Closed
Closed for the season. Typically opens late May through mid-September, depending on snow conditions. Reservations available via Recreation.gov.
About
Cayuse Horse Camp sits at 2,380 feet in the mixed-conifer forests of Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 19 miles north of Cle Elum. Designed exclusively for stock users, the campground requires visitors to be accompanied by horses, mules, goats, or llamas. Each of the 14 sites is assigned a corral pen, with single sites accommodating up to 3 horses and 6 people, while double sites handle 4 horses and 12 people.
The campground provides vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings with grills at each site. Water is available via hand pump, though campers must use buckets to fill horse troughs as RV hose connections are prohibited. Horses must remain in corrals at all times since the pens share common boundaries and animals need to be sociable. Certified weed-free feed and straw are mandatory.
From Cayuse, equestrians access a network of trails including routes to Waptus Lake, Polallie Ridge, Pete Lake, and Lemah Meadows. The Pacific Crest Trail is accessible via the nearby Salmon la Sac Trailhead, with wilderness permits available on-site. The campground cannot accommodate newer, larger horse trailers, so visitors should verify their rig fits before arriving.
Directions
From Cle Elum, take Highway 903 north for 19 miles. The campground entrance is on the right before the Old Guard Station.
