Offseason access at Kachess?

[jamesfromseattle]

Hoping someone in the know can provide some intel. I'm trying to plan a camp/paddle trip in early October with a bunch of kindergarteners and parents. Coming from the westside, so we're somewhat limited on range due to limited kid road trip tolerance.

I'm looking at Little Kachess, but can't figure out access that time of year. I've been there in the summer while the campground is operating, and I know they have paid day access to the non-motorized launch. And I've been there in the winter when it's a snow park. But I can't tell if the launches are gated off during the shoulder season.

Does anyone know if you can drive down to the lake and park when the campground is closed? I'd really like to get on the north part of the lake so wind isn't as much of a concern. Tried calling, but the people I got were concession people who didn't know what happened once they closed for the summer.

[Caseyd]

The gate to the park will be closed so no vehicle access after that. You can walk thru the park. If it was me I’d park closer to the little cabins where the lake gets close to the road.

[jamesfromseattle]

The gate to the park will be closed so no vehicle access after that. You can walk thru the park. If it was me I’d park closer to the little cabins where the lake gets close to the road.

Great, thank you. That makes sense. Do you know if it's allowed for us to land in the campground and camp when it's closed?

I'm thinking we could launch at the road near the cabins and set up camp in the campground... so the kids will think we're somewhere remote but it'll be easy for us to covertly sneak back to the car to grab whatever we forgot. And also make it easy to hoof it back on the road if the wind picks up.

[Rob]

A group I was with holds an overnight field trip at 8mile campground outside of Leavenworth every year in February.  The campground is closed and gated.  I believe they call ahead several months in advance to clear use of the closed facility.  It has never been a problem for them.  They have probably 10-12 people.

[Rob]

to clarify, they do not open the gates, but they allow overnight use.