Alder Thicket

Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), camping is free, and it is open from Late May to October or November. Alder Thicket is a National Forest campground near Pomeroy, Washington.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Pomeroy, Washington

Managed by: National Forest
Access road: Gravel
Shade: Shaded

Alder Thicket sits inside Umatilla National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Getting a site

Managed by: National Forest
Reservations: None, first-come
Fee: Free

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

What's there

✓ Toilets
✕ Potable water

On site: Toilets. No potable water.

Rules

Stay limit: 14 days in any 30-day period

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

Access and cell service

Access road: Gravel
Shade: Shaded
Elevation: 5,000 ft

Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)

AT&T: No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.2 mi away
T-Mobile: No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.2 mi away, 5G about 0.3 mi away
Verizon: No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.2 mi away
Inland Cellular LLC: No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.4 mi away

Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, data as of December 31, 2025

Outdoor coverage each carrier reports to the FCC at this campground's map point, and the nearest mapped coverage within about half a mile. 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. These are carrier predictions, not measurements, and can be wrong either way: real service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle is often weaker. 5G speeds are the FCC's 7/1 and 35/3 Mbps tiers. This product uses the FCC Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

46.2583, -117.5673 in Garfield. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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Season and winter services

Alder Thicket is open from Late May to October or November , at 5,000 ft.

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

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Alder Thicket?

No. Alder Thicket is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.

How much does it cost to camp at Alder Thicket?

Camping at Alder Thicket is free.

Is there drinking water at Alder Thicket?

No. Alder Thicket has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.

When is Alder Thicket open?

Alder Thicket is open from Late May to October or November.

How long can you stay at Alder Thicket?

The stay limit at Alder Thicket is 14 days in any 30-day period.

Is there cell service at Alder Thicket?

Not at the campground on the FCC map, but AT&T shows 4G LTE about 0.2 mi away, T-Mobile shows 4G LTE about 0.2 mi away and 5G about 0.3 mi away, Verizon shows 4G LTE about 0.2 mi away, and Inland Cellular LLC shows 4G LTE about 0.4 mi away. The FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows no 4G LTE or 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or Inland Cellular LLC at Alder Thicket itself. 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 Alder Thicket?

Alder Thicket is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Alder Thicket

fishypedia.com · 4.6 miles

The nearest lake with a fishing page is Watson Lake, whose mapped center point is 4.6 miles away in a straight line. Stocking record and species: Watson Lake fishing on fishypedia.com.

Lakes · within 15 miles

Other lakes within 15 miles: Curl Lake fishing (5 miles) , Deer Lake fishing (5.2 miles) , Rainbow Lake fishing (5.9 miles) , Donnie Lake fishing (6.5 miles) , and Blue Lake fishing (6.7 miles) , each with its stocking record on fishypedia.com.

First-come Big Springs Pomeroy · National Forest First-come Forest Boundary Campground and Trailhead Pomeroy · National Forest First-come Pataha Pomeroy · National Forest First-come Teal Campground Pomeroy · National Forest

More campgrounds: camping near Pomeroy and campgrounds in Garfield.

Sources

apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-28
broadbandmap.fcc.gov (cellCoverage), accessed 2026-09-27
fs.usda.gov (stayLimit), accessed 2026-09-29
fs.usda.gov (water, season, accessRoad, shade, toilets, fee), accessed 2026-09-29

First-come, first-served Free

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