The mighty Columbia River has drawn people to its waters for over 9,000 years. Historically the rich fishery of the river was used for survival and prosperity. Today Lake Roosevelt's visitors continue to enjoy the river’s recreational offerings of fishing, camping, hunting and boating. Visit Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and experience life on the river past and present.
The Basics
Hours:
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is open 24 hours a day, year-round.
District Offices Hours at Kettle Falls, Fort Spokane and Headquarters at Coulee Dam: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM-4 PM. (Kettle Falls District Office 7:30 AM - 3:30PM) Closed federal holidays. Headquarters 509.633.9441 Fort Spokane 509.725.2715 Kettle Falls 509.738.6266
Kettle Falls Information Station
Located near the entrance to the Kettle Falls campground. Open seasonally Phone 509.738.6366 ext. 115.
Fort Spokane Visitor Center
Located in the guardhouse on the grounds of Historic Fort Spokane. The grounds are open year round. The Visitor Center and Museum are open in the summer and by request during the fall, winter and spring. Please call for exact dates and times. The Sentinel Interpretive Trail begins near the parking lot. Phone 509.725.2715 ext. 43.
Spring Canyon Contact Station Located near the Spring Canyon swim beach Open seasonally.
From Coulee Dam, Lake Roosevelt stretches 130 miles north to Onion Creek. Bordered by 312 miles of publicly owned shoreline, there are 22 different NPS boat launches from which you can access the lake and 28 different campgrounds.
To Kettle Falls in the northern district from Spokane 90 miles northwest on Highway 395; from Grand Forks, B.C. 49 miles southeast on Highway 395; from Rossland, B.C. 49 miles southwest on State Road 25.
To Coulee Dam in the southern district from Spokane 90 miles west on Highway 2.
State Road 25 follows along the eastern lakeshore connecting the north district to the south via Fort Spokane and Porcupine Bay.
Climate
A dry, sunny climate predominates at Lake Roosevelt in the summer months. As you go father north, it becomes cooler and wetter. In the summer temperatures range from 75° to 100°F during the day, and from 50° to 60° at night. Spring and fall are cooler but still pleasant. The weather can be dramatically different from one end of the lake to the other.
Many visitors don’t realize there is more to Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area than just, boating, fishing and camping.
There are 10 designated swimbeaches maintained by the National Park Service that include picnic areas, playgrounds and much more.
Several concessionaires rent house boats and other water craft on the lake.
Tour the grounds of Historic Fort Spokane, a US Military post and an Indian Boarding school or St. Paul’s Mission, the oldest standing Catholic Mission in Washington State.
The Grand Coulee Dam is located 90 miles west of Spokane, Washington on State Highway 155. The dam is almost a mile long and 550 feet high. Grand Coulee is North America's largest hydroelectric plant with a generating capacity of 6,809,000 kilowatts.
Outdoor Camping
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area has 27 public campgrounds and boat-in-only campgrounds. Facilities vary in each and are listed in the chart below. Some campgrounds have individual sites, as well as large groupsites that can be reserved. Individual sites have a fire ring, picnic table and paved parking pads that are either pull-through or back-in pads. Campgrounds have sites that will fit most large RVs. There are no hook-ups in any of the campgrounds.
General Information Fees and Reservations:
10.00 per night per campsite, May 1–September 30.
5.00 per night per campsite, October 1–April 30.
Check-Out Time:Noon Individual Campsite Limits:
No more than two vehicles (for example a truck and a boat trailer or an RV and a car, or two cars) and no more than ten people at each campsite.
Vehicles must fit within the site pads provided.
RVs:
Campsites accommodate most RVs
The National Park Service campgrounds do not provide hookups for recreational vehicles.
Generators may only be used from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The wheels of all vehicles and trailers must be within the designated parking space and not on the roadway or vegetation.
Do not attach wires, ropes, or nails to trees or shrubs.
Digging, leveling, or other alterations of the ground is not permitted.
Quiet Hours: From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators may only be used from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. There are no showers.
Time Limits: Maximum stay within the recreation area is limited to 30 days within any calendar year and limited to 14 consecutive days per campground.
Nighttime Closures: Campgrounds are closed to the public from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. unless they are a registered camper.
Motorized vehicles: Including but not limited to motorized foot scooters, motorized skateboards, mopeds, motorcycles, ATVs, motor assisted bicycles, golf carts, and other similar type devices that are not licensed by the Washington State Department of Licensing for use on Washington State highways, are prohibited from being operated within the recreation area. Exemptions are electric wheelchairs and other motor-assisted limited mobility devices.
Property: Campsites may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.
Fires:
Are permitted in campsites where fire grates are provided by the National Park Service.
Portable Propane Campfire Units that are UL (Underwriters Lab) approved are permitted.
Do not leave fires unattended. Fires must be completely extinguished with water, doused and stirred.
Debris burning is not permitted.
Are NOT permitted on exposed lakebed from May 2–October 31.
During very hot, dry weather conditions, strong winds, and extreme fire danger days, or by order of the Superintendent, fires of any type may not be allowed anywhere in the park. Visitors may contact the park headquarters office to check on current conditions.
Firewood:
Dead and down wood may be collected for campfires in the park.
Chainsaws cannot be used to gather wood.
Pets:
Pets must be kept on a leash six feet or less in length and may not be left unattended.
Barking dogs are considered a nuisance. Owners must remove them from the campground
Please do not leave pets locked in the car. On an 85-degree day, the temperature inside a car—even with the windows cracked—can reach over 100 degrees within 10 minutes.
Pet feces must be disposed of in a trash bin by the person responsible for the pet.
