Free Camping Collection with

Camper submitted image from Ancient & Dusty Lake Trailhead - 1

Camper submitted image from Ancient & Dusty Lake Trailhead - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Ancient & Dusty Lake Trailhead - 3

Activities

Camper submitted image from Ancient & Dusty Lake Trailhead - 4

Camping

Camper submitted image from Ancient & Dusty Lake Trailhead - 5

Water

Free Camping Collection

Dispersed Camping

Ancient & Dusty Lake Trailhead

6 Reviews

About

Suggest an Edit

Location

Ancient & Dusty Lake Trailhead is located in Washington

Directions

The turnoff to the Ancient Lakes Trail is five miles south of Quincy on SR 281. Turn west off SR 281 onto White Trail Road and continue 3 miles. Turn left (south) at the “public fishing” sign onto a gravel road toward Quincy Lakes. The Ancient Lakes trailhead is located 0.7 mile south of the intersection with White Trail Road. There is no privy at this trailhead.

Coordinates

47.160306 N
119.980701 W

Open in Google Maps

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Access

Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Alcohol
Pets
Fires

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Ancient & Dusty Lake Trailhead needs a permit.

Try PRO for Free

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Contact

General Info

Visit Website

Emma A.

Legend

Reviewed Apr. 30, 2021

Great dispersed camping on the East side of the Cascades

Camped here in February and November and in generally recommend it for fall and spring. Avoid summer when it gets too hot and ticks and rattlesnakes are around. It gets cold at night so come prepared.

There are several established sites near Ancient Lakes and Dusty Lakes that can be accessed from the lower trailhead hiking or biking in.

Ancient Lakes sites are only 2 miles from the trailhead on flat terrain which makes it for an ideal first backpacking experience.

Only catch is that the lakes are polluted with agricultural runoff so that water should not be used for drinking not even if filtered. Pack all the water you will need.

No facilities at the lakes. Port-a-potty at the trailhead.

Need Discover Pass to park here.

Month of VisitMarch

(4) View All

Brittany O.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 3, 2020

This place is awesome.

Really easy straight on hike. It is definitely dusty but a really nice change of pace from the trees and mountains. Several waterfalls that you can get super close to. We have not camped there yet but it looked super fun.

(5) View All

Katie W.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 17, 2018

Gorgeous desert oasis

Lots of campgrounds to choose from. Some are dustier than others. Plenty of space between campsites. Fire pits available for use but check for burn bans.

Month of VisitJuly

(5) View All

Zach A.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 3, 2017

Hidden Gem

This place is where I go when I want to disconnect and get away from the stress of school in Ellensburg. I've been here a handful of times and there's never been more than a dozen people spread out over the entire coulee valley. The previous directions are good and the one on WTA will take you right to the parking lot where it's an easy 1.5 mile hike down into the coulee. I've heard other people say they walked in from ancient lakes road and it took three times as long to make it to the camping spots.

The lakes are safe for swimming in my opinion (there's even a rock to jump off on the closest lake!) But do carry your own water in, it is irrigation runoff and has plenty of yummy pesticides that you cannot filter out. Other than that enjoy the lakes, waterfalls and killer sunsets that happen on a nightly basis out here!

SiteNo designated sites. Look for existing fire rings.

Month of VisitJune

(6) View All

Heather C.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 8, 2017

Great Early Season Hike

This is a good early season hike while its still rainy in Seattle it can easily be sunny and warm on the other side of the mountains. There are at least 5 good campsites at the lakes that will each hold multiple tents no problem. Some people do light fires but I’d like to discourage it, fire danger is pretty real in these scrublands. This is a very pretty hike full of sage brush and interesting geological features, also several waterfalls. Past the lakes you can go out to the Columbia River Gorge. Check out the WTA description for more details. Note that there is no potable water, you have to haul it it. The lakes are contaminated by irrigation run off.

WTA Ancient Lakes

SiteClosest to the smallest lake

Month of VisitApril

(5) View All

Tony G.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 21, 2017

Amazing Geology!!

2 mile backpack into box canyon and 2 night campout. Surrounded on three sides by tall basalt column cliff walls. Small water fall at northeastern corner. Incredible hiking up to top of rim and around to secondary canyon with a larger lake. You can also hike down towards the Columbia river where there is some additional camping available. Go in early spring for the green and cooler temps. You will want to bring a sleeping pad and tarp since ground is rough. Make sure you bring your own water! Even though there are lakes in the canyon, none of the water is safe for drinking due to the agricultural run off. Filtering will not work.

(6) View All