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 Washington State public lands parking permit. Starts July 1, 2011. Supports our parks. |
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Contents Descriptions Drum roll please. Welcome to another great part of Paddle Heaven. If you have not paddled a canoe or kayak at Steamboat Rock State Park area, then you are in for a very pleasant surprise. Location Steamboat Rock State Park is located on Banks Lake a reservoir which is part of the Columbia Basin Reclamation Project started back in the 1930s. After the creation of Grand Coulee Dam just up the road a couple or so miles from the lake, and the filling of Lake Roosevelt behind the dam, Banks Lake was created. This lake is a recreation paradise for fishing, boating, kayaking and canoeing, hiking, camping, exploring and tons of wildlife. Conditions Hot and sunny in the peak season. Wind also happens. Can be quiet to noisier during the peak party season. Warnings Power boats. Speed boats roar and race up and down the lake. Odd thing is the sound is loud but they come and go so fast unlike some of the slower junk on waters in western Washington, the boats don't see that intrusive. The fumes from these boats is not as smelly as most other watercraft in other paddling locations. The boats race on top of the water and the wakes are not that big of a deal. The roar of an approaching boat can be heard and they come and then they go away unlike lingering roaring in the San Juan Islands or other paddling spots. There are rattlesnakes on land and they can swim. There are ticks on the shrubs. The shoreline can have poison ivy. In the fall when there are fewer crowds the poison ivy glows a bright beautiful red so it is easy to spot. Some of the paddling is in locations with shear rock cliff walls that make taking out impossible. Paddle route There are many places to put-in and then paddle. Devil Punch Bowl in the main camping area is a good choice for more protected easy going starter paddling. On the recent October 2010 the fall color of the golden trees and the bird sounds on the waters of this area were a knock out with the basalt cliffs of the Grand Coulee in the background. Outside of the punchbowl mouth at the north are rock type gardens awaiting the paddler into exploring. Rock outcroppings and small islands on the eastern shore are alive with flora and fauna from crickets singing and geese and other birds calling out. Heading north from Devils Punch Bowl towards Eagle Rock, Castle Rock and on towards Northrup boat launch, Jones Bay, Osborne Bay is rewarding to say the least. Or going across the lake to the larger islands and through what is called Lover's Lane is all awesome and can be great food for the MBS, Mind, Body and Spirit. Nature Banks Lake is a birders paradise. In the spring and fall there are tons of birds that come and go. There is a large number of different types of waterfowl and other birds. There are birds in the water, air and land. The show on and off the water is like a living IMAX presentation. Deer are abundant in the park and even in the sage brush country. Drivers unaware of the deer population can be taken by surprise when racing down the many straight stretches of highway to and from the park. The four legged creatures can hop out on the highway especially in early morning hours and later in the evening. Hoofs can be heard in the state park on the road and the herds can be seen munching on the lawns. When riding a bicycle around at dawn or dusk watch out and listen for the hoofs on the roads. Conclusion? There is no conclusion here. Like most spots where paddlers can put-in and escape into the MBS, Mind Body and Soul with nature filling every pore and electron, there is no end. Each paddle here and elsewhere is always different. No two paddle adventures are ever the same. Come and check this place out for yourself. There is a guarantee if a paddler is disappointed all your misery from the hectic insanity out here will be gladly returned. Come and feast on what paddling the Grand Coulee in Grant County Washington State can offer those who seek the natural high here.
Contents Provisions During the peak summer season the park has a small store in the north end boat ramp area. Otherwise you need to bring what you need. Coulee City on the south end of Banks Lake or on the north end in Electric City or Grand Coulee about 12 miles has food and fuel. There are no kayak or canoe services in the area that Paddle Heaven has any knowledge about.
Contents Accommodations Steamboat Rock State Parkis a primary location for camping on the north end of Banks Lake. If camping here in the peak season of summer get reservations in advance for the main grass covered lawn RV and tent camping areas. There are many sites that are not reserved. They are all numbered in the 300's. These sites do not have water or electric but are nice with lawn and picnic tables and fire rings. Steamboat has at least two other spots to car camp or boat in camp up highway 155 on the way to Grand Coulee Dam area. The two primitive locations are called Jones Bay and Osborne Bay. Both have the potential to camp and paddle. The cost at these two campgrounds is a lot less then the fancier main park camping, $12.00 in October 2010. If Steamboat is full the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area offers camping at Spring Canyon 3 miles north east of Grand Coulee Dam. Peak season camping in this nice NPS campground is $10 and $5 in October and winter months. Plus if you have the right pass the night costs only $2.50. What deal. There is water, toilets, boat ramp and kayaking or canoeing put-ins on the lake in sandy locations in the picnic area. Very nice place on a slope with views of dam and up lake. For glamor camping check out Sunbanks Resort just north of the state park. There is tent and RV camping, cabins, cottages and villas. Off season cabin rentals are more or less dirt cheap according to the website at as low as $39.00. Further up the road in from Steamboat in Electric City is Coulee Playground Resort which has some cabins, yurts, RV and tent camping between the highway and the shoreline of Banks Lake. For some budget camping, cabins, yurts, RV and hostels, check out Paddle Heaven's Coulee Corridor map and Coulee Corridor page of links as well as Paddle Heaven's Camping cabins and more.
Contents Additional Information  Deliverance rating. The State Park especially off season is reasonably safe in and out of the water. The banjo does not play very loud here. This is not on the loony circuit like some isolated put-ins.Tranquility Ranking One way to up the tranquility rank besides taking Valium, until a National Day of Silence, no fossil fuel noise, try hearing protection. Steamboat Rock has it's moments of tranquility. But there is noise from the highway and from speed boats and jet skis on the lake. Fishing Reports, Stocking Reports & Fish Counts from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Things your need to know. Read Me disclaimer, warnings, paddle at your own risk.
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See some of the weather conditions in Washington State by viewing Web Cams in diffefrent locaitons before you head out paddling.
Approximate distance from:
Topographic Map view from MyTopo. Instructions on how to open and use the .zip files.
Download free USGS store nmap locator public domain .zip Topographic files:
GPS: 47.854482,-119.126736
Region: Coulee Corridor
Overall rating:
5 paddles.
Launch rating:
5 paddles.
Parking: Free day parking. Washington State public lands parking permit
Osborn Bay kayaking and paddling boat launch put-in and car or boat in camping area.
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Last Update: 06.25.11 9:23am