The greatest lake in the Pacific Northwest!
Boasting over 600 miles of beautiful shoreline, coves, and canyons, Lake Roosevelt has become one of the premier houseboat and water sports destinations in the United States. In 1941, the Grand Coulee Dam spanned the Columbia River and gave birth to this 130-mile long lake. The National Park Service has been welcoming guests to Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area ever since. This Northwest treasure features beaches unlike any other in the United States and also serves as a haven for boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, swimming, camping, and of course phenomenal family vacations.
Lake Roosevelt is the largest lake in the northwest quarter of the United States. Most water in the lake comes from glacial ice and snow high in the Canadian Rockies. The area’s climate varies with location – the south experiences hot, dry summers, while the north sees significantly more rainfall that supports Ponderosa pines and Douglas fir forests.
Wildlife is abundant on the shores of Lake Roosevelt – from bighorn sheep and turkey to moose and mule deer. Fishing on Lake Roosevelt is legendary — anglers travel from far and wide for the world-class walleye, large and smallmouth bass, and white sturgeon.
From the Grand Coulee north to Canada, Lake Roosevelt extends 130 miles, offering hundreds of miles of sandy beaches, pine-studded mountains, countless sheltered coves, and glassy water perfect for water skiing.
Simply put, this is the greatest lake in the Pacific Northwest!
History of Lake Roosevelt
The Upper Columbia River is rich in cultural and natural significance. For more than 9000 years, people have gathered along the banks of the river to fish and trade with each other. Missionaries and explorers for the Hudson Bay Company and the North West Trading Company mapped the area and developed relationships with the tribes living there.
In 1941, damming the Columbia River as part of the Columbia River Basin project created a 130-mile long lake. Named for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the lake is now the largest recreation feature in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.
Opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, camping, canoeing and visiting historic Fort Spokane and St. Paul’s Mission are highlights of visiting Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. (From www.nationalparks.org.)
