Size matters

Two USBR workers appear tiny as they do spring maintenance work on drum gates atop Grand Coulee Dam. The gates float in water reservoirs controlled by operators. When you see the water spill before the Laser Light Show, these enormous gates have been lowered slightly. The photo was taken from a pull-off on SR-174, just northwest of the city of Grand Coulee.

Is there a fee for camping?

Camping sites along the lake vary from fee campgrounds with major facilities, picnic areas, swim beaches and interpretive programs, to primitive boat-in campgrounds.

Which campground is closest?

The closest NPS campground is located at Spring Canyon on SR-174; turn left approximately three miles east of the town of Grand Coulee.

There are 87 campsites including RV (dump station but no hookups), tent and group camping sites. Reservations are available online at www.recreation. gov or at 877-444-6777. A fee is charged.

What else is at Spring Canyon?

Spring Canyon has a beautiful sandy beach and adjacent shaded picnic area, including grills and playground equipment. There are restrooms plus boat launching. A fee is charged.

Where can I hike in the LRNRA?

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area consists mainly of Lake Roosevelt and has very little land base.

As a result, there are few hiking trails within the park. There is a self-guided nature trail at Spring Canyon, which starts at the campground. There are also trails at Fort Spokane and Kettle Falls. When the lake level is low, you can walk many miles of interesting shoreline.

Where are the other major NPS campgrounds?

Major campgrounds are located at Keller Ferry, Fort Spokane, Porcupine Bay and Kettle Falls.

Keller Ferry is about 14 miles from Spring Canyon by boat, or 15 miles overland from the Highway 2 cut-off near Wilbur. This area includes a marina, store, and free ferry across the lake to the Colville Reservation.

Fort Spokane, built in 1880 and used by the U.S. Army until 1898, became an Indian agency, boarding school and tuberculosis hospital until the late 1920s. It’s about 50 miles up the lake from Spring Canyon at the confluence of the Columbia and Spokane Rivers.

To see Fort Spokane, take SR-174 to Highway 2 east, watch for road signs and turn north at Davenport on SR-25. Besides some of the original outposts, there is a visitor center and a trail. The Fort Spokane campground is the second largest in the recreation area. Picnic area, swim beach and boat launch are also available.

Kettle Falls at the north end of the lake is enjoyed for its beautiful setting and good boating. It has a houseboat rental operation.

St. Paul’s Mission includes the original site of Fort Colvile, once the second-largest center for fur trading in the Northwest, and a rustic log missionary church. Nearby are Sherman Pass and the Kettle River, where hiking and canoeing are popular.

Parks and Viewpoints

What are the local choices for a picnic, viewing, easy hike or bike trail?

•Banks Lake Park – maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation, is located on SR-155, just 0.3 miles south of its junction with SR-174 just above North Dam Park. It overlooks Banks Lake and has picnic areas, water and restrooms.

•North Dam Park is adjacent to Banks Lake Park and offers a shady picnic area, tennis courts, softball fields, amphitheater, horseshoe pits, a covered grill, picnic areas and playground equipment for children. A novelty of the park, the Gehrke Windmill Garden is a frequent tourist stop. Built by a local resident, who made over 680 of them before his death several years ago, the windmills are constructed of castaway iron pieces and painted in bright colors. Emil Gehrke’s windmills are recognized as “folk art” treasures and have been given media coverage on television, and in National Geographic and Sunset magazines.

• Grand Coulee City Park) – located on SR-174 east in Grand Coulee. A children’splayareaandan adjacentpicnicsectionare found in this tree-shaded park. A large basalt rock in the center is typical of the natural landscape of the Grand Coulee. Restrooms and water are available.

• Douglas Park – found on SR-155 in the town of Coulee Dam. This well-manicured park, just below Grand Coulee Dam, has large evergreen trees shading its picnic tables. A paved sidewalk takes the visitor to a scenic spot along the river, providing an excellent view of the dam.

• ColePark – alsomaintainedbyCouleeDam,affords a variety of recreational activities. It is located just off SR-155, five minutes north of the Visitor Center. Do not cross the Columbia River Bridge, but continue north onto Columbia Avenue past the bridge. The park is located one block ahead on the west side of the river next to the credit union It is a pleasant area shaded by large trees and offers tennis, handball, horseshoes and basketball courts.

•Mason City Memorial Park – a Coulee Dam town park, is located in east Coulee Dam adjacent to the shopping center and post office. It contains picnic tables, grills and play equipment in a shaded setting. Mason City was the early name of a portion of the town now called Coulee Dam.

The town of Coulee Dam boasts a new park with provisions for viewing the laser show at Grand Coulee Dam. Freedom Point Plaza is adjacent to the Columbia River Bridge, across the street from the shopping area, and features live performances from time to time.