Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area encompasses a variety of campgrounds along the 130-mile reservoir created by the Grand Coulee Dam. Established campgrounds like Hunters Campground and Fort Spokane offer tent and RV sites without electrical hookups, while providing amenities such as vault toilets and picnic tables. Several mixed-use campgrounds including Hartman's Log Cabin Resort and Rainbow Beach Resort feature cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping areas. Most campsites are concentrated along the shoreline, providing direct water access for boating, fishing, and swimming.
Reservation requirements vary across the recreation area, with many sites requiring advance booking through the National Park Service. Campground accessibility changes seasonally as water levels fluctuate in the reservoir. A visitor noted, "The water was tricky to get to because the water level was so low." Fort Spokane Campground operates from May through September, while other locations like Rainbow Beach Resort remain open year-round. Campgrounds at higher elevations may close during winter months. Cell service is limited throughout the area, particularly at remote sites like Hunters Campground where reviews indicate "no cell signal of any kind." Most campgrounds provide vault or flush toilets, but not all offer drinking water or showers.
Waterfront locations dominate the camping experience in this region, with numerous sites providing direct access to Lake Roosevelt. Campers consistently highlight the fishing opportunities, with one reviewer stating, "The lake is clean and full of fish!" Wildlife sightings include bald eagles, loons, and occasionally moose and bears. The landscape features a mix of open shoreline and forested areas, providing both sunny and shaded camping options. While most sites are spaced generously for privacy, some resort areas place RVs closer together. Noise levels vary by location and season, with holiday weekends attracting larger crowds. Several campgrounds include boat launches or docks, making them popular destinations for water recreation enthusiasts. The combination of lake access and forest setting creates diverse camping environments throughout the recreation area.
$30 / night
"Beautiful views of Lake Roosevelt and the surrounding mountains and trees Boat launch available to get out and do some fishing. Catch Walleye and Rainbows Unreserved sites, 37."
$23 / night
"Dirt trails on the water which is a beautiful little cove on lake Roosevelt. Bald eagles, and lots of bugs. Most often in the summer you can hear the big pow wows going on across the river at night."
"Clearest lake I've ever seen !"
$30 / night
$30 / night
"If you use kayaks, stay along the shore to avoid a dangerous situation! The Fort still has a structure with exhibits inside to visit and a nice bluff trail that overlooks the Spokane River."
"You can be tucked up against the trees or down closer to river access and more sunshine. A couple of docks for fishing, hiking trails, and boat ramp."
"This camping spot is conveniently located off a well groomed gravel road just a mile or so from the main paved road. It’s the first campsite we came to as we drove into Lake Roosevelt."
"Lots of boats of the lake, good for water skiing or wakeboarding. A bunch of smaller, more quiet and secluded beaches nearby."
$23 / night
"Beautiful views of the buttes and rock formations surround you, no matter what spot you pick in the campground."
"But a spot overlooking a canyon wall with cool foliage around!"
GuideFairly nicely maintained gravel road extends back about a mile. There are potholes and dips along the way, but not too bad for any vehicle with a little extra lift. The end of the road is an open area with several spots along the water. We camped about halfway down the road. The area requires a Washington Discover Pass which is $11.50 a day at the time of this review. Overall really nice spot. Easy to get to and spectacular views.
GuideI had a great time here with my huskies and my cat. I updated the location here on The Dyrt app. The exact address is 3399 Sand Canyon Rd, Chewelah, WA. There are at least 10 dispersed fire rings. Many of the sites have direct access to the creek. There are multiple trails that go up and down both sides of the creek and many logs that have fallen over it so you can walk across to the other side. The entire creek is fully shaded by trees and doesn’t get much sun. It only gets to about knee-deep in some parts - it’s July right now. People use this area for snow activities in the winter. There are many large areas with hard packed dirt that are relatively level and good for big rigs. There is one pit toilet bathroom that I can see and a few picnic tables. This is an active logging road right now so trucks go by every hour or so. There is definitely wildlife out here. Be cautious for bears and other large predators. I have seen wild turkeys, squirrels, tons of different birds, butterflies, and something large ran behind our campsite last night. There is plenty of shade and also plenty of open areas for setting up solar panels with all day sun. There is no cell service up here, but Starlink works great. The creek is beautiful and clear and cold. So refreshing and if you really needed to drink it, you probably could. I have not seen any hiking trails per se, however, you could walk up and down the logging roads and explore the forest line pretty easily in many parts. If you go up the logging road to the right, there is an old mine that you can access. There seems to be little pathways spread out randomly through the forest as you continue down the road. This is the perfect spot for boondocking, unless you’re worried about cell service. I’ve been able to leave my dogs off leash and they are so happy to run free through the creek and around the fields and through the forest. This place really does have so much to offer. We’re here by ourselves right now, so we have the luxury of privacy and perfect quietness to enjoy the sound of the creek and the bugs and the birds.
GuideI don’t normally leave reviews like this, but there is some confusion about the location of this place. I believe there is another location listed here on the dyrt app. If you put 3399 Sand Canyon Rd into your GPS you’ll get here just fine. This is the perfect spot for boondocking. There are at least 10 campfire rings and huge open spots to park big rigs. Plenty of creek access, I’m sure you could fish here, but I’m not into that. The creek gets up to about knee-deep in the deepest spots. This is connected to an active logging Road so there are logging trucks that go by every few hours. But that also means you know the roads are good for heavy rigs. I’ve been here for a few days and there were only two other people here when I got here and now it’s just me. This is a great spot for privacy. There are minimal mosquitoes, lots of butterflies, definitely a good amount of flies, dragonflies, wild turkeys, and I just saw a large bird flying overhead that looked like a crane.
TravelerWe booked this site as a place to hold church summer camp for the youth and loved it! It is a double site and we were able to have 12 tents up, single- to 2-man size, and a large tent for leaders. It looked like a cute little pop up village, and everyone was able to find a comfortable spot with a good radius of space between tents! This location was right across from bathrooms and bear trash cans, with a potable water spigot just around the bend. Quick access to the lake, too! It was easy for us to bring kayaks from the dock over to the beach, which had good seating areas and a nice floating dock out just a little ways. There was plenty of room for kitchen set up, and all the extras we wanted like a changing tent, a camp shower, a couple large folding tables for crafts - and all this without crowding the picnic tables around the fire pit or the girls’ individual tents! There are some good hiking trails around the site, a nice little outdoor amphitheater back behind another campsite, and about three parking spots right by each site. This location is a little set back from the highway, but close enough that you still catch a bit of the noise pollution from traffic. You also run into quite a few people while there, though the campsite we had felt spacious and private. Those were the only things I wish were slightly different, just hoping for a more secluded experience. I LOVED that there is no cell service, and you can spend the whole day out on the water kayaking through the chains of lakes, either over to Sherry or Thomas and around.
GuideA little bumpy of a road getting into our spot. The initial road wasn’t bad. We took the first road on the left. Some spots on the road were a tight squeeze fitting through with overgrown shrubs. Some mosquitoes, but we were next to a lake, so to be expected. Beautiful sunset though!
GuideNot a bad Campground bathrooms are a little outdated reservation always A issue no first come first serve, and unfortunately a fire ban
ScoutBeautiful secluded spot. Plenty of forest and space. Only issue was the toilet ran out of water on the last day but other then that perfect site!
ScoutIt’s a bit back from the road which is nice. Seems to be 2 camp spots separated by logs. We didn’t see access to water, but we didn’t stay to explore. Great views of the lake.
ScoutGood size lake, although quite shallow--good for fishing, apparently. There are 2 areas for camping separated by the lake's dam. Half a dozen right on the lake and the rest are a little further from the shoreline. Clean vault toilets. I didn't see potable water or trash receptacles. Host was friendly and said the camping is free for the time being but will eventually be pay. 16 day limit.
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area extends over 130 miles along the Columbia River in eastern Washington, offering camping experiences in both forested highlands and shoreline settings. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F while evenings can drop below 50°F, creating significant daily temperature swings. Water levels in the reservoir fluctuate dramatically throughout the year, with depths changing by up to 80 feet between winter and summer months.
Fishing adventures: Lake Roosevelt offers excellent fishing opportunities with multiple species including walleye and rainbow trout. At Hunters Campground, "Easy to find a spot to camp with multiple docks to keep your boat. It also has a swimming area, fish cleaning station with running water to clean your fish," according to Taylor J.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds provide designated swimming areas for cooling off during hot summer days. At Porcupine Bay Campground, "There's a designated swimming area for kids, a dock, and a playground. Definitely a busy spot mid summer season, but good for the whole family," notes Natasha S.
Wildlife viewing: The lake area supports diverse wildlife populations that campers can observe. At Hartman's Log Cabin Resort, you might see "Bald eagles, Loons, turtles, even Moose & Bears!" according to Maurice G., making wildlife spotting a popular activity.
Beach accessibility: Many campgrounds offer direct beach access for relaxation and water activities. At Jones Bay Campground, "lake Roosevelt offers miles and miles of sandy shoreline, private beaches and pristine waters along with great fishing," says Scott B.
Stargazing opportunities: The area's limited light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing. Jones Bay Campground visitors appreciate that "The stars and moon shine stunningly on the beach!" as Michelle B. mentions, making evening stargazing a highlight.
Fishing amenities: Dedicated facilities for anglers enhance the fishing experience. At Hunters Campground, Debbie S. notes there's a "Boat launch available to get out and do some fishing. Catch Walleye and Rainbows" with good support facilities.
Water level fluctuations: Reservoir levels change significantly throughout the year, affecting beach access. At Fort Spokane Campground, JB mentions "The water was tricky to get to because the water level was so low," highlighting a common challenge.
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds have limited or no cellular connectivity. At Hunters Campground, Nancy R. warns "First off- no cell signal of any kind! Be clear on that! You can go to Hunters Bar & Grill for lunch and use their wi-fi, or park out in the lot and maybe catch a signal."
Bathroom facilities vary: Toilet facilities range from flush toilets to vault toilets with inconsistent maintenance. Anthony D. notes about Porcupine Bay that "Host was very friendly and bathrooms were clean," but facilities differ widely across campgrounds.
Look for dedicated kid areas: Some campgrounds offer specific facilities for children. Porcupine Bay Campground features "a designated swimming area for kids, a dock, and a playground," making it particularly family-friendly according to Natasha S.
Consider accessibility needs: Not all facilities are accessible for those with mobility challenges. At Rainbow Beach Resort, Lara O. warns it's "Not really accessible. Can't get in main store/office. None of the cabins I saw would be accessible to a wheel chair. All roll in showers with no benches."
Check for seasonal insects: Bug activity varies by season and location. About Jones Bay Campground, Hannah B. shares "We got lucky when we stayed, as they had just sprayed for mosquitoes, but I've heard they are ruthless at other times!!"
Site leveling requirements: Many campsites require leveling equipment for comfortable setup. At Fort Spokane Campground, Nancy R. advises to "Be aware of slope on most campsites. Bring your blocks."
Water access planning: RVers should plan ahead for water needs as access points are limited. Jeffry G. recommends at Fort Spokane Campground to "Make sure you fill your RV water before parking in your site."
Space considerations: Site spacing varies significantly between campgrounds. At Hartman's Log Cabin Resort, Tony N. shares his experience: "Full hook ups. A Little packed but the fishing was worth it," indicating tighter spacing than some might prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area?
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area offers several campgrounds along its 130-mile shoreline. Hawk Creek Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area provides sites with vault toilets and treated water, costing around $18 per night. Jones Bay Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area offers easy highway access with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets for $18 nightly. Other options include Fort Spokane, Porcupine Bay, Hunters Campground, and Rogers Bar. These campgrounds typically feature basic amenities like toilets and water access, with most being accessible by car, though some offer boat-in options. Campsites are generally suitable for tents and smaller RVs, with reservation options available at select locations.
When is the best time of year to camp at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area?
The optimal camping season at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area runs from late spring through early fall (May-September). Mid-May through early September offers the most reliable weather and fully operational facilities. Curlew Lake State Park Campground, located near Lake Roosevelt, experiences ideal conditions during summer months, though algae blooms can occur in August. Late spring (May-June) provides comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds, while July and August offer warm days perfect for water activities but busier campgrounds. September brings cooler temperatures and colorful foliage with diminishing crowds. Be prepared for potential heat waves in midsummer, especially at exposed campgrounds like Colville Fairgrounds RV Park, which reports experiencing significant summer heat.
What amenities are provided at Lake Roosevelt campgrounds?
Lake Roosevelt campgrounds typically offer basic but functional amenities for visitors. Most campgrounds provide vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Fort Spokane Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and Porcupine Bay Campground — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area offer potable water, toilets, and are big-rig friendly for RV campers. Many sites have direct lake access, making them ideal for boating, kayaking, and fishing activities. The campgrounds generally don't offer electrical hookups or shower facilities, maintaining their rustic appeal. Iodine-treated water is available at some locations like Hawk Creek. Most campgrounds feature a mix of walk-in, drive-in, and boat-in sites, with standard amenities including fire rings and picnic tables.
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