Alder Thicket Campground
Welcome to the northern gateway into the Blues. This campground is located just off of Forest Service Road 40, which is just three miles into the Blue Mountains. Overgrown trees and tall Alder shrubbery will provide plenty of shade for Grouse, White- Tailed deer and yourself on hot summer days. Hiking trails are within five miles and the Clearwater Guard station is six miles from the Alder Thicket Campground.
More like this: first-come in Washington · free in Washington · tent only in Washington · accessible sites in Washington
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fee. |
| Accessibility | Vault toilet and tables are wheel chair accessible |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Late May to October/Nov |
| Forest | Umatilla National Forest |
| Booking | No reservation. |
| Fees | No fee. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 46.2587° N, 117.5674° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireColumbia Center Mutual Aid
9 mi from the campground · 150 acres
- WildfireParadise
27 mi from the campground · 9,656 acres · 86% contained
- PrescribedLojo Starvation 13A Underburn Rx
39 mi from the campground · 110 acres
- PrescribedSumac 2A Rx
39 mi from the campground · 417 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 22.7 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 28.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Travelland RV ↗ | 29.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 9.8 miDiamond Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10 miKelly Camp Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Public land it sits in
Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness begins about 8.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 8.2 miWenaha-Tucannon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 176,737 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Lewis and Clark Trail-Travois RoadSite · Pomeroy · 14.9 mi
- Downtown Pomeroy Historic DistrictHistoric district · Pomeroy · 15 mi
Guidebooks for Washington
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Alder Thicket Campground?
No. Alder Thicket Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservation. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Alder Thicket Campground?
Nothing. Alder Thicket Campground is listed as free. No fee.
Source: Forest Service
Is Alder Thicket Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Late May to October/Nov.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Alder Thicket Campground?
Alder Thicket Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Are there accessible sites at Alder Thicket Campground?
Vault toilet and tables are wheel chair accessible.
Source: Forest Service
What if Alder Thicket Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Springs Campground (2.2 mi, first-come), Forest Boundary Campground (2.4 mi, first-come), and Ladybug Campground (6.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby