Bruce Tropple ( Indian Camp) and BBQ Flats Horse Camps, Washington

I had heard Bruce Tropple in the Teanaway had a new and improved camp, and I figured it was about time I checked it out, as well as BBQ Flats which was also a recommended destination, especially for spring riding.

Views are great from the ridge above BBQ Flats.

The day I left Oregon turned out to be VERY blustery in Washington, and as I was leaving Ellensburg heading into the Teanaway, my truck was sucking through twice the amount of fuel, just trying to battle the crazy winds. Once at Indian Camp I ran around trying to get my corral set up and hoping a tree didn't fall on me or my pony. Eventually things settled down a little bit and I was able to check out the new camp, and the old one, which is still in use. There were actually a group of horse people in the old camp and I noticed during the course of my stay that everyone that drove in still camped over there, and I was all alone at the new one.

The new campground sign at Indian Camp.

Indian Camp ( the new one) has 8 graveled spots with high line poles, plus a picnic/barbecue site, a bathroom, and a big day use/group camping area, also with high line poles. The spots are big enough for large rigs, only three are back-in, the rest are park- beside. While I was there people were constructing what I think is going to be a wheelchair mounting ramp. Although the Middle Fork of the Teanaway River is nearby and you can walk your horses over to it, it is not close enough to haul water easily. Camping is free with a Discover Pass and there is no garbage or manure bin. There is some cell service in camp, but it is spotty, although there is plenty once you get up a little higher in elevation.

The new Indian Camp.

The old camp has five quite large pull through spots, but it is not graveled and there are trees for high lining, but no poles. There is a people campground right across the road with a bathroom. This camp is a bit closer to the river for getting water, but you still have to haul it a ways.

The Middle Fork of the Teanaway River.

The next day I decided to ride up the road that leaves right from the new camp, it climbs up high enough to get some nice views of the Stuart Range. The road has a junction, so after I went as high in elevation as I could go, I also followed some lower roads for awhile.

Views of the Stuart Range.

Plenty of flowers in June.

Wide open views from above Indian Camp.

Riding on a dirt road above Indian Camp.

I remembered that I had a map of the area, which I had left at home...however looking at the map after the fact, it would not have done me any good. This area has some trails made by horse people and cyclists, but they are not marked very often, sometimes just a little flagging, so it is a fun, (if you have a sense of direction) time just following whichever ones you come across. If you don't have a sense of direction, I know there are local horse groups that have maps.

On day two, I followed the road the camp is on, until it dead ended, whereupon I noticed a faint path that continued on from there. After awhile it got even fainter, but I just rode cross country using my handy dandy sense of direction, back over to the road. I had gone through a meadow earlier and on the way back I found another trail beside the same meadow that led me up on the ridge across the river from the camp. This is where there are a boatload of trails, some of which have been named with wooden signs on trees. Eventually I followed a trail that lead me to the parking area at the end of the Teanaway Rd. West Fork. After that it was a matter of following the correct trails that would lead me back to the exact place to cross the river, to get back to camp. This is a beautiful area with meadows, rivers and ridges, and most of the trails are pretty easy.

A meadow near Indian Camp.

Found this little guy who had just fell out of the nest.

The Middle Fork of the Teanway River, where the road dead ended.

Some signage, if you keep an eye out for it.

Another very large meadow near the West Fork of the Teanaway River.

This trail led to the parking area on Teanaway Rd. West Fork.

Orange Honeysuckle draping itself around some of the trees.

There are certainly more areas to ride from Indian Camp. I missed out on seeing some caves and rocks and whatnot, but I will most likely return one day, and I was wanting to stick to the plan and visit BBQ Flats on my way back.

I drove back to Ellensburg and at this point I needed fuel in a big way, but Ellensburg does not have as many gas stations that have diesel, which was a little frustrating, but after finally filling up, I took the back way over to BBQ Flats. If you drive there from Yakima/Naches it is a straightforward paved road up until the last few miles, but from Ellensburg, unless you want to drive about 80 miles out of your way, the best thing to do is take Umptanum Rd. It is a gravel road which is in decent shape, although there are certain sections that might not be as great, if the road is wet.

