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Leavenworth camping

Original Post
Kevin Shoemaker · · Vancouver, WA · Joined Apr 2017 · Points: 70

Any free camping leavenworth?

Eric Roe · · Spokane · Joined Jan 2016 · Points: 16

There's a parking lot on the highway a couple blocks from the city center where you can sleep in your car for free, posted limit is one night only but I'm sure you could get away with two or three if you move your car and aren't in a massive RV.  You can walk a block down to the park for running water / toilets and picnic tables.  google maps

Gabe Cisneros · · Baltimore, md · Joined Feb 2016 · Points: 15

Was there two weeks ago, asked two different rangers.

Up icicle creek you can car bivy at any pullout(as long as you are not impeding traffic) and can practice responsible dispersed camping “in the woods”(its national park land).  

Jimmy Downhillinthesnow · · Fort Collins, CO / Seattle, WA · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 10
Gabe Cisneros wrote:(its national park land).  

National Forest land. Big difference. Camping in a National Park is much more regulated.

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103
Gabe Cisneros wrote: Was there two weeks ago, asked two different rangers.

Up icicle creek you can car bivy at any pullout(as long as you are not impeding traffic) and can practice responsible dispersed camping “in the woods”(its national park land).  

hmmm, this isn't really consistent with what i have heard.  there are a lot of "no camping" signs posted directly at these pullouts...

Kyle Elliott · · Granite falls · Joined Jul 2015 · Points: 1,773
slim wrote:

hmmm, this isn't really consistent with what i have heard.  there are a lot of "no camping" signs posted directly at these pullouts...

That's true. a few are private property, and it's also important to consider car camping is still considered "dispersed camping" therefore no camping within the vicinity of trailheads, campgrounds, or established recreation sites. You must also be more than 100 feet from the water. 

That being said, I've slept in my car at a pull off for a week at a time with no troubles. 
Matthew Tangeman · · SW Colorado · Joined May 2015 · Points: 1,113
Gabe Cisneros wrote: Was there two weeks ago, asked two different rangers.

Up icicle creek you can car bivy at any pullout(as long as you are not impeding traffic) and can practice responsible dispersed camping “in the woods”(its national park land).  

While technically true, I think it's somewhat irresponsible to encourage arbitrary dispersed camping "in the woods". Icicle canyon suffers from overuse as is. It's also a checkerboard of public/private land in the lower half. 

F Loyd · · Kennewick, WA · Joined Mar 2018 · Points: 808

Wenatchee is 30 minutes, and you can sleep in their Walmart parking lot. 

Affectionate Bank · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2018 · Points: 0
Floyd Eggers wrote: Wenatchee is 30 minutes, and you can sleep in their Walmart parking lot. 

No you cannot.

F Loyd · · Kennewick, WA · Joined Mar 2018 · Points: 808
Affectionate Bank wrote:

No you cannot.

Really?!? I have done it a few times, is it a recent change?

Also, cant you just pull off of Icicle Creek Road and camp out?
Jplotz · · Cashmere, WA · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 1,320

People do "camp" right off Icicle road, as witnessed by the fire rings they leave on the shoulder. 

Zach Parsons · · Centennial, CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 95

There is an established dispersed camping site up the NF road from the paid Bridge Creek Campground. Cross the bridge and look for the turnoff on the left shortly.

Please don't car/van bivy here - you can do that at so many pullouts off Icicle Creek Road, or in town by the gear shop. Save this spot for those planning on sleeping out, who would otherwise be adding to the overuse problem the canyon is having.

Affectionate Bank · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2018 · Points: 0
Floyd Eggers wrote:

Really?!? I have done it a few times, is it a recent change?

I don't know how recent it is since I have only been there once but as of this past April there were no overnight parking signs all over that parking lot. I even talked to the store manager and she confirmed that it is not allowed.


You are however allowed to overnight park at the Town Toyota Center parking lot right across the street from the gym.
F Loyd · · Kennewick, WA · Joined Mar 2018 · Points: 808
Affectionate Bank wrote:

I don't know how recent it is since I have only been there once but as of this past April there were no overnight parking signs all over that parking lot. I even talked to the store manager and she confirmed that it is not allowed.


You are however allowed to overnight park at the Town Toyota Center parking lot right across the street from the gym.

That's crap, thanks for the heads up. I stayed there, off icicle, or the snow park depending on where I was climbing in the past. 

TaylorLutz · · Seattle · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 65
Zach Parsons wrote: There is an established dispersed camping site up the NF road from the paid Bridge Creek Campground. Cross the bridge and look for the turnoff on the left shortly.

Please don't car/van bivy here - you can do that at so many pullouts off Icicle Creek Road, or in town by the gear shop. Save this spot for those planning on sleeping out, who would otherwise be adding to the overuse problem the canyon is having.

Giving the explicit directions to a campsite you dont want people to camp at is probably ineffective. just saying

mediocre · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0
Briggs Lazalde wrote: Someone needs to write a guidebook specifically on where to camp and how to get by in and around climbing areas. Then supplement w guidebook of choice 

Or you could just go and check it out. ? 

I’m not saying I dont like beta but it seems like everyone just wants a quick fix these days. Whatever happened to exploring FS roads with a road soda and finding what you find?
Zach Parsons · · Centennial, CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 95
TaylorLutz wrote:

Giving the explicit directions to a campsite you dont want people to camp at is probably ineffective. just saying

Re-read the post, people absolutely should camp there. You know, to reduce visibility and impact elsewhere and to keep climbers on the rangers' good side. Just lame stuff like that. It's definitely not a secret spot to be kept on the DL, as evidenced by the last few times I've been.

What irks me is when it's full of #vanlife, they have some many options in Icicle but they fill up all the parking for dispersed campers.

Jimmy Downhillinthesnow · · Fort Collins, CO / Seattle, WA · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 10
Zach Parsons wrote:

What irks me is when it's full of #vanlife, they have some many options in Icicle but they fill up all the parking for dispersed campers.

Haven't been there in 4 or 5 years, but when I have it's about half climbers and about half booze-fueled partiers, who for some reason are often Russian-speaking and quaff vodka and sing Slavic drinking songs late into the night. But #vanlife wasn't really a thing 5 years ago, and times they are a-changin' in the Northwest.

J Roatch · · Leavenworth, WA · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 162
Jimmy Downhillinthesnow wrote:

Haven't been there in 4 or 5 years, but when I have it's about half climbers and about half booze-fueled partiers, who for some reason are often Russian-speaking and quaff vodka and sing Slavic drinking songs late into the night. But #vanlife wasn't really a thing 5 years ago, and times they are a-changin' in the Northwest.

I’d say it’s a good mix still. Vanlife/locals without homes, and party people.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Pacific Northwest
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