Washington › Yakima County › Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Pine Needle Group Site

Open

Open for the season. Reservations required through Recreation.gov. Check-in at 1:00 PM, check-out at 11:00 AM. No potable water on site; bring your own or use the pitcher pump at Hell's Crossing Campground 2.5 miles west. Pack out all trash.

Notify on Availability Reserve

Air Quality Alert issued August 10 at 9:49AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

August 10th, 9:49 AM — August 12th, 12:00 PM

The have issued an Air Quality Alert until 11 AM PDT Thursday. An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Kittitas, Klickitat, Walla Walla and Yakima Counties until further notice due to expected wildfire smoke from regional fires. Expect some clearing out and intermittent good air quality but with significant fires on the landscape conditions can worsen quickly to unhealthy air. Be sure to check air monitors in your area before outdoor activities. People can take the following precautions to protect their health: * Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air quality. * Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions. * People with heart or lung problems and young children are especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke levels are high. * Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in indoor heating ventilation, cooling, and air purification systems. * Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke if possible. Information from the Washington Department of Ecology web site is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/air.html or call 360-407-6000. Information from the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency web site is available at http://www.yakimacleanair.org or call 509-834-2050. Information from the Benton County Clean Air Agency web site is available at http://www.bentoncleanair.org or call 509-783-1304.

Air Quality Alert issued August 5 at 2:33PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

August 5th, 2:33 PM — August 12th, 5:00 AM

The Washington State Department of Ecology, Benton Clean Air Agency, and the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency have issued an Air Quality Alert until further notice. For the Smoke Air Quality Alert, wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. Information from the Washington Department of Ecology web site is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/air.html or call 360-407-6000. Information from the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency web site is available at http://www.yakimacleanair.org or call 509-834-2050. Information from the Benton County Clean Air Agency web site is available at http://www.bentoncleanair.org or call 509-783-1304.

About

Pine Needle Group Site offers an ideal setting for large gatherings along the American River in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Located at approximately 3,000 feet elevation, the campground sits in a fully shaded area about 30 miles west of Naches on State Route 410. The single group site can accommodate up to 60 people with a maximum of 8 vehicles. The campground provides basic amenities including picnic tables, a group campfire ring, and two vault toilets. Potable water is not available on site; campers should bring their own water supply or use the pitcher pump at Hell's Crossing Campground 2.5 miles to the west. There is no trash collection, so all garbage must be packed out. Electric hookups are not available. Recreation opportunities abound in the area. The American River offers fishing for rainbow and brown trout, as well as swimming in its cold, refreshing waters. The nearby American Ridge Trail provides over 26 miles of hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding through towering forests, meadows, and alpine lakes, eventually connecting to the Pacific Crest Trail. Boulder Cave National Recreation Trail and Mount Rainier National Park are also popular nearby destinations.

Directions

From Naches, WA travel west on US Highway 12 W for 4.4 miles. Continue straight onto State Route 410 W for 30 miles. The campground is on the south side of the highway.