Things to do:

Wildlife Viewing

Okanogan Country is a wildlife-watcher's paradise! We are home to Washington's largest mule deer population along with a mind boggling variety of critters from butterflies to bears.

 

Methow Region

You can get up-close and personal with some of the wildlife. Mule deer abound in the Methow Valley – in fact some residents consider them a pest! They can be found walking right through town, especially in the winter. You may see a bear ambling through the trees in late summer berry season, or catch a glimpse of the wild turkeys, whistling marmots, bobcats, squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons that inhabit the area. There is a healthy cougar population, but these shy, elusive cats are rarely seen.

 

Heart of the Okanogan

Deer, quail, water fowl, coyotes, snakes, osprey, turkey buzzards, wild turkey, bear, and bald eagles in winter can all be found in the Heart of the Okanogan. You may get lucky and see the occasional moose or elk in higher elevations. Rattlesnakes do live here, but they are not a problem if you watch where you step while hiking.

 

Many Lakes Region

Many Lakes abounds with deer, coyotes, yellowbellied and whistling marmots, wild turkey and quail . Elk can be found along the Sinlahekin and the occasional moose in the Palmer Lake and Conconully areas. The Loomis Natural Resources Conservation Area has over 24,000 acres of protected wildlife habitat. There are rare sightings of bear, cougar, and bobcat and if you’re truly lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a lynx. The Scotch Creek and Sinlahekin Wildlife Refuges offer bountiful wildlife.

 

• Scotch Creek Wildlife Area – 10 miles northeast of Omak

and Okanogan on Conconully Highway, 9,067 acres. Sharptailed

grouse, mule and white-tailed deer, ruffed and blue

grouse, pheasants, quail, chukar, and Hungarian partridge,

along with a full complement of non-game species.

 

• Sinlahekin Wildlife Area – 5 miles S of Loomis or 4.5 miles

NE of Conconully, 14,000 acres l wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_

areas/sinlahekin

 

• Tunk Creek Wildlife Area – 12 NE of Omak. This 1,080

acre area with sharp-tailed grouse, mule deer, ruffed grouse,

quail, and gray partridge as well as many non-game species.

Deer hunting is very popular in the area, and wildlife viewing

opportunities also exist.

 

Other Attractions:

 

• Curlew Lake State Park - Osprey nests & wildlife

 

• Driscoll Island Bird sanctuary

Beaver, muskrats, near Oroville.

 

• Sidley Lake near Molson. Large public access.

 

Columbia River Region

Elk, deer, bear, moose, badgers and whistling marmots can all

be found in the Columbia River Region. You can watch beaver

swim in the river at Pateros as well as see many eagles fishing

along the Methow and Columbia Waterways.

 

• Alta Lake State Park - From Hwy 153 at milepost 1.5, turn

west onto Alta Lake Rd; drive 2.2 miles to parking.

 

• Columbia River Fish Farm Nespelem l 634-4228

 

• Grand Coulee Bald eagle viewing & festivals

 

• Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

Bald eagle, bear, elk, bobcat, raptors, waterfowl.

 

• Rufus Woods Lake 51 miles long above Chief Joseph Dam;

wildlife viewing and birdwatching.

		Alta Lake State Park Alta Lake Rd Pateros, Wa - 98846 509 923-2473 :: Show on Map :: An 181 acre camping park where the mountainous pine forests meet the desert. Alta Lake is about 2 miles long and offers good trout fishing during summer months.
		Bridgeport State Park Bridgeport Bridgeport, Wa - 98813 http://www.parks.wa.gov :: Show on Map :: A 748 acre camping park with 7,500 ft of freshwater shoreline on Rufus Woods Lake. Set directly behind Chief Joseph Dam, this lake is actually a segment of the Columbia River. The park provides 18 acres of lawn and some shade in the midst of a desert terrain. "Haystacks", unusual volcanic formations resembling their name, are the park's most striking feature.
		Canaan Guest Ranch 474 Cape LaBelle Road Tonasket, Wa - 98855 509-486-1191 866-295-4217 http://www.canaanguestranch.com :: Show on Map ::
		Chief Joseph Dam P.O. Box 1120 Bridgeport, Wa - 98813 509-686-5501, x.665 :: Show on Map ::
		K Diamond K Guest Ranch 15661 Hwy. 21 South Republic, Wa - 99166 509-775-3511 888-345-5355 http://www.kdiamondk.com :: Show on Map :: Experience the life of a cowboy riding scenic trails, panning for gold, relaxing at a campfire. Lodge accommodations, family meals, open year round for guests, seasonal activities. Singles, couples, family vacations. Barbecues, campfires, hayrides - for class reunions, family get togethers, tour buses. Hwy 21 - 4 miles south of Republic between mileposts 156 & 157. Family owned and operated since 1961.
		Lake Roosevelt Nat'l. Recreation Area 1008 Crest Drive Coulee Dam, Wa - 99116 509-633-9441 x.130 http://www.nps.gov/laro/index.htm :: Show on Map :: 27 public campgrounds and boat-in-only campgrounds. Facilities vary in each. Some campgrounds have individual sites, as well as large groupsites that can be reserved. Individual sites have a fire ring, picnic table and paved parking pads that are either pull-through or back-in pads. Campgrounds have sites that will fit most large RVs. There are no hook-ups in any of the campgrounds
		Okanogan National Forests 1 W Winesap Tonasket, Wa - 98855 509-486-2186 http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/okanogan :: Show on Map :: The Okanogan National Forest offers a variety of recreational opportunities for the adventurer. With over 800 miles of wilderness trails to explore by foot or horse you could spend weeks just enjoying the back country. There are also barrier free trails for individuals with disabilites. Motorbike, mt. bike, snowmobile, and other recreational vehicles also have opportunities tojoin the fun.
		Sonora Point Resort 761 Loomis Oroville Highway Tonasket, Wa - 98855 (509) 223-3700 http://www.sonorapointresort.com :: Show on Map :: Sonora Point Resort is a waterfront RV campground situated on beautiful Spectacle Lake located near Tonasket. The lake is excellent for both fishing and watersports and we have 33 full service RV sites and 16 power & water only sites. There are washrooms with showers, an office and store, docks and we offer free Wi-Fi. Come see us at Sonora Point Resort.