CampgroundsDB

Lucerne

Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations). Lucerne is a National Forest campground near Chelan, Washington.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Chelan, Washington

Campsite at Lucerne on Lake ChelanLucerne Guard Station on the south shore of Lake Chelan
Campsite at Lucerne on Lake ChelanLucerne Guard Station on the south shore of Lake Chelan1 / 2

Campsite at Lucerne on Lake Chelan. Photo: Mr.B, CC BY 3.0

Managed by
National Forest

Lucerne sits inside Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits 0.8 miles outside the boundary of Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness; its permit and camping rules and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Getting a site

Managed by
National Forest
Reservations
None, first-come
Fee
Fee unknown, see agency
Entrance fee
Lake Chelan Federal Dock Site Permit (May 1 to Oct 31): $10 per day or $75 per season

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

What's there

  • ✓ Toilets
  • ✕ Potable water

On site: Toilets. No potable water.

Access and cell service

Elevation
1,140 ft

48.2016, -120.5891 in Chelan. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Lucerne?
No. Lucerne is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
Is there a separate entrance fee at Lucerne?
Yes. The entrance fee is Lake Chelan Federal Dock Site Permit (May 1 to Oct 31): $10 per day or $75 per season.
Is there drinking water at Lucerne?
No. Lucerne has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.
Is there cell service at Lucerne?
Probably not: the FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows no 4G LTE or 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon at or within about half a mile of Lucerne. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it.
Who manages Lucerne?
Lucerne is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Lucerne

fishypedia.com · 16 miles

The nearest lake with a fishing page is Lake Chelan, whose mapped center point is 16 miles away in a straight line. Stocking record and species: Lake Chelan fishing on fishypedia.com.

First-come Refrigerator Harbor Chelan · National Forest Season Year-round Fee Not on record First-come Domke Lake Chelan · National Forest Season Not on record Fee Free First-come Cascade Creek Chelan · National Forest Season Not on record Fee Free First-come Moore Point Chelan · National Forest Season Not on record Fee Not on record

More campgrounds: camping near Chelan and campgrounds in Chelan.

Sources

Photo credits

First-come, first-served
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