Wanapum State Park Campground

Wanapum State Park is a beautiful way to get your summer on in the springtime. When it's still raining and nasty on the west side of the mountains, it's hot and sunny at Wanapum. Be aware of the wind that kicks up in the evenings, though, because it's no joke. You have full RV hook-ups to include sewer, the bathrooms are clean, the showers are free, and the campsites are lush and spacious. Why only three stars then? Because I am a boater who brings my boat there every year, and in this respect, Wanapum State Park is left wanting... I mean to the point of negligence. As a boater, your first impression will be an amazing parking area for your truck and trailer. Wow, you'll think, as you pull your boat down to the water. The two slip boat ramp is sufficient, offers good grip, and is plenty deep to launch whatever you're trying to get wet. Okay, then what? Yep, you have about two seconds to get your boat off the extra small metal docks that give you no space to do anything other than get on your boat and go. Try sneaking your boat around to the other side to get it out of the way for a minute, and it's way too shallow on the outsides. Any outdrive is in the mud when you want to back out, and you're left to paddle or run a kicker to get away from either of the outside positions. But, you're a pro, and your boat is launched with zero issues. Great... and like a pro, you've looked at a chart and know the danger areas ahead of time. But still, it's nice to know that local and state governments provide channel markers to warn of any major hazards, right? Nope, not here. Go ahead and take a left off from this State maintained boat ramp and run right into a massive unmarked hazard. The amount of boats being pulled out at that ramp with severe prop damage is astonishing. Stay a long way from that western shore just to the left of the boat ramp and all the way to the I-90 bridge. It is SHALLOW, and it is UNMARKED!! This is why I call the state negligent. As you pull into the park, folks towing boats should receive a written warning, maybe to include a printed chart showing that hazardous area. There should be markers warning boaters off of that shallow area. I'm not saying that boaters shouldn't check charts and be responsible for their own safety, but the state paints lines on the highway for a reason. They should put markers in the water as well, especially right off of a state maintained boat ramp. Here's another warning about the wind because it comes up suddenly, and it is unforgiving. If your day ran long on the water, which will happen when you have folks tubing and having fun. Now you took a moment to chill and have a beer as the sun leisurely makes its way west, and you're caught out as the wind picks up? Bro... you're already dealing with some current at that dock because you're in a river, but the blistering wind that comes on full throttle in a matter of minutes and hits you in gusts that are impossible to predict... you better be a pro at this, or there's another severely damaged boat coming out of the water at Wanapum. My advice is to get your boat out and have that beer back at the campsite, then she's safe and sound while you're running around chasing the paper plates and sun shades that are blowing away.

Ivery nice campground, very clean, grass could use more water, but bathrooms were clean, beach area very nice, great views, but extremely windy at times, we tent camped it blew over our site, at midnight, so be careful if your tent camping.

Small (40+ sites). Spacious. Level, gravel with paved road. On the Columbia. Friendly helpful staff.

I've always heard it can be windy. And it was the first night. Great views, swimming area, and every site has full hookups.

Good views of the Columbia river with a boat launch. Poor fishing access. Full hookups with water and power. Tent camping is great as long as no wind is in the forecast. Has on-site bathrooms and HOT water showers!