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Roza

Yakima, Washington · Bureau of Land Management

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Roza — official Recreation.gov photo

Photo: Recreation.gov

About

The gentle Yakima River winds for 27 miles through massive basalt cliffs and rolling desert hills between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington. The Canyon offers excellent wildlife watching, plant viewing, fishing in a Blue Ribbon trout stream, family river rafting and camping. The Bureau of Land Management administers over 9700 acres in the Yakima River Canyon area, including five developed river access sites. An overnight and day use fee is charged and reservations are accepted through www.recreation.gov, Campsites will only be held until checkout time (11am) the next day. If reservation holder doesn't show up by then, the site is released. Hookups and potable water are not provided. The recreation sites are open year-round, with the largest crowds filling the sites on hot summer weekends.The Roza recreation site offers both overnight and day use amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, nearby dumpsters, vault toilets and a motorized river put in/takeout site. This site is the main takeout for all river floaters, as it is located a half-mile above Roza Dam. Upstream of the Roza boat launch, the river is limited to non-motorized boats only. Downstream of the launch, motor boats are permitted in the area above Roza Dam. The gentle Yakima River winds for 27 miles through massive basalt cliffs and rolling desert hills in the Yakima River Canyon of central Washington. Formed from the slow carving of the Yakima River through the enormous folds (anticlines) in the otherwise nearly "flat" basalt layers of the Columbia Basin, the Yakima River Canyon shelters a range of habitats, making home to a diverse mixture of Eastern Washington flora and fauna. Bighorn sheep, elk and mule deer can often be spotted on the river’s banks, and the canyon’s sheer cliffs and crevices are home to the state’s densest concentration of nesting hawks, eagles and falcons. Over 200 species of birds use the Yakima Canyon for breeding and nesting, as a migration route or a winter residence. A thriving "Blue Ribbon" trout stream, the Yakima is managed for quality catch and release trout fishing, and anglers share the water with summer floaters and rafters. Access to the various recreation sites and river access points is easy, as State Route 821 parallels the river. This was the first highway in Washington to be designated a State Scenic Byway in 1968, and today's visitors enjoy the same scenic beauty as experienced by Native American tribes and settlers to the area. The State Scenic Byw

Directions

From Seattle, take I-90 east to Ellensburg Exit 109 (Highway 821 Canyon Road). At the traffic circle, take the second exit onto South Canyon Road. Stay on the road, which will take you south through the Yakima River Canyon. Roza recreation site is located at milepost 7 on the Canyon Road.

Location

Map tiles © OpenStreetMap.

Details

State
Washington
City / area
Yakima
Agency
Bureau of Land Management
Parent area
Yakima River Canyon
Campsites
6
Reservable
Yes
Typical price
$15 / night
Rating
4.00 / 5 (10 reviews on Recreation.gov)
Equipment
Tent, RV, Trailer

Reserve on Recreation.gov

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