CAMPING AT LAKE ROOSEVELT

When you are finished reading of our camping adventure, go to website links on the left side of the page and click on "Lance Family Website" to view a photo slideshow of our trip. Once you are on our family website, click on the page "Lake Roosevelt Camping." The slideshow includes pictures of scenery, eagles, and our family. This slideshow is also accompanied by music, so turn on those speakers. Enjoy.
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Thinking of camping always lingers in the backs of our minds as an activity during any free time we might have as a family. Beginning the summer season of our camping endeavors found us at Lake Roosevelt, named for President Theodore Roosevelt. The lake is a manmade lake, held back by Coulee Dam, built to serve as a water resource for the whole basin east of the Cascades, fed by the Columbia River. Driving along the scenic route will take travelers by the famous Soap Lake area. This lake is known for its minerals world wide and visitors will come to the rustic spas around the lake. One might also find visitors and locals alike caked in the mud from the bottom of the lake as a means of cleansing their skin.
After Soap Lake a visit to the Lenore Caves leads adventurers on a short hike up to caves that Indians once used, that are now occupied by rattlesnakes in the heat of the summer. Inside the caves explorers can still find pictographs left by Indian tribes.
On up the road a stop at Steamboat Rock on Banks Lake provides swimming, wildlife viewing, and other activities. If a person wanted to they could stop and spend the night at the camp grounds. Just make sure reservations are made ahead of time. Our family spent quite a bit of time at Steamboat Rock last summer during July and August. The kids loved swimming and the island on which they could play. After a refreshing, brisk swim, a science study awaits at the Dry Falls Visitor Center.
Dry Falls provides historical, ecological, and geological information about the Coulee Corridor and the development of Coulee Dam. Dry Falls area is the location at which a mini-Niagra once existed, just without the light show. Overlooking the basin from up top at the visitor's center creates an awe inspiring view. The visitor's center also tells the story of what is known as the Missoula Flood that supposedly came down from Montana and was what helped carve out the area where the Columbia River now flows. How the river has been utilized can be found at the Grand Coulee Dam, approximately another 45 minutes north of Dry Falls.
Grand Coulee Dam was built during President Roosevelt's time in office. It is a massive piece of construction that was built during WWII to help with water supply for the Coulee Corridor. A lazer light show provides visitors with a dazzling event of colorful lights and a narration consisting of the history of this area and the building of the dam. Lake Roosevelt is a part of this gigantic project.
Lake Roosevelt is held back by Coulee Dam and runs 155 miles in length to the north, near the border of Canada and the U.S. Twenty-seven campgrounds provide campers with campsites that range from desert sage brush to forrested, more mountainous terrain. The Lake Roosevelt area serves mostly those who enjoy water and boating activity. We camped at Hunters Campground, about 2.5 hours from Moses Lake, approximately half way between the most southern and northern tips of the lake. Trails and backcountry access is not available, at least from the campsites or along the road. Most of the surrounding areas, even within the mountainsides are farms, ranches, and private land, prohibiting public access into the wilderness. If one became more familiar with the area and knew people, there might possibly be ways into the wilderness from privately owned properties.
We woke up on Friday morning to a blanket of clouds that looked like it could rain. We had checked the weather the prior weekend and the forecast called for sunshine and warm weather. The clouds caused us to re-check the weather forecast which quickly changed to mostly cloudy and chances of rain and thunderstorms all weekend. Toss up: do we go, or do we stay? The kids worked hard packing up the camper, food had been put into the coolers, and all was ready to go. The decision to go anyway and take our chances was unanimous. A barbecue for the end of the week at vacation Bible school at which Spencer had volunteered offered one delay out of a number, prohibiting us from leaving town at our designated time. At 3:00 pm we finally hit the road, ready for whatever lay ahead. In Moses Lake clouds separated exposing sunshine and blue skies, ahead the blackest of black clouds awaited our arrival. It seemed as if we were chasing a storm and upon arriving in the little town of Davenport, about 1.5 hours from Moses Lake the rain began to pound the windows of the car: Nature's carwash as our daughter called it. All we could do was laugh at what seemed to be our lot for the weekend...Rain and perhaps thunderstorms. Lake Roosevelt came into sight about another hour later, and suddenly the skies opened up above us as if God began parting the sea of black clouds, allowing for a hole of sunshine and puffy white balls to welcome us to a haven of rest for two days.
