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A Three-Day Family Adventure

Hidden Lakes & Quiet Trails:
A Nature Lover’s Getaway

Chasing Waterfalls: A Scenic Northeast Washington Adventure

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More Adventures

Colville National Forest: A Landscape of Beauty, Heritage, and Adventure

Explore Chewelah, Washington: A Wonderfully Wild Gateway to Adventure

200 years of Fort Colvile: Reflections on a Complex History

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Northeast Washington is

Wonderfully Wild!

Northeast Washington is

wild!

It’s a treasure trove of pristine rivers and lakes, with scenic hiking, biking and cross country ski trails through seemingly endless forest.

What makes it so wonderful is that you’re never too far from a charming town with great coffee, a local brewery and even a vintage movie theater.

So come, have your amazing outdoor adventure. But don’t be afraid to invite your not-so-outdoorsy friends and family. They’ll have fun, too!

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Things People (Might Have) Said After Visiting

"Came for the quiet. Stayed for the huckleberry milkshake".

“Said I’d do one trail. Ended up doing four and buying a kayak.”

“It’s like summer camp, but with good coffee".

“I wore hiking boots. My spouse wore flip-flops. We both had a great time.”

“I saw a moose, ate some pie, and learned to skip rocks. Best Tuesday ever.”

“We lost cell service—but found a waterfall!”

"Came for the quiet. Stayed for the huckleberry milkshake".

“Said I’d do one trail. Ended up doing four and buying a kayak.”

“It’s like summer camp, but with good coffee".

“I wore hiking boots. My spouse wore flip-flops. We both had a great time.”

“I saw a moose, ate some pie, and learned to skip rocks. Best Tuesday ever.”

“We lost cell service—but found a waterfall!”

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The 120-acre Douglas Falls Grange Park is surrounded by mountains of rocky bluffs and conifer forests near Colville, WA. Mill Creek runs through the campground that features the namesake 60-foot waterfall. The best time to experience the falls is in the spring, when the run-off is at its peak. Youll also find Day Use facilities, as well as 9 rustic campsites that can accommodate an RV up to 26. Youll need your Discover Pass at this Washington State Department of Natural Resources-managed park. 💦

#WonderfullyWildNEWA @washdnr #camping #waterfalls #douglasfalls
📷: @tricountyedd

Ten Mile Campground, part of the U.S. Forest Service - Colville National Forest, includes five campsites in a shady, mixed pine setting. Ten mile creek cuts through the middle of the campground and generally flows from April through June or early July. Each campsite has a level parking spur, table, and fire ring. The campground has a single outhouse and no water or garbage service. The campground is located along State Highway 21 and is located 10 miles south of Republic, Washington. Access to the Sanpoil River for fishing and water play is a short walk across Highway 21 through the day-use picnic area. Ten Mile Trail #25 takes off from the campground and is part of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. 13 Mile Trail #23 is located three miles south of the campground along State Highway 21. Ten Mile Campground and day-use area provides the only public access to the Sanpoil River that is not located on lands belonging to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The campground is scheduled to be open through September.

#WonderfullyWildNEWA
📷: Tri County Economic Development District

The Mill Pond Campground, part of the Colville National Forest lies along Sullivan Creek near Metaline Falls. The small, popular campground is all first come, first served and offers opportunities for hiking on a looped trail system which includes the Mill Pond Historic Site. The Sullivan Creek Trail #565 also connects the campground with the Mill Pond Flume Trail #520, Floodplain Trail #523, and Elk Creek Trail #560. The campground is open through Labor Day weekend.

#WonderfullyWildNEWA
U.S. Forest Service - Colville National Forest
📷: Tri County Economic Development District

Looking for a beautiful lake day in Northeast Washington? Waitts Lake near Valley, WA, is a local favorite for fishing, boating, paddling, and relaxing by the water. This 472-acre lake is surrounded by forested hills and is known for its clear water, peaceful setting, and excellent trout fishing. Anglers can expect to catch rainbow and brown trout, largemouth bass, perch, and even the occasional German brown. Whether you’re fishing from a boat or casting from shore, Waitts Lake is a great place to spend the day.

The public boat launch is located on the southwest end of the lake and features a concrete ramp, restroom, and ADA-accessible facilities. A Discover Pass is required for parking here, the launch area provides easy access for motorboats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. It’s open year-round, so whether youre out for a summer swim or an early-season fishing trip, you’ll find a quiet place to launch your adventure.

#WonderfullyWildNEWA #waittslake #visitnortheastwashington
@thewdfw
📷: @tricountyedd

The Sherman Creek Wildlife Area (SCWA) consists of approximately 11,100 acres WDFW-owned land and approximately 560 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acres, all managed as one unit at the lower end of the Sherman Creek Watershed. The watershed begins at the Kettle Crest and flows 24 miles down to the Columbia River. The wildlife area is located along the west side of Lake Roosevelt, in the eastern foothills of the Kettle River Range in Ferry County, about 3 miles northwest of the town of Kettle Falls. Throughout the SCWA are miles of trails winding through the Ponderosa forest along the Columbia River. The Haag Cove Trail, managed by both the Lake Roosevelt NPS and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, runs between the fields where winter feed is grown for white-tail deer and the Haag Cove Campground. The easy trail affords views of both Lake Roosevelt and forested areas. Youll need your Discover Pass to park here!

