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Lake Chelan Junior Point Campground
Junior Point Campground
No water access Tent Only Drive-in First-come, first-served Remote
Junior Point Campground sits at 6,600 feet on a dramatic ridge above Lake Chelan, reached after 12 miles of driving on Shady Pass — a rough dirt forest service road that often remains snow-blocked until late June. The campground is free and first-come, first-served, with five primitive tent-only sites spread along the ridgeline; no RVs or trailers can make the drive. As of a 2024 visit, only two of the five sites had picnic tables and fire rings — the others have makeshift fire areas — so come prepared for a rougher setup. The standout feature is the old fire lookout at the end of the road: the foundation perches on a cliff edge with jaw-dropping views of Lake Chelan far below. Several interconnected trails along Devil's Backbone are accessible nearby, open to hikers, mountain bikers, and motorbikes. This is a destination for self-sufficient campers who are after solitude, elevation, and scenery rather than comfort or convenience.
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campsites & setup
Junior Point is a tent-only campground — the 12-mile drive up a rough dirt forest service road makes it inaccessible to RVs or trailers of any kind. The five sites are primitive and spread out along the ridgeline road at 6,600 ft elevation, giving each site a reasonable amount of separation and a sense of solitude. Ground is mostly hard-packed dirt and rock typical of a high-elevation ridge environment, with a mix of open and partially shaded spots depending on the site. Sites 1 through 4 are tucked closer to the tree line with some filtered shade, while Site 5 sits in a more exposed position near the old fire lookout foundation with sweeping open views. The setting is dramatic and mountain-top in character, with no lake views from most sites but outstanding panoramas of the surrounding valleys and Devil's Backbone. As of a 2024 visit, only two of the five sites had picnic tables and fire rings — the others have makeshift fire areas and limited infrastructure. There is no food storage infrastructure, so bear-aware practices are essential at this remote site.
photos
Campsite 1
Campsite 2
Campsite 3
Campsite 4
Campsite 5
Pit Toilet
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things to know
Snow Access
The road to Junior Point is often blocked by snow until late June. Check current road conditions before making the drive.
Rough Road
Reaching the campground requires 12 miles of driving on Shady Pass, a rough dirt forest service road. A high clearance vehicle is strongly recommended — this is not a road for RVs or trailers.
No Drinking Water
There is no potable water at the campground. Bring all the water you will need for your entire stay.
Campsite Amenities Vary
The Forest Service lists 5 sites, but as of a 2024 visit only 2 had picnic tables and fire rings. The others have makeshift fire areas. Come prepared for a more primitive setup.
Cell Service
Cell service is limited to nonexistent in this area depending on your carrier.
activities
Hiking
Junior Point Campground is located within the Twenty Five Mile Creek area, which has a number of interconnected hiking trails.The campground is a mile away from the Crescent Hill Trailhead, which provides access to Devil's Backbone Trail, North Fork 25 Mile Creek and Lake Creek Trail and is located four miles from the Pyramid Hill Trail.
Mountain Biking
All the trails in the Twenty Five Mile Creek area are open to mountain bikes, with a mixture of intermediate and expert options, including the Devil's Backbone Trail and North Fork 25 Mile Creek trail. Of note, the Pyramid Mountain Peak Trail (#1441) is the highest mountain biking trail in the state of Washington.
Motorbikes
All the trails in the Twenty Five Mile Creek area are open to motorbikes, with Devil's Backbone and Pot Peak Trail offering challenging terrain and amazing views of Lake Chelan. For less exposed terrain, the forest service road network provides enjoyable riding.
Horseback Riding
While the long drive on the bumpy forest service road to the Campground will likely prevent bringing a horse trailer up to the campground, the campground could be accessed from a roughly 9 mile journey up the North Fork 25 Mile Creek and Devil's Backbone trail and a couple of miles on a forest service road.
