The Park is divided into 4 Distinct Regions: Horsethief Lake (the campground and swimming/picnic area), Horsethief Butte (for hikers and rock climbers), the Dalles Mountain Ranch (for the nostalgic), and Crawford
Oaks (for hikers). First, a view of Horsethief Lake, the campground, and Day Use Area:
The campground has 21 sites: 8 RV sites with hookups; 4 tent sites; 2 platform tent sites, 4 primitive tent sites; 2 hiker/biker sites; and the Teepee site:
Our campeverycountywa.com site:
Tent Sites 9 and 10:
Tent Sites 11 and 12:
A Platform Tent Site Exterior...
... and Interior.
These sites are primitive, meaning walk-in:
Each has an added wind-break panel:
The Hiker-Biker Sites are held open for those travelling lighter than the rest of us
The park has one 14' diameter Plains Indians style teepee
for rent with an astro-turf floor inside. Who said you can't mix
primitive camping with modern glamping?
All of the campsites line the outer edge of a huge Day Use Area with a great swimming beach:
Adjacent to the campground and Day Use Area are the petroglyphs surroundng the Temani Pesh-wa Trail. The trail is closed due to vandalism, but many petroglycs are still on display.
Horsethief Butte dominates the landscape, but is an easy hike with great rock climbing:
A view of the campground and Temani Pesh-wa (petroglyph) Trail from Horsethief Butte Trail:
The Dalles Mountain Ranch is a 3,000 acre amalgamation of
four old ranches with buildings and machinery on display, as well as
hiking trails to Crawford Oaks. The views and rock formations are also
exceptional: