Bonaparte Lake Campground

We found Bonaparte Lake Campground through Dyrt when sites were not available at Curlew State Park and we needed some place in that Okanagon/Ferry County area of Washington. Part of Bonaparte Lake is available by reservation. We lucked out at the time and found what ended up being the perfect site. It had plenty of room for our A Frame trailer and truck and could have fit another vehicle on the site. The table/fire ring area was generous and private, with space for our dog to be on a 25 ft lead. In fact, the whole site was very private with the campers to the right of us at least 50 feet away from us and no one to the back of us or to the left of us directly. I guess I should stop saying how great our site was so we can get it again sometime! In our loop we only had pit toilets. In the non-reservation loop there was one restroom with flush toilets and then other pit toilets. No showers available. The non-reservation loop had lovely sites as well with some right on the lake. Our loop had lake sites, too. The camp host was amazingly helpful and friendly, giving us maps of things to do in the area. We took a loop to find old ghost towns and remnants in the area plus other loops. We tried to schedule our trip up this way in July to beat the smoke from forest fires but unfortunately due to early heat conditions and dryness forest fires started early this year. We ran into some smoke the 2nd day of our trip there but the third day was clearer. It never got bad while we were at Bonaparte Lake but just over the mountains in Oroville where we went to get gas, it was in the unhealthy range of the Air Quality Index. We will definitely go back to Bonaparte again sometime. It would make a beautiful trip in the early fall.

There was liquid poop on the floor, the camp host sign was so dilapidated so there was no where to checkin not to mention the leeches that were biting my son. Store hours were never mention,had to build my own fire pit,AFTER I had to acquire a grill , the water access is virtually nonexistent UNLESS, you go through other peoples sites/spaces and scale down an embankment.

I stayed here 2 years ago and got a reservation less than a month before we left.  This year, 2021, I cant even book a site for the summer right now!  I love that people have discovered this hidden gem but I am bummed I cant go back this year.

With that being said... this area is wonderful.  Many lakes, hiking trails, fishing, wildlife viewing -- it really has it all.  The sites are quite large and can definitely hold a large party.  You can access the lake from most of the sites but there is also a dock there for fishing.

Hike Strawberry Mountain if you have the time its beautiful views - but turn your phone off to avoid pinging Canadian service towers.

Can't wait to come back!