Northwest Lake Cruise

J

John&Robin

New member
We've ordered a new Tuff Trailer which we'll get next month and for a shake down trip we're thinkng of a Northwest Lake circuit:
Harrison Lake, BC
Osoyoos Lake, BC
Christina Lake, BC
Lake Rooselvelt at Northport, WA
Banks Lake (Steamboat Rock SP), WA
Lake Chelan (Twenty-five Mile Creek SP), WA
We've been to the last three during hot summer weather and thought an April visit might be nicer as the 100 degree days werre tough. We're thinking we'll try the RVers 2-2-2 rule of two hours drive between stops, at a campground/launch ramp by 2:00 PM, stay two days minimum at each, and maybe about a month total on the road. Possibly stretch to Priest and Pend Oreille 'cause they sure sound beautiful. Love to hear any thoughts on the route and destinations.
Thanks,
John and Robin
 
Check the water levels, especially at Lake Roosevelt. It is lowered in the spring so that it can handle sudden snow melt. Sometimes lowered to the point where the launches are unusable and the "beach" is +100 yards to the vegetation. Not ideal cruising other than you'll be the only one there.
 
Priest Lake and Pond Oreille are beautiful. Just don't go too early! We went in early June and encountered Monsoon type rain, wind, hail and a funnel cloud!
Lake Coure d'Alene is also fun. Most boats on those lakes are day use and folks looked at folks who stayed overnight on their boats strangely.
 
Good advice on Roosevelt. I think Spring Canyon will be open and if remember right the no go level is 1272. It's down by the dam and trout fishing can be outstanding, which might be an understatement. There is a campground there too, but I think there are FAR better ones just up the lake. I've been there too many times to count.....every nice weekend almost when I was younger and lived down that way.

My brother has a nice place on Priest Lake and I would not be at all surprised if it has ice on the bays and North end during April....It also has a very small dam at the end of the lake and they draw down the water a few feet so the outlet doesn't flood. I'm not saying don't bother...It's just an alpine lake and in April winter is still hanging most years. I wouldn't be at all surprised that everyone is still flying around on snow machines on 3 feet of snow. The point is you may not be able to launch, camp, or park. I'd call the Cavanaugh Bay Marina before I tugged the boat up there.
 
Hmm, that's not what I had in mind. I think we'll push this out a bit. I'm trying to avoid the hot and crowded days we saw on an earlier trip. Thanks for the local info.
 
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