Water Sports
When it comes to water activities and attractions the region has some
306 lakes, 315 ponds, 125 marshes and swampy areas and 175 creeks.
If you are looking for a region to relax, unwind and enjoy a day with your family and friends away from crowds of others ... then this is the place.
This section covers only a small sample of the opportunities available. Check the following links:
Boating | Canoeing/Floating | Lakes | Waterfalls
General Overview
At 150 miles long, Lake Roosevelt is obviously the main Lake in the region and in itself represents more opportunities than many guests have even considered. But don't forget to check out the other lakes anyway. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is one of the largest lakes in the area, making it ideal for motor boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, wind surfing sailing, swimming and fishing. Access to the lake is made easy by 23 boat ramps and 4 full service marinas as well as 28 year round campgrounds, some only accessible by boat.
The main marina is 4 miles from Blue Moose Cabins towards Kettle Falls.
Because lake levels fluctuate daily, always compare the lake level and boat launch elevations before starting out. In summer months, the lake level is generally high enough to meet the needs of all boat launch requirements, but during the spring runoff the waters can recede several feet overnight.
At the Kettle Falls Marina, houseboats are available to rent you can take big boats. Of course being that the Blue Moose cabins are located near the Lake we recommend staying with us and remind you that we have legal boat mooring and beach access to those staying with us.
You may contact them at 509-738-6366 or http://www.nps.gov/laro/
Every lake is accessible by private or public boat launch facilities. Smaller boats, canoes and rubber rafts find their own challenges in the Kettle River or maybe in more laid back setting on one of the many lakes. There are a number of fine picnic areas on the banks of many area lakes. For additional information see the 'boating' page
Of Interest
While your out enjoying your lake Roosevelt boating experience here are a few lessor known facts to keep you entertained ...
There are approximately
75 species of mammals,
200 species of birds,
15 species of reptiles and
10 species of amphibians
in the Lake Roosevelt area.
Large mammals include black bear, elk, mountain lion, whitetail deer, mule deer, and moose. California Bighorn Sheep were recently introduced to the area.
Smaller mammals include: beaver, river otter, muskrat, mink, badger, raccoon, skunk, bobcat, coyote, red fox, porcupine, cottontail rabbits, ground squirrels, chipmunks, yellow-bellied marmot, pika, bats, gophers, rats, and deer and house mice.
Birds found in the watershed include raptors such as: osprey, golden eagle, bald eagle, prairie falcon, red-tailed hawk, northern harrier, and American kestrel. Passerines include swallows, finches, jays, chickadees, kinglets, ravens, magpies, robins, sparrows, blackbirds, and juncos.
Water birds include: mallards, pintails, teal, goldeneyes, redhead canvasback, western grebe, coot, lesser scaup, common merganser, common loon, and Canada geese. Shorebirds include: plovers, northern killdeer, spotted sandpiper, gulls, snipe, common grebes and yellowlegs.
Grassland birds include: western sage grouse, Columbia sharp-tailed grouse, mourning dove, blue grouse, band-tailed pigeon, pheasant and turkey. Lake Roosevelt watershed reptiles and amphibians include: sage brush lizard, western rattlesnake, gopher or bull snake, western terrestrial garter snake, bullfrog, western toad and various salamanders.
Native species of fish in the area include: kokanee, rainbow trout, bull trout, white sturgeon, burbot, lake whitefish, minnow, sculpin and sucker species. Introduced species include: brook trout, brown trout, walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, sunfish and yellow bullhead.
Some of the species found around Lake Roosevelt’s watershed are endangered, these include: peregrine falcons, gray wolf, woodland caribou, bald eagles, grizzly bear, bull trout and Canada lynx. There are also many species whose decline is a matter of concern, some of these include: ferruginous hawk, Canada floater, Columbia sharp tailed grouse, Columbia spotted frog, loggerhead shrike northern goshawk, bull trout, and white sturgeon.
Canoeing / Floating
A local 'fav' on a hot summer day can be seen as you drive along Highway 395 towards the Canadian border, particularly near Orient.
Tubing (or "toobing", or "floating") is floating down a slow moving river in an oversized inner tube or other floatation device. Most people get a cooler for beer, put it in another inner tube, and tie it to one of the tubers. Then the whole party latches on to the cooler tube flotilla-style and sits back for a relaxing time.
However, PLEASE remember that as you float peacefully by you are also traveling through what some consider to be private property. There have been actions by a small minority that continue to threaten this relaxing activity. The more you respect the owners rights and privacy the more enjoyable your experience will be.
