Wanapum Recreation Area — Attraction in Quincy

My family and I LOVE the day area! We have been visiting almost every weekend in the summer for years. We’ve always loved and respected park rules and have felt respected by the awesome park staff. BUT, this summer has been a little different. One park ranger in particular has been ruining the incredible atmosphere the other park rangers and staff have created. This park ranger has made entire families with children and senior citizens walk in high heat from boat launch to day use area claiming that that the full day use parking area is NOT a drop off area. While I understand that the park has been full lately and families have been allowed to park at the boat launch area; a system should be implemented where we are able to drop off nessasary family at the day use park area along with our food we have brought along and gas barbecues.

This weekend a very kind park ranger gave us permission to drop off our family and goods we brought along for the day at the very full day use area parking lot. We had children and grandma was with us, our water craft was attached to our truck. We did not block on coming traffic, we did however block fire lane BUT we never left our vehicle unattended nor did we turn off the engine. We took tops two minutes if anything to quickly unload and take off with just the two people who would launch the boat and park at the boat launch area. We did this drop off task quickly and as respectfully as possible and was scolded by a very rude Keith W. This park ranger did not allow a word to be spoken by the driver as he attempted to explain we were given permission and that we already where done and heading off within a minute or so of arriving. We were never rude and we got nothing but rudeness from this staff member in return. SO DISAPPOINTING.

We had EIGHT vehicles, four with attached water crafts; one boat and three sets of jet-ski’s join us along the day this weekend and is usually the same every time we visit. We all pay the allotted day parking fee and launch fee. We all respect the staff and rules they have set because every time we visit we expect a clean and safe environment for our family to enjoy. We try to make sure to keep it as safe as possible even on the water and making sure that rules are being followed by not just us but others whom we see breaking rules. I can tell you for a fact that at least five of our vehicle drivers have had bad experiences with Mr. Keith W.

We do not feel safe walking along the boat launch area, past the entrance/exit/pay/information area, past the camping area to the day area park with hitched vehicles driving all around us IN HIGH HEAT with our families. I do appreciate allowing non hitched vehicles to park at the boat launch area when the other parking lot is full but PLEASE allow us to quickly drop off our family! Follow us to the drop off, implement a quick drop off process... DO SOMETHING instead of nothing. The other park rangers are trying, I can see that. The only person stopping the park from having a thriving drop off system is Mr. Keith W. I don’t feel as if we are asking for a whole lot... that and mutual respect by this man. We love, respect and support this state park and we travel a little over an hour or so each way to enjoy the experience with our family. I hope something will be done soon to allow the rest of the park staff to have a bigger voice in making sure the park thrives in staying clean, safe and enjoyable. Thank you to the lovely park rangers who manage to keep a smile on their face and treat our children and families with the utmost respect. SHOUT OUT THE WOMEN PARK STAFF AND RANGERS, never a bad experience with you ladies. Keith W., please learn to respect others who are attempting to treat you with respect. We have bit our tongue time and time again with you sir, but this time I just cannot.

Thank you, I hope my voice will be heard on...

DO NOT GO IF YOU HAVE A TENT We went to Wanapum State Park camping during the last weekend in July. It is a beautiful and clean campground. However.... once the sun went down the wind picked up. OMG. I was in Hurricane Andrew (wind up to 90 mph) and I can honestly say the wind speed was 40 MPH at Wanapum. Reviews have said 20-25 mph = fake news. We took our tent down before it blew away and slept in the car, and we have a high-quality tent. We secured another tent with extra ropes in the front and back, put heavy logs over the stakes and logs inside her tent for weight on the windy side. She said that all night long the wind was so strong the side of the tent was in her face. Plus, the campground is an OVEN. The mobile weather is for Vantage, but the campground is in a valley close to Vantage so it holds heat. If Vantage is 90, the campground is 95-98. We packed up in the morning and got the heck out of there even though we paid for 2 nights. The wind comes from a temperature change at sundown from the nearby hills. The wind stopped approximately at 4 AM. It was living hell. Beautiful (so 2 stars), but hell. RV's must have been rocking wildly. The...

Wanapum State Park (which I think is managed together with nearby Ginko Petrified Forest State Park) is a fantastic gem on the Columbia river just south of Vantage. We decided to try it at the last minute and lucked out with a cancellation. We ended up with a quiet pull through spot with a fantastic view. The area between the campground and the river is about 50 yards of lovely bluff criss-crossed with light hiking trails and filled with sage, desert wildflowers, and wildlife (we saw quail, lots of lizards, butterflies, the usual birds like swallows and cow birds, deer, and lots of evidence of elk). There's a day use area on the south side of the campground with a picnic area, swimming area, wide lawn surrounded by cottonwood, and a trail along the river for a little ways. There's a boat launch on the north side of the campground. Usual state park fees ($40 for the night for a typical RV site), state park rules (dogs ok on leash), state park amenities (nice and clean restrooms), and state park crowd (family friendly). We were enchanted with our accidental find and will definitely...