Frenchman Coulee / Wanapum Reservoir

The Wanapum Reservoir is a dammed area of the Columbia River where the river is artificially widewell over a mile wide at some points. The reservoir is located in a sparsely populated desert region of Washington and is roughly halfway between Seattle and Spokane (about 140 miles from each city), and it is also about halfway between Ellensburg and Moses Lake (30-40 miles from either town). The reservoir is perhaps best known as the location of the Gorge Amphitheater, a huge concert venue known for its panoramic views of the river and the mountains. The Gorge has showcased some of the biggest names in rock and roll since it opened in 1985. There is an area along the reservoir where nudity has long been customary, and authorities do not interfere. The nude beach is on the east side of the reservoir, about 3.5 miles north (as the crow flies) of where Interstate 90 crosses the reservoir via a mile-long bridge. It is often informally referred to as the Vantage Nude Beach, after the name of the small settlement that is just off the west end of the I-90 bridge on the opposite side of the reservoir. The nude beach is accessed from a large parking lot with a boat ramp, and you will be driving south as you enter the lot from its north side. The setting is a flat and mostly treeless riverside area of desert scrub, with cliffs rising up abruptly about 800 feet east of the waterline. The area south of the parking lot tapers into something of a geographic cul-de-sac, and that area is considered the domain of nudists, with a few protocols. There is a line of bushes along the waterline through most of the nude area, but there are a few breaks where there are small beach areas along with various niches amid the bushes. A trail begins next to the boat launch and goes south (i.e., the water will be on your right-hand side as you walk along the trail). There is also a gravel road a bit farther back from the water that parallels the trail. The gravel road leaves from the parking lot, but it is not open to public vehicular traffic. The land on the other side of the gravel road is private, and even though the property owner is tolerant of nudists, it is best to stay on the river side of the gravel road. About 700 to 800 feet along the trail, you will pass a tall pole, and it is the landmark that is generally regarded as the start of the nude area. Some visitors hike nude all the way from the parking lot, but this should be done with discretion. Keep in mind that textile boaters also use the lot as a launch point, and if there are other people in the lot, wait until you are out of view before disrobing. Another 700 to 800 feet past the pole, the trail will basically merge into the gravel road. Continue south along the road another 300-400 feet, then you will reach a small beach crescent about 250 feet long with a narrow ribbon of sand and pebbles. It is the main beach area. If you keep walking along the gravel road beyond the crescent beach, in another 1/4 mile or so the road will end at a private camping area that is part of the aforementioned private property. The area is often occupied during summersometimes with nudists or nudist-friendly groups and other times with those with more conventional sensibilities. It is best to be a bit discreet about nudity in the private camping area and on the adjacent stretch of beach until you figure out the sensibilities of any campers who are there. Since the dam cracked in recent years was repaired, the area has been "beautified" with vault bathrooms, new cement boat launch and sidewalks, new docks and parking. Brush has been cleared down almost to the trees on waters edge. Now called Frenchman Coulee Recreation Area. From the trailhead at the boat launch, packed gravel has improved the trail. It parallels the water headed south, circles around the birds nest, and heads back to the parking. The traditional trails can easily be found from the top and bottom of the circle. Short stretches of new fencing can be seen to mark the property line. Keep them on your left.