Park overview:
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park is a 7,470-acre park with year-round camping at Wanapum recreational area. The park features 27,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Wanapum Reservoir on the Columbia River. Petrified wood was discovered in the region in the early 1930s, which led to creation of the park as a national historic preserve.
Campsite Information:
The Wanapum recreation area has 50 utility sites and two restrooms. All sites have full hook-ups. Maximum site length is 60 feet (may have limited availability). Tenters are allowed to use the sites but must pay full fee.
The campground is subject to high winds, especially in the evening. Campers should secure tents and light-weight articles.
The park is heavily used during Gorge concert season. Facilities fill early on weekends.
To reserve a campsite for dates between May 15 and September 15, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Camping Fees:
Please note that the following
general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not
all fees will apply to
all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).
2010 FeesAn additional $2 per night is added to the basic camping fees listed below at this high-use park. Basic camping fees are:
Standard campsite, $19.
Full utility campsite, $26.
Partial utility campsite, $25.
Primitive campsite and water trail camping, $12
An additional $3 fee (standard) or $5 fee (utility) may be charged for select premium campsites at some parks.
Maximum eight people per campsite.
Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.
Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.
More about park hoursCheck-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Park hours/updates:
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: Open 8 a.m. to dusk on weekends and holidays from Nov. 2 through March 19.
Camping at Wanapum:
Check-in time: 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time: 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Park Winter Schedule
| Campground Closes |
| Campground Reopens |
| Day-Use Closes |
| Day-Use Reopens |
| Watercraft Launch Closes |
| Watercraft Launch Reopens | |
| 11/2/2009 |
| 3/19/2010 |
| 11/2/2009 |
| 3/19/2010 |
| 11/2/2009 |
| 3/19/2010 |
|
Schedule Note:
The day-use area at Gingko Petrified Forest is open weekends and holidays from Nov. 2 to March 19.
Ginkgo Petrified Forest Interpretive Center is open by appointment only.
Wanapum Recreation Area is open for camping, day use and watercraft launch on weekends and holidays only from Nov. 2 to March 19.
Watercraft launch at Wanapum is open on weekends and holidays depending on weather conditions from Nov. 2 through March 19.
• Campground Open Weekends and Holidays.
• Day-Use Open Weekends and Holidays.
• Watercraft Launch Open Weekends and Holidays.
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
Driving Directions
Located appoximately 30 miles east of Ellensburg, Wash., on the Columbia River in Kittitas County.
Park address:
4511 Huntzinger Road
Vantage, WA 98950
From east or west on I-90:
Wanapum recreation area: Take exit #136. Follow signs south on Huntzinger Rd. three miles to the park entrance.
Ginkgo Interpretive Center: Take exit #136 north through Vantage one mile to Ginkgo.
Park Maps
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Ginkgo Petrified Forest/Wanapum Recreational Area downloadable pdf map #1
Ginkgo Petrified Forest/Wanapum Recreational Area downloadable pdf map #2
Ginkgo Petrified Forest/Wanapum Recreational Area downloadable pdf map #3
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
Ginkgo Petrified Forest is a registered national natural landmark. It is regarded as one of the most unusual fossil forests in the world.
History
The park was set aside as a historic preserve when remains of a fossil forest were unearthed during highway construction in the 1930s. Petrified wood from many different trees are common in the area, but specimens of petrified Ginkgo are rare. Many buildings on the premises owe their origin to the work of the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps.
Interpretive opportunities
The park features an interpretive center. Hours vary with the season. Group tours are available for a fee and by advanced appointment only. For information, call the park at (509) 856-2700.
Services/Supplies
| Available in the park | Available in the area |
• Camping
| • Auto repair
• Camping
• Diesel
• Fishing/hunting
• Gasoline
• Gifts
• Groceries
• Overnight Accommodations
• Pay phone
• Postal service
• Propane
• Wood
• Swimming
|
Most services are available within 30 miles of the park.
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
• 3 mi. Hiking Trails
| • Boating (freshwater)
• 1 boat ramp (freshwater)
• Fishing (freshwater)
• Personal Watercraft (freshwater)
• Water Skiing (freshwater)
| • Bird Watching
• Interpretive Activities
• Museum
• Wildlife Viewing
|
|
Boating Features
There is one watercraft launch with two ramps in the park.
A daily watercraft launching permit for $7 and a trailer dumping permit for $5 is available at the park.
Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices,
online, and at parks when staff is available.
Events
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
There are 57 unsheltered picnic tables, available first-come, first-served. The park is heavily used during Gorge concert season, and fills early on weekends.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
• Badgers
• Bobcats
• Coyotes
• Deer or Elk
• Marmots
• Muskrats
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
• Skunks
| • Chukars
• Crows or Ravens
• Doves or Pigeons
• Ducks
• Eagles
• Geese
• Gulls
• Hawks
• Herons
• Hummingbirds
• Jays
• Owls
• Quail
• Snipes
• Woodpeckers
• Wrens
| • Clams
• Bass
• Bluegill
• Bullhead
• Catfish
• Crappie
• Perch
• Salmon
• Steelhead
• Sturgeon
• Trout
• Walleye
|
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | |
| | • Douglas Fir
• Ponderosa Pine
• Apple
• Ash
• Birch
• Maple
• Oak
• Poplar
• Lupines
• Paintbrush
• Thistle
• Poison Oak
|
|
Park photo gallery