We arrived at Hunters Campground at which point the kids could barely contain their excitement, immediately jumping out of the car to find the perfect spot for their tent. They found it between two trees and made sure the door faced towards the lake. No longer do Dale and I need to be solely in charge of camp set-up. For two teenagers the idea of setting up camp on their own holds amusement and pleasure. We watched as they both set up the camper and their tent. We got to set up the fun gadgets that were purchased a couple of years ago, but had notvyet been put to use. The evening found us sitting near a campfire, relaxing while watching lightening afar off provide us with God's light show. Rain did not make its appearance, nor did thunder. Marshmallows roasted, tummies full, relaxed and sleepy, we enjoyed a night in the great outdoors.
Dale and I awoke Saturday morning about 6:00 am to the sounds of our children no longer able to sleep, making a campfire on their own. What a nice way to wake up! Dale and I were able to take a morning stroll along the lake's path while we left the kids back at camp. Two eagles had made their nest in the top of one of the trees near the campground, and during our walk, one was sitting in the nest and the other was perched out on the limb as if to say good morning to us as we passed. These eagles were white breasted sea eagles. Then out of nowhere, another eagle flew and perched itself in a tree nearby overlooking the lake. Quickly we switched our camera lenses, slowly made our way to the bank of the lake near the eagle's location and received a thrill of being able to photograph this beautiful bird in the tree. As if that was not exciting enough, the eagle decided to fly over the lake allowing us the pleasure of a photoshoot as he spread his wings and soared against the morning skies. This eagle was a bald eagle. What an experience.
After breakfast, drinking coffee, and relaxing a bit, there still existed a chill in the air even though the sun was shining. We all decided to take a drive further north up the lake to Kettle Falls. The campground at Kettle Falls sits right on the lake, a little more room between sites, but trees are a little more sparse within the campground itself. The scenic views held more fascination at Hunters, but being right on the lake could be enjoyable. We fell in love with the town of Kettle Falls. It's small and very cute, about an hour from the border into Canada. It sits right in the middle of more mountainous terrain in which farms and ranches dot the hillsides all around. We could imagine ourselves living there, if employment was not an issue. Driving back to camp, ominous looking clouds caused us to wonder if perhaps storms did not await us upon our return. Deep green pastures, a blue lake, and mountains against black clouds create a very picturesque scene. Another spotting of eagles caused us to pull over to the side of the road, and this time we viewed and photographed what is known as the golden eagle. Three types of eagles on one trip aroused quite an excitement in all of us. Pleasantly the sunshine provided warmth enough when we arrived back at camp for the kids to swim the rest of the afternoon, while Dale and I lounged in our chairs. He remarked that he did not remember the last time he had time to just sit for a length of time and shut his eyes. A very much needed respite.
Dinner consisted of homemade stew and homemade rolls with s'mores for dessert. Dressed in pj's and wrapped up in blankets, we enjoyed chapters read aloud from "The Lost Princess" by George MacDonald, the last book in this series. Eyes heavy and everyone cozy, we made our way to bed with sleep quickly coming upon us.
Sunday morning brought with it a blanket of clouds and a wind that whispered rain. We woke up about 6:30 am, and by 8:00 we decided that perhaps we better pack things up earlier than we planned if we wanted to get everything home "dry." Leisurely drinking our hot beverages, taking trips to the dock, and packing up in between, by 10:00 all had been packed neatly away. No sooner had the camper been cranked down and the final items put into the car, the rain began to fall. Perhaps we did not get to stay as long a time on Sunday, but God had been good to give us the time we desperately needed together as a family. By 1:00 we arrived home, unpacked our gear and enjoyed a leisurely day at home with Dale, celebrating Father's Day. We couldn't think of a better way to begin our summer activities