Cle Elum River Group Site

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23931 Salmon La Sac Road
Ronald, WA 98940

Three Queens Fire Area Closure Reduced on the Cle Elum Ranger District

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This closure prohibits entry or use of roads, recreation sites, campgrounds and trails on national forest system lands within a defined area within the Cle Elum Ranger Districts to ensure the safety of the public and firefighting resources during the Three Queens. View the attached updated closure order and map for location details. A portion of the closure has been lifted, it provides more access to the north end of Cle Elum Lake, and areas around the north end of Kachess Lake, and Keechelus Ridge areas to the east of I-90.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Cle Elum, WA

Three Queens Fire Closure

Closure Order: 06-17-03-2026-45

Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. This Order is effective October 1, 2026 and will remain in effect through October 31, 2026, unless rescinded sooner.

PROHIBITIONS:

Entering into or being upon National Forest System lands, as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.53(e)].
Being on a National Forest System Trail, as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.55(a)].
Being on a National Forest System Road as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.54(e)].
Use of vehicle off of National Forest System Roads as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.56].

CLOSURE AREA DESCRIPTION:

Area closure only applies to USFS lands, roads, and trails within.

The area, trail, and road closures are defined as follows:

The closure area begins in the northeast corner of Section 15 in T. 22 N. R. 12 E. It then follows the section line south to the southeast corner of Section 15, it then turns east on the north section line of Section 23 and 24 to where it intersects the Box Canyon Creek Road 4930 in T. 22 N R. 12 E, Section 24. It follows and includes FSR 4930 south to its junction with FSR 4948, Gale Creek Road in T. 22 N , R 13 E Sec. 32. It then turns east across the north edges of Sections 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 31 to where it intersects with French Cabin Creek Road FSR 4308 in T. 22 N. R. 14 E, Sec. 31. It follows FSR 4308 to the west edge of the Cle Elum River in T. 22 N. R 14 E. Sec.32. FSR 4308 is open. It follows the Cle Elum River north to where it intersects the Cooper River Road, FSR 4600 in T. 22 N. R. 14 E. Sec. 21 FSR 4600 is closed. It then follows and includes FSR 4600 north to where the road intersects the east section line of Section 17 in T. 22 N. R 14 E. It follows the east section line of Sections 17 and 8 to where it meets FSR 4316-111 in T. 22 N. R 14 E, Sec 8. It then follows FSR 4316-111 to the Salmon la Sac Trailhead and the
start of the Waptus River Trail #1310 in T. 22 N. R 14 E. Section 8. It follows the Waptus River Trail to its junction with the Trail Creek Trail in T. 23 N. R 12 E. Section 13. Waptus River Trail is open to the Trail Creek Trail junction. It follows the east edge of Sections 13, 12, 1 north to thenorth east corner of Section 1 in T. 23 N. R 12 E. It then turns west on the north edge of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, in T. 23 N. R 12 E, and continues on the north edge of Section 1 to its intersection with the Forest Boundary in T. 23 N. R 12 E. It then follows the Forest Boundary south to Section 23 in T. 23 N, R 11 E. It follows the section line south to its intersection with the Alaska Lake Trail 1314.1 in T. 23 N. R 11 E. Section 24. It then follows and includes the Alaska Lake trail to its intersection with the Wilderness Boundary in T. 23 N. R 11 E. Section 1. It follows the Wilderness Boundary south to the mid-point of the west edge of Section 12 in T. 23 N. R 11 E. It then heads east to the northeast corner of Section 15 in T. 22 N. R. 12 E Section 15 where it intersects the start point of the closure.

TRAILS CLOSED:

Little Kachess Trail 1312
Rachel Lake Trail 1313
Mineral Creek Trail 1331
Lake Lillian Trail 1332
Gold Creek Valley Trail 1314
Pete Lake Trail 1323
Thorp Creek Trail 1316
Knox Creek Trail 1315.1
Little Joe Lake Trail 1330.1
Kachess Ridge Trail 1315 -North of the Knox Creek Trail
Red Mountain Trail 1330
Alaska Lake Trail 1314.1
Cooper River Trail 1327
Pacific Crest Trail #2000 – Ridge Lake to Spinola Creek Trail #1365
Escondido Lake Trail 1320
Tired Creek Trail 1317
Waptus Pass Trail 1329
Lemah Meadows 1323.2
Waptus Burn Trail 1329.3
Polallie Ridge Trail 1309
Spade Lake Trail 1337
Dutch Miller Gap Trail 1362
Spectacle Lake 1306

ROADS CLOSED:

4309
4312
4600
4613
4616
4616-114
4617
4930

DEVELOPED SITES CLOSED:

Owhi Campground
Owhi Boat Launch
Mineral Creek Trailhead
Rachel Lake Trailhead
Pete Lake Trailhead

See Exhibit A for closure map.

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS‑7700‑48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A.

Violations of these prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for an individual or $10,000.00 for a corporation, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. (16 USC § 551; 18 USC §§ 3551, 3571, and 3581.)

Executed in Wenatchee, Washington this 5th day of October, 2026.

Overview

Cle Elum River Group Campground is located within the Cle Elum River Campground situated just off its namesake river in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Set in a mixed-conifer forest at an elevation of 2,300 feet and surrounded by high mountains, this campground offers a large site suitable for large family and group camping excursions.

Recreation

In addition to being a prime location for hiking, fishing, swimming and birding in summer and early fall, the Cle Elum River area offers excellent skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter months.

The campground is closed during the winter months. The adjacent French Cabin Creek Sno-Park accomodates skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers.

Anglers will find the waters teeming with rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon in the river as well as the nearby reservoir.

Facilities

The large reservable group site is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, drinking water and vault toilets.

Natural Features

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest offers stunning scenic views, with high, glaciated alpine peaks, valleys of old growth forest and rugged shrub-steppe country making up the diverse landscape. Elevations range from below 1,000 feet to more than 9,000 feet. Precipitation varies greatly throughout the area, ranging from approximately 140 inches along the Cascade Crest to only 10 inches along the eastern edge. Visitors can expect many days of warm, sunny weather in the summer, and winters with clear skies and plenty of snow. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support an abundance of wildlife, including deer, porcupine, native fish and migratory birds.

Contact Info

This location has limited staffing. Please call (661) 702-1420 for general information.

Nearby Attractions

Speelyi Beach is a great place to spend the day. Featuring a wide sandy beach surrounded by conifer forest on Cle Elum Lake, visitors will have plenty of space to wade, swim and splash around. Those searching for deeper water will enjoy a kayak outing along the shore at sunset. The spectacular Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is accessible near the campground. It is one of the world's premier National Scenic Trails and showcases some of North America's most fantastic scenery as it winds its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington.

Charges & Cancellations

Group Sites

Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.

No-Shows

A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.

No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.

Refunds

Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.

Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.

For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.

In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Fire pit: all 1 sites
Pets allowed: all 1 sites
Group sites: all 1 sites
Longest RV: 40 ft
Largest party: 100 people

Directions

From Cle Elum, Washington, take State Highway 903 north for 15 miles. Turn left at the campground sign. At the T in the road turn right into the group site.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

8 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

Adam D