, with a view of the Columbia River. The Civilian Conservation Corps first built the center in 1936. On the trails of Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, a registered National Natural Landmark, you can see petrified wood up close and walk through the area of a prehistoric lake; the brochure describes a 3-mile hiking trail with an expansive view of the region.
Keep exploring: Wanapum Recreation Area is part of Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. The closest other parks are Iron Horse State Park (a short drive away) and Olmstead Place Historical State Park (within about an hour’s drive).
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Wanapum Recreation Area
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in most Washington state parks but must be under physical control on a leash at all times.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- 8 ft maximum leash required; pets must be under physical control
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are not permitted on designated swim beaches
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are not allowed inside vacation houses but are permitted in designated pet-friendly cabins and yurts (e.g. Grayland Beach, Seaquest, Ike Kinswa — Cape Disappointment does NOT allow pets in its yurts), typically up to two pets, with a pet fee
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No day-use pet fee; $15 per night pet fee in pet-friendly cabins/yurts
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Director-designated off-leash areas are exempt from the leash rule and are conspicuously posted
Are dogs allowed at Wanapum Recreation Area?
Pets are allowed in most Washington state parks but must be under physical control on a leash at all times. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via parks.wa.gov. More: Washington state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
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