#wonderfullywildNEWA @thewdfw @lake.roosevelt.nps
📷: Tri County Economic Development District

No Name Lake is a small, 18-acre lake located six miles southeast of Usk in Pend Oreille County. Its water is beautifully clear, and is planted with Cutthroat trout. Lake access is day-use only, and is a bit of a walk through the closed forest service campground. You can park outside the campground gate and make your way down to the water. Because of the limited access, you are likely to be treated to enjoying the lake all by yourself. 🤩

#WonderfullyWildNEWA #visitnortheastwashington
📷: @tricountyedd

Gifford Campground stretches along the lakeshore, giving almost all of the 42 campsites a sweeping view of Lake Roosevelt and shoreline access. Towering pines provide ample shade. Gifford has a boat launch and dock, a dump station, and a fish cleaning station. A group site provides space and privacy for larger parties. Gifford Campground is conveniently located along WA 25 next to the Gifford Ferry. The campground is open now for some spring camping! Make your reservations at recreation.gov. See a link in the comments for more information.

#wonderfullywildNEWA #camping #lakeroosevelt
@lake.roosevelt.nps
📷: @tricountyedd

Open seasonally, and perched on the Colville National Forest along the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway, the Sherman Overlook Trail offers views of Washington’s remote and rugged Kettle River Range. This short but rewarding trail provides visitors with a chance to stretch their legs while soaking in panoramic vistas of forested ridges, deep valleys, and distant peaks.

Located near Sherman Pass, the highest year-rounddrivable pass in Washington at 5,575 feet, the trail showcases the resilience of the landscape, including areas recovering from past wildfires. Interpretive signs along the way highlight the region’s natural history, forest ecology, and the role of fire in shaping the wilderness.

Whether youre driving the scenic byway, looking for a quick hike, or simply wanting to take in the views, the Sherman Overlook Trail is a great stop for travelers exploring the heart of Northeast Washington.

#WonderfullyWildNEWA #shermanpassscenicbyway #colvillenationalforest
📷: @tricountyedd

If you find yourself travelling along Hwy 20 near Cusick, WA, here is a perfect stop to stretch your legs and enjoy some cool air off of the Pend Oreille River. The Cusick Wetland Educational Trail is an easy, wide walking path that follows the Pend Oreille River for a way, and then loops around back to the park and parking area. Interpretive signs along the way describe some of the long and fascinating history of the area. This is a wonderful spot to watch for birds that frequent wetlands and lots of other flora and fauna.

#WonderfullyWildNEWA #pendoreilleriver #wetlandconservation #cusickwa
@pendoreilleconservation
@kalispeltribeofficial
📷: @tricountyedd

Did you know that the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is more than just the 42,000 acres southeast of Colville? The Refuge also includes units in Cusick, Springdale, Okanogan County and the 716-acre Kaniksu Unit, just north of Deer Lake. Getting to the Kaniksu Unit using North Deer Lake Rd. is a little bit exciting, especially during the summer when the very narrow road that winds through vacation homes along the lake shore is especially congested. But once youre through there, the road turns to gravel and there is a good chance you wont see another vehicle until the return trip. The Refuge area begins almost as soon as youre north of the lake, continue on for a mile or so and youll find a parking area and kiosk with more information, and a map to help you get your bearings. Hikers, birders and non-motorized recreation enthusiasts are welcome to explore the Refuge, which includes a rehabilitated creek bed being restored to its natural state. If you drive a bit further up N. Deer Lake Rd youll come to a gate, but there is a nearby parking area and visitors can continue on foot or bike via a pass-through to the side of the gate. Horses are allowed here, but pulling a trailer through the lake area could be problematic. Equestrians might want to enter the refuge from the north on trails that come off of the Colville National Forest. Enjoy the solitude, there is a good chance you’ll spot some wildlife while exploring in this off-the-beaten path neck of the woods.

#WonderfullyWildNEWA
Friends of the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge
📷: Tri County Economic Development District

Due to extreme fire conditions, all fires at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area are prohibited effective 12:01 a.m., July 3, until further notice. No open flames are permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, all fires in National Park Service (NPS) provided fire rings and barbeque boxes, shoreline fires, charcoal fires, tiki torches, incense burners, candles, pellet smokers, and propane campfires. Only self-contained propane or gas cookstoves and lanterns are allowed during the full fire ban.

Fire restrictions help reduce the chance of human-caused wildfires during prolonged high summer temperatures. Use caution when smoking and dispose of cigarette butts in approved receptacles.

Discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal lands is always prohibited.

For the most current information regarding fire restrictions at Lake Roosevelt, please check www.nps.gov/laro.

@lake.roosevelt.nps

Ferry Lake is off the beaten path, but an easily accessed lake that offers tranquil camping and fishing. The campground is first come, first served, and is most suited for tents, vans and small trailers. With its handful of small well shaded campsites and a ban on combustion engines, the lake is quiet enough to hear ducks and loons calling to each other across the water. The lake is regularly stocked with catch-sized rainbow trout. Lake spring to early summer is the best time to fish this secluded and serene location. A public boat launch is located at the end of the campground. Three other trout fishing lakes are available within 6 miles for nice day trip excursions. Wildflowers and huckleberries are other attractions that bring visitors to the area. The nearest location for grocery and fishing supplies is 16 miles away in Republic, WA.

#WonderfullyWildNEWA #colvillenationalforest #fishing #camping
📷: Tri County Economic Development District