Central & Eastern Washington - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 412

Accommodations in Grand Coulee itself can be found in a number of places (book
well in advance in summer months), none better than the Columbia River Inn (
509-633-2100; www.columbiariverinn.com ; 10 Lincoln St, Coulee Dam; r/ste $105/205; ) oppos-
ite the visitor arrival center. It offers a swimming pool, a gym-sauna and modern, cozy
rooms. The area's cuisine is mostly of the diner-style fried variety, save at Fusion Cafe &
Espresso (Hwy 155, bwtn Grand Coulee & Electric City; sandwiches from $7; lunch & dinner) , a
simple place serving fresh soups, sandwiches, burgers and a daily special always 'made
from scratch.'

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

A 150-mile-long reservoir held back by the Grand Coulee Dam, Lake Roosevelt is a ma-
jor recreation area that is popular with anglers, boaters, canoeists and waterskiers.
Dry, sunny weather prevails here, drawing people to camp and play on the lake's
southern white-sand beaches. As the lake inches its way north to Canada, the desert cliffs
and high coulee walls give way to rolling hills and orchards, becoming dense forests of
ponderosa pine around Kettle Falls.
As recreation areas go, Lake Roosevelt remains refreshingly undeveloped, and few
roads penetrate its isolated shoreline. To explore the area at any great length you'll need
a boat. The lake offers a plethora of boat launches, with fees starting at $6 for seven days
and $40 for a year. One of the best places to organize other water-based activities - such
as fishing, canoeing and waterskiing - is at the Keller Ferry Campground (
509-633-9188; campsites May-Sep $10, Oct-Apr $5) , located 14 miles north of the town of
Wilbur. The free Keller Ferry ( 6am-11pm) crosses Lake Roosevelt near the camp-
ground, linking to Hwy 21 and providing access to the Sanpoil River and the town of Re-
public to the north.
To uncover the history of the area visit Fort Spokane Museum & Visitor Center (
10am-5pm May 26-Oct 10) off Hwy 25, 23 miles north of Davenport, where original
fort buildings from 1880 tell the story of how white settlers attempted to quell the re-
gion's Native American tribes.
Your best bet for general information about the area is the Lake Roosevelt National
Recreation Area Headquarters ( www.nps.gov/laro ; 1008 Crest Dr;

8am-4pm) , in Coulee

Dam. Park admission is free.

TOP OF CHAPTER

Okanogan River Valley