Washington State Parks

Park overview:

Curlew Lake State Park is a 123-acre camping park, eight miles from the Stone Rose public fossil dig and the charming goldrush town of Republic. “The Lew” is one of the most relaxing campgrounds in Washington, a great destination for a quiet day-trip or overnight adventure. Sitting on the 5.5-mile Curlew Lake, bald eagle, heron and osprey nesting areas are viewable from the park. Water and snow sports are popular activities, as well as natural history and archeological study. Curlew Lake features some of the best rainbow trout fishing in the area. A sea plane dock is located in the south campground.

The park also includes the nearby Ranald MacDonald’s Grave, the smallest interpretive state park in Washington. A 25-mile drive along the Kettle River will take visitors to the park, situated near the Canadian Border.

Want to support Washington State Parks? Get involved by joining a friends' group. For more information, visit the Friends' Group web page.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: Closed Nov. 1, reopens April 1.

Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
During camping season, campers may enter after hours but are asked to be quiet during setup.

Agency information:

Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.

Campsite Information:

The park has 57 tent spaces, 25 utility spaces, two primitive sites, one dump station, two restrooms and four showers.

The south camp area has ten camp sites with eight sites overlooking the lake. There is a no-fee mooring dock for these sites and a restroom but no showers.

The main campground has 16 tent sites overlooking the lake and 47 tent spaces total.

There are 18 full hookup sites and seven with water and power only. Maximum site length is 40 feet (limited availability). The restroom has two showers. Most hookups will take a 35-foot camping rig. Some will take trailers up to 45 feet. If hookups are full, camp in the random area and expect a one- or two-day wait until one of the hookups is available.

Campsites 2-12, 26-28, 51-53 and 73-82 can be reserved. To make a reservation, visit online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. The remaining campsites are first come, first served.

2013 camping fees:

Please note that the following general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not all fees will apply to all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).

May 15 – Sept. 15 (peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $23 non-premium site, $26 premium site
Partial-utility campsite*: $30 non-premium site, $35 premium site
Full-utility campsite*: $32 non-premium site, $37 premium site
*Please note: Camping fees during the 2013 peak season are $28 for partial-utility sites and $29 for full-utility sites at Beacon Rock, Lewis & Clark and Schafer state parks. These parks are first come, first served.

Jan. 1 – May 14 and Sept. 16 – Dec. 31 (off-peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $22 for non-premium and premium sites
Partial-utility campsite: $28 for non-premium and premium sites
Full-utility campsite: $29 for non-premium and premium sites

Maximum eight people per campsite.

Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.

Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.

More about park hours
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park from April 1 through Sept. 30; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

Park Features

The park is located along the shores of Curlew Lake, a 5.5-mile lake popular for trout, bass and tiger muskie fishing. Curlew Lake has some of the best rainbow trout fishing in the area. Active bald eagle, heron and osprey nesting areas are viewable from the park, making wildlife watching a popular park activity. Known for its exceptionally green lawns, the park offers both tent and RV accommodations. A sea plane dock is located in the south campground.

History

An area of the park was a summer camp for some of the regional Indian tribes. In one section, an indigenous pestle was found. In another section, discarded shells of freshwater clams lie close by an ancient fire ring.

Interpretive opportunities

Nearby Ranald MacDonald’s Grave State Park, the smallest interpretive state park in Washington, is managed by Curlew Lake State Park. A 25-mile drive along the Kettle River will take visitors to the park, situated near the Canadian Border.

Services/Supplies

Available in the park	Available in the area
• Pay phone	• Auto repair • Airport • Boat rental • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Groceries • Hardware • Horse rental • Hospital • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • White gas • Wood • Swimming

The Ferry County Airport (Merritt Field R49) is just east of the park. A free shuttle car to the park is available for pilots. Call the park office at (509) 775-3592 for more information.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 2 mi. Hiking Trails • 2 mi. Bike Trails	• Boating (freshwater) • 2 boat ramps (freshwater) • 80 feet of dock (freshwater) • Fishing (freshwater) • Personal Watercraft (freshwater) • Swimming (freshwater) • Water Skiing (freshwater)	• 1 Amphitheater • Bird Watching • Interpretive Activities • Wildlife Viewing
The park is a great home base for bicycle tour groups. There are many fishable lakes and streams in the area. Fishing at Curlew Lake is excellent for rainbow trout. The lake also offers fishing for large and small-mouth bass and, for the more adventurous, tiger muskies. The minimum catch size for tiger muskies is 50 inches. A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website. Rock hounds and the archaeologically curious may explore the nearby Stone Rose public dig site. A trip to Grand Forks in Canada is a nice day trip for the family.

Events

Events
Date/time	Event description	State Park
Aug. 3 - 10	Ride Around Washington: The Cascade Bicycle Club is celebrating the 15th Ride Around Washington with a return to a favorite route. The route begins near the Canadian border at Curlew Lake State Park, continues down the middle of Washington and ends at Maryhill State Park in the Columbia River Gorge. This route is a favorite because of the diverse terrain, vegetation and climate, excellent roads, and the striking beauty of the scenery. Registration and fee required for participation. The event is open to the first 250 who register. Presented by the Cascade Bicycle Club. For more information, visit https://shop.cascade.org/content/events/ride-around-washington.	Curlew Lake (509) 775-3592

Find other events at Washington State Parks

Boating Features

Watercraft launch reopens April 2.

There are two, no-fee boat ramps and 80 feet of handling dock. Curlew Lake is 5.5 miles long. There is fuel at other resorts around the lake.

A daily permit is available for watercraft launching at the park for $7. Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.

Winter Recreation

• Snow Play

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

There are ten unsheltered picnic tables in the park, available first come, first served. The swimming area has three braziers for cooking.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Bears • Chipmunks • Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Foxes • Marmots • Muskrats • Rabbits • Raccoons • Skunks • Squirrels	• Crows or Ravens • Doves or Pigeons • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Hawks • Herons • Hummingbirds • Jays • Ospreys • Swans • Turkeys • Woodpeckers	• Bass • Trout

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life	Special
Geologists indicate that this area was a large fault zone. There are many mineral mines in the area.		• Douglas Fir • Ponderosa Pine • Alder • Ash • Cherry • Maple • Oak • Poplar • Daisy • Foxglove • Lupines • Paintbrush • Rose • Berries • Eel Grass • Ferns • Moss or Lichens • Thistle	An area of the park was a summer camp for some of the regional Indian tribes. In one section, an indigenous pestle was found. In another section, discarded shells of freshwater clams lie close by an ancient fire ring.