FRENCHMAN COULEE
RUN BY: State of
Washington
LOCATION: Vantage, WA
UTILITIES: none
COST: none, but you
need Washington State Discovery pass (worth the $30)
DISCOUNTS: N/A
OUR RATING (1-5): Category II, Rating 4+
NOTES: One of our
favorite places. We have been to Frenchman Coulee twice – spring and fall. Both
times it was outstanding. Our favorite campsite is one of the first at the top
where we can turn our trailer’s big back window toward the waterfall and have a
marvelous view. Driving down the narrow
road with a 3-400 foot drop on one side might unnerve a few people, so be
prepared. If you have trouble with
driving such a road, you can get into several really nice sites right at the
top, thereby avoiding that drive. There is a boat ramp at the bottom of the
road where you can launch into the Columbia River. There is a nice hike to the
bottom of the water fall. We have been warned that the water fall can be
seasonal but it was flowing both times we were there. The Washington State Park pass is easy to
obtain and worth the money. We have used ours several times traveling through
the state.
Environment:
This is rocky, mountainous terrain. There are no trees. We have been
there in spring and fall and the weather has been warm days and chilly to cold
nights.
Amenities: None
Dump: No (There is Wanapum State Park a mile or so south of Vantage, WA
that might let you dump for a fee. Go
about 9.8 miles west on I-90 to Vantage exit. Get off and go south to park.)
Public Water: No
(Probably have to go to George about 8 miles east)
Toilets: No (I
think there are pit toilets at the boat ramp.)
Showers: No
Laundry: No
(The nearest laundry is in George, WA., 8 miles away.)
Phone Service:
Verizon was 3-4 bars of 4G.
Nearest Propane: We didn’t need propane when we were here,
but Google says there is some in Quincy, WA, but that’s a risk. Sorry!
Location: Take
I-90 to Exit 143 (east of Vantage, WA). After exiting, turn west on Silica Rd
SW. (If you come to a T-intersection almost immediately, you’ve gone the wrong
direction.) Follow Silica Rd SW to
Vantage Rd. Turn left on Vantage Rd. The
coordinates of this turn are 47.028541
-119.940237. Less than a ½ mile down the road you will see the coulee
and see dispersed camping sites.
Proximity to shopping:
Quincy, about 18 miles away, is probably your nearest shopping. George
(8 miles) is limited.
Camping Population:
Lots of rock climbers.
Sites:
dispersed camping. Be careful of the entrance to some
of the camping areas. They can be rough.
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RATING KEY:
category - score
Categories: I -
established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days
II
- boondocking, dry camping where there
are no designated sites and no amenities but
one might choose to stay for more than a night.
III
- over-night areas
You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to
things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities,
location, safety, camping population, site, phone service
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