Yakima Sportsman State Park is a 247-acre camping park created in 1940 by the Yakima Sportsman's Association to promote game management and the preservation of natural resources. The park is on the floodplain of the Yakima River and is an irrigated "green zone" in an otherwise desert area. The park has a variety of deciduous trees that shade camping and picnic areas. One hundred and forty bird species have been identified in the park. Ponds lure fishers to the river. The park is a popular stay-over spot for travelers and visitors to events in the Yakima area.

Ponds, lakes and rivers attract fishermen, both young and adult, to this location. More than 140 species of bird make wildlife watching a delight. The campground is a stay-over place for events at the Yakima Sun-Dome and fairgrounds.

Wildlife Mammals Birds Fish & Sea Life. Deer or Elk. Muskrats. Rabbits. Raccoons. Skunks. Weasels. Ducks. Eagles. Geese. Hawks. Herons. Hummingbirds. Jays. Owls. Pheasants. Quail. Woodpeckers. Bass. Bluegill. Bullhead. Trout

Environmental Features Physical Features Plant Life

The park is on a floodplain of the Yakima River. It is an irrigated desert with ponds and lakes and a variety of beautiful deciduous trees. The area receives an annual average rainfall of seven inches and an annual average of eight inches of snowfall. Summer temperatures are in the 80-to-90-degree range.

. Ash. Birch. Maple. Oak. Poplar. Berries. Thistle. Poison Ivy

Old clay-pigeon traps may still be found in the park. They are remnants from the Yakima Sportsman Club, a hunting, fishing and shooting club that created the park in 1940. The club donated the park to Washington State Parks in 1956.

The park has 30 tent spaces, 37 utility spaces, one dump station, two restrooms (both ADA) and four showers (all ADA). Utility sites 1 through 16 are 60 feet long, and sites 17 to 36 are back-in sites. Site HC is an ADA-utility site, and site 52 is an ADA-standard site. Sites 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, are near the creek.

To reserve a campsite, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.Winter: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The park is open year round for camping and day use.

Camping:Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.Check-out time, 1 p.m.Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.