Park or nature areaOutline guide

Frenchman Coulee

Columbia River Plateau, United States

Photo: User: (WT-shared) Johnycanal at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Frenchman Coulee is a gorge along the bank of the Columbia River in central Washington state. Its basalt columns are popular with rock climbers. It is also frequently referred to as Vantage, the nearest community across the river.

Where to eat, drink and stay

Eat1 place

Sagecliffe Resort and Spa
Ten minutes by car down Silica Rd. If you are camping at the Feathers hit the bathroom at the restaurant and hotel, get coffee, etc. The food in the restaurant is amazing but comes at a cost.
Website
sagecliffe.com

Sleep2 places

Camping

Dispersed Camping Area
There are no designated sites but you can drive through the rough dirt trail to find a flat area. Portable toilets are nearby but there is no running water, no picnic tables and no fires are allowed. The area can become quite busy during long weekends or when there are big concerts held at the nearby amphitheater in George.
Directions
immediately east of the main parking area
Wanapum State Park
There are 50 camp sites that are quite nice, situated along the Columbia River (Wanapum Lake) and lined with trees. Tent and RV sites are available and all cost $22/night. Reservations can be made online for an additional $7 fee. The sites are almost completely booked up during the weekends over the summer.
Directions
south of Vantage, about 10 miles from Frenchman Coulee
Website
parks.wa.gov

Getting there and around

Getting there

Frenchman Coulee is 1 mi northwest of Interstate 90, directly across the Columbia River from Vantage, between Ellensburg and Moses Lake.

Read in the guide

Getting around

The main road through the park is paved, though other auxiliary roads are not. Most campsites are accessible to normal cars, but a few are difficult to access without a high-clearance vehicle.

Read in the guide

Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Pangborn Memorial Airport

Wenatchee · Regional · EAT

Search stays near EAT

Search flights

Read before you go to Frenchman Coulee

Articles and travel topics about Frenchman Coulee and United States.

Travel tips

Cheapest Countries to Fly to from the US and UK (2026)

Find the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Travel tips

Best Time to Visit Hawaii: Month-by-Month Guide (2026)

Find the best time to visit Hawaii in 2026. Compare whale seasons, big-wave surf, dry shoulder months, hotel rates, and island microclimates.

Oct 17, 20269 min read

Inspiration

Best Places to Visit in April: Tulips, Songkran & Spring Cities

Discover the best places to visit in April. Compare Dutch tulip fields, Thailand's Songkran water festival, Roman spring gardens, and cherry blossoms.

Oct 17, 20267 min read

Travel tips

Travelling with Medication: Refrigerated Medicines Guide (2026)

A practical guide to travelling with medication and refrigerated drugs like insulin and GLP-1s. Learn airline rules, customs papers, and cooling tips.

Oct 17, 20267 min read

Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandBetween 5 and 16 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions from what is now the Yellowstone Hot Spot periodically flooded the Columbia Basin with thousands of feet of molten basalt.

Get inFrenchman Coulee is 1 mi northwest of Interstate 90, directly across the Columbia River from Vantage, between Ellensburg and Moses Lake.

Fees and permitsFrenchman Coulee is administered by Washington State Parks. State Parks require a Discover Pass to park at. The pass is $10 a day, or $30 a year.

Get aroundThe main road through the park is paved, though other auxiliary roads are not. Most campsites are accessible to normal cars, but a few are difficult to access without a high-clearance vehicle.

SeeThe Old Vantage Highway takes you through the coulee, where you can visualize the flood as it unfolded:

DoRock climbing is the primary draw for people to Frenchman Coulee.12 jug-fests. An excellent guidebook is available for the area.

BuyThere are no facilities at Frenchman Coulee. The nearest towns are Vantage to the west, and George to the northeast, which has several convenience stores, a gas station, and a few restaurants.

DrinkThere is no running water at Frenchman Coulee. Bring your own drinking water.

SleepThe wind in this area is notorious for picking up into gale force winds. Tie your tent down and inspect the trees in your vicinity for rot and the potential for them to blow over.

Stay safeStay on established trails, respect raptor nesting closures and use a "leave-no-trace" environmental ethic. The ecosystem here is fragile, and there are environmental hazards off-trail.

Go next

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Frenchman Coulee" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Frenchman Coulee", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Johnycanal at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage