Lincoln Rock State Park rests on the lovely eastern shore of the Columbia River close to Wenatchee, Washington. A popular spot for family-style camping, the state park offers over 80 acres of green lawns and sensational river views. Campers descend on this park in the summertime to enjoy a host of exciting outdoor activities from swimming and water skiing to hiking and biking.
Surrounded by pine, spruce, oak, and poplar trees and with scorching summer temperatures, the park is a perfect spot for outdoor recreation. Once they’ve parked their RVs, campers have 2,300 feet of freshwater shoreline to enjoy as well as a sandy beach for lazy picnics. The park is a kids’ paradise with a large playground area and a great sports facility, including tennis and volleyball courts along with plenty of space to run or playfield sports.
Steeped in history, Lincoln Rock State Park is named for a prominent rock formation that resembles the profile of President Abraham Lincoln, visible from the riverfront. Guests can take part in a variety of interpretive programs to learn about the history, ecology, and geology of the area. Whether you’re interested in bird watching, wildlife watching, or exploring plant life, you’ll find all sorts of programs to keep you busy on your next RV vacation.
Lincoln Rock State Park is located seven miles north of East Wenatchee off Highway 97, two hours north of Yakima and about three hours east of Seattle, on the east side of Lake Entiat. There are no driving restrictions within the park, and you’ll be able to park your RV or camper van on level paved sites. Maneuvering large RVs should be no problem in this park.
Various spots are available for parking, including near the play area in the northeastern section of the park and parking for fishing access near the cabins in the south. You can also park your RV in the campground if you’re staying overnight.
Lincoln Rock State Park is an 80-acre campground home to 27 standard tent campsites and 70 utility campsites for RVs and big rigs. Thirty-five of the sites have water and electricity and 32 offer full hookups. Most of the sites are pull-through. Each campsite has a level paved area for parking your RV or camper and a grassy area with a picnic table. RV campers will have access to five modern restrooms (one ADA-accessible), 14 showers (three ADA-accessible) and a trailer dump station. There are also four primitive cabins and eight deluxe cabins available.
Within the park, you will find a swimming beach, an amphitheater, a park store for firewood, snacks and ice, 80 picnic sites including one ADA-accessible and two reservable picnic shelters. There is also a year-round boat launching area with two boat ramps and plenty of dock space. Other recreational facilities include a children’s playground, two tennis courts, horseshoe pits, two sanded and one grass volleyball court, one multi-use court (for paddleball, handball, and basketball), and a multi-purpose field for baseball and football.
The campsite is pet-friendly but dogs should be kept on a leash at all times. Electric-driven generators are permitted during the hours of 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The maximum vehicle length is 65 feet, depending on the site. A maximum of eight people are allowed per campsite, and only one extra vehicle per campsite is permitted. Guests can stay up to 10 consecutive days in any one park during the summer.
There is plenty of interesting wildlife to be found in Lincoln Rock State Park – some of which can even be spotted without leaving your campsite. Take your kids out for a stroll and keep your eyes peeled for small woodland creatures like marmots, muskrats, and rabbits. Bigger animals like deer and elk are more skittish, but they are around, and you may hear the call of coyotes at night. You’ll also be able to spot beavers swimming and building their nests in the Columbia River, so pack the binoculars in your rig for this trip.
The reservoir at Lincoln Rock State Park is a great spot for fishing year-round. Visitors will likely bag their limit of bass, trout, and even steelhead in the crystal clear waters of the Columbia River. Lucky anglers may even catch salmon in this part of the river. Fish from the shore or take a canoe on the river to get out of the shallows. Prefer the lake? Launch your skiff from the boat launch at Lake Entiat, where the river forms this calmer body of water. Here, you may be able to hook some chinook salmon, which is a regional favorite. Take your catch back to the RV for a traditional camp fish-fry.
With maple, oak, pine and ash trees, Lincoln Rock State Park is a nature’s paradise, so birds of many species can be found here. Bird watchers should pack their binoculars and enjoy the chance to spot all sorts of birds from eagles and ravens to hawks, herons, and owls. Previous campers have also reported spotting woodpeckers, quails, jays, geese, and more in the campground.
During the autumn months, visitors may see the migration of some colorful species of birds such as the western tanager and many varieties of warblers in addition to various waterfowl the western grebe found east of the Cascade Mountains in Washington. In late February, right before spring, you may see an osprey or bald eagles as they return to the area for nesting and mating.
Although reservations are recommended at this park, left-over sites not reserved may be rented on a first-come, first-served basis.
A group camp is located near the sports facilities. It accommodates up to 50 people with a lawn area for tent camping, two partial-hookup RV sites with water and electricity, and one full hookup site with water, electricity, and sewer connections.
There is one large restroom shared with the day-use area, including two family-style bathrooms with showers included, as well as a picnic shelter with 12 picnic tables, sinks, and power outlets. The camp also has a group fire pit, large BBQ brazier, and plenty of parking. Facilities and camping rules are the same as the main campground.
The group camp can be reserved between May and October and is closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays for lawn maintenance.
Lincoln Rock State Park recently introduced geocaching to the many activities you can enjoy on your next RV vacation. Go online for coordinates and start your treasure-hunting adventure. Test your compass-reading skills and take in the fresh air and views in the park on your hunt. When you find your buried treasure, make sure to replace it in the exact location for the next explorer, but not before getting a picture with the item to post on geocaching websites.
The park staff at Lincoln Rock State Park runs interpretive programs for visitors on most Saturdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Campers who choose to join these programs will learn about the state park’s fascinating history, as well as educational facts about the area’s geology and ecology, including fauna and flora. Various themes will cover a range of topics, including settlement in the area, mining, forestry, and facts about President Abraham Lincoln. Check with the park staff to see what programs will be available during your stay in the park.
With 2,300 feet of freshwater shoreline, campers can enjoy a wealth of exciting water sports at Lincoln Rock State Park. The reservoir is a fantastic place to take your boat out for a spin, go water skiing, tubing, or even jet skiing. A boating launch area makes getting your own watercraft into the lake a breeze at a minimal charge. Plus, there are 340 feet of boat moorage space on five docks where you can moor your boat alongside your campsite. These docks can be reserved from May to September and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, thereafter.
There are 1.5 miles of paved walking and biking trails in Lincoln Rock State Park, including one that leads into Wenatchee through the orchards and along the banks of the Columbia River. Don’t miss a stroll along the Rocky Beach Trail, a five-mile paved trail that winds along the eastern shore of the Columbia River between Lincoln Rock State Park and the Apple Capital Loop Trail. Keep an eye out for four educational interpretive stations along the way. This trail is also accessible for those with disabilities.
Lincoln Rock State Park gets hot, so you'll want to pack your bathing suit in your motorhome and check out the super-clean swimming area and sandy beach. A large roped-off section of the reservoir is reserved as a swimming area, and the shore along the edge is perfect for a lazy afternoon picnic after a swim. Don't forget your flotation device, and never swim alone as there is no lifeguard on duty. There are restrooms nearby for your convenience.