The entrance to BBQ Flats.

BBQ Flats is a big flat, treed, open area, that is somewhat rocky, and you can pretty much just park anywhere with any sized rig. Most people congregate near the creek, but the creek was already dry when I was there, so I didn't bother trying to find a spot near it. There are three bathrooms in a row along the loop road and a spring fed water trough across the creek. A guy was filling his personal water jug from it, and told me how good it was, so I guess it's potable, in his mind anyway, but I would probably not drink it.  There are no other amenities, but I had great cell service while there. This is DNR land so camping is free, but you need a Discover Pass and it is closed from December 8th through May 1st. Be advised BBQ Flats is also used a lot by RVers with ATV's. 

Pull in anywhere at BBQ Flats.

Still plenty of flowers and greenery, although the creek was already dry.

This area has a lot of canyons and so most of the riding is going uphill, alongside, or in a canyon, and then you can loop around and come back down another way. There are roads that the ATVers use and then there are some gated roads that are non motorized, and lastly horse people have made their own trails. So for my first ride, I followed one of the horse trails until I got to a road, then I found Box Spring Canyon which was fun to ride up. After exited the canyon, I was just a short jaunt from the ridge where the views are pretty awesome.

Starting to ride uphill from camp.

In Box Spring Canyon.

Great views from up on the ridge.

Up on the ridge.

I rode around for awhile on the ridge, but then decided to head back down a different way. I learned quickly not to try a short cut, or to ride cross country like I usually do, because I would end up coming across yet another deep canyon. Finally I found another horse trail which dropped me back down right near camp.

Saw this guy stalking a critter hole.

The evening before, a large group of Mexicans had arrived after dark with quite a few rigs, and even though there was a lot of room elsewhere, they had parked right beside me, and were setting up camp and playing music. They also ran their generators all night and the next day. By the time I got back from my ride the amount of people had tripled. They were wandering through my camp spot, some of the kids were playing soccer right beside my horse pen, but the last straw was when I saw a car pull up and they started unloaded amps and electric guitars. Thus started one of the worst camping experiences I have ever had. They had a band that started playing very loudly and of course there was a certain amount of drinking going on. I ended up having to take down my corral and leave, but I didn't really know where to go that late in the evening, so I made do with just driving to the far side of the camping area, where I had to set everything back up again. Some other ATV guys that were camped nearby, walked over to commiserate with me about the circumstances. The only other horse people that had been camping there had left at that point. The band played way into the night, but at least where I was newly situated, and with all my windows shut, the noise was blocked out significantly.

In the morning I did another ride, this time finding the cabin that is along one of the trails to the north. Then I continued north, ending up in a low elevation lush canyon for awhile, and riding towards, but not all the way to, another camping area called Cascade.

The cabin at BBQ Flats.

On one of the horse trails from BBQ Flats.

Riding beside a lava flow.

At a spring in one of the canyons.

Lush canyons right next to dry hillsides.

On my last evening, (Sunday) the loud people had all left, and it was much more peaceful. I walked back down the road to a large cow pasture that I had seen on private property nearby. I wanted to take photos because the field was full of lupine, and as I was walking, I noticed cows scattering and running around. Eventually I realized it was me they were reacting to, having apparently never seen a person walking before. They do live in an isolated area. At one point they all ran up to the fence, then I hopped across a small ditch and scared the crap out of them, so they all ran away, but they would get curious again, and every time I moved, they moved.... either following me, or running from me.

Disrupting the cow's day.

I left the next day and drove back out the nicer paved road way, since I was headed back home. Even though I had a less then stellar experience at BBQ Flats, it is a nice place to camp, and it was just bad luck, timing wise. If I had to do it again, I would go to BBQ Flats during the week to avoid the weekend hullabaloo.

GPS COORDINATES TO INDIAN CAMP

                                                    GPS COORDINATES TO BBQ FLATS