Favorite NW Lakes

[YoDaddy292]

What are your favorite lakes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho? Why do you like them? What are the camping/lodging options? Boat launch conditions and parking situations? Are there cool sights and attractions? Marina/restaurants on the lake? All that kind of stuff. We all have our go to nearby favorites but it would be cool to have more information that what a misleading brochure can give you.

 

[YoDaddy292]

Mayfield Lake near Mossyrock. Good medium sized lake with good depth in most areas. Has a marina with a store for ice, beverages, fishing gear, etc. Nice campground and condos/cabins for rent. There is also camping and cabins for rent at Harmony campground on the opposite side of the lake with a launch and docks.
There are few cool party coves and two separate rivers that you can access and it is pretty. There is a party cove up the Tilton River but it is no wake and super shallow to get back there. Post someone in the bow to lookout The first time up. Going up the Cowlitz is gorgeous and is a fun side trip. There are two boat launches and on a summer weekend plan on being there by nine or the parking situation gets dicey.

 

[Whiskey]

We live next to Lake Tapps so go there weekly, but Mayfield Lake sounds great!

 

[YoDaddy292]

If you haven’t been to Lake Roosevelt it’s time to go. It’s one of those places us west side people hear about and think “I’m sure it’s cool but it’s five hours and we already have so many lakes to hit!”. It’s got three marinas with fuel, restaurants, and more shoreline than you can cover in a day. There are floating restrooms every 5-7 miles. Wildlife is amazing and the views are everything from desert to heavy pine forest. If you are struggling to get summer camp spots you can leave the truck and trailer at one of the marinas and beach camp (there is unlimited beautiful beach camping). I would be remiss if I didn’t mention all of the amazing side trips up beautiful rivers, around trees rock islands, and creeks. I’ve been twice now and feel like we haven’t scratched the surface. This section of the Columbia is over 90 miles long with very little current and enough bends and turns to avoid wind if it is windy and get some watersports in. Most of lake I have been on is over 200’ feet deep. I realize this is a major ramble typed on a phone but I hope you get the idea.

 

[YoDaddy292]

Alder Lake near Mt. Rainier is another great lake that I literally drove past for almost 20 years......every. other. weekend. From HWY 7 it looks like a stump filled, fishing only type of lake. What it does offer is a nice medium sized lake with gorgeous views of Mt. Rainier and the surrounding foothills, really nice boat ramp, and a fun side trip possibility up the Little Nisqually River. The park and moorage docks are all in excellent condition as well. Most of the lake is out of view of the highway and honestly the section next to the highway is shallow with a lot of buried stumps and old trees that were deposited by the Big Nisqually, we slow cruised that area with no issues but the rest of the lake is typically aound 100' or more of depth. There are cliffs for jumping, large coves for relaxing, and plenty of open area for watersports. Alder sits just outside of Elbe so it is only about a half hour from Tacoma. My profile pic was taken there (sorry I am on the work computer...so I don't have access to pics).