Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground

Located just two hours’ drive east of Seattle, this campground lies at the edge of central Washington’s high desert scablands. These small recreation areas along the shore of Wanapum Lake, on the mighty Columbia River, showcase the area’s dramatic landscape, and preserve the fossilized remains of a prehistoric forest buried by an ancient lava flow. Some of the many activities available at these two locations include hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, camping and wildlife watching.

The campground at Wanapum offers 50 large, full-hookup sites for RV and tent campers. Sites are mostly open and grassy, with a few spare trees for shade and wind protection; all are equipped with picnic tables and cooking grills. The camp area has two vault toilets, a boat ramp, a shaded picnic area, and a sandy beach. This area is susceptible to high winds, so tents and awnings should be firmly secured. Dogs are permitted, but should remain leashed, as there are rattlesnakes in the area. The campground is open from March through October. Sites are first-come, first-served, but reservations are recommended in the summer season. Seasonal rates are $30–$50/night.

Just a few miles north of the recreation area, Ginkgo Petrified Forest preserves a unique fossil discovery that was revealed during highway construction in the 1930s: the remains of an ancient forest turned to stone. The park features an air-conditioned visitor center, restrooms, picnic areas, a boat launch, and lake viewpoints. Nearby, the 1-mile Trees of Stone interpretive trail winds through the fossilized forest, where visitors can see more than 20 specimens of petrified trees, in addition to erratic boulders deposited by ancient glacial floods. Common wildlife seen in the area include deer, elk, bighorn sheep and coyotes. Check park website for operating seasons and hours.