Juniper Dunes Wilderness
The Juniper Dunes Wilderness preserves the northernmost growth of western juniper, some of which have been around for 150 years, along with windswept sand dunes measuring 130 feet in height and 1,000 feet in width. Other than junipers, no trees grow in significant numbers here, but many bushes and flowers bloom wondrously come spring, although the mountains that separate western and eastern Washington generally wring the moisture from the air. The landscape here takes quite a battering, in fact, with strong southwest winds to build the dunes, seven to eight inches of precipitation to moisten them, a foot or so of snow that drifts down in winter, and summer temperatures that occasionally rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Washington |
| Size | 7,140 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 46.39° N, 118.85° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 24) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWanaket Broadcast Rx
38 mi from the center point · 337 acres
- WildfireParadise
50 mi from the center point · 9,656 acres · 86% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 12.4 miKurtzman Park Mini Station ↗Pasco, WA
- 12.5 miMorningstar Baptist Church ↗Pasco, WA
- 12.9 miFranklin County Courthouse ↗Pasco, WA
- 13 miPasco Carnegie Library ↗Pasco, WA
- 14.7 miMoore, James, House ↗Pasco, WA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Washington
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Juniper Dunes Wilderness?
7,140 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Juniper Dunes Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Juniper Dunes Wilderness in?
Washington.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Juniper Dunes Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Juniper Dunes Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Juniper Dunes Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 46.391° N, 118.851° W. Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail is 12 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Juniper Dunes Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Wanaket Broadcast Rx at 38 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Juniper Dunes Wilderness?
Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail (12 mi) and Whitman Mission National Historic Site (29 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Juniper Dunes Wilderness?
The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including Kurtzman Park Mini Station and Morningstar Baptist Church.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.