Roundtrip Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

Our Stay in Rice, WA

Taking a drive at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

Sometimes, you have to drive to experience the grandeur and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. It’s quite a unique experience winding (what seems) endlessly through dense forests and getting spectacular views after each corner.

The Scenic Sherman Pass Scenic Byway

That fantastic feeling started immediately in Kettle Falls, where we began with the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway, a 40-mile highway crossing the Kettle River Range. We stopped at The Sherman Overlook for a short break and walked to see the Colville National Forest mountains and forests.
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The Byway ended in Republic, WA, a historic town in Washington. The city was founded in 1888 and became a major center for gold mining in the early 1900s. Today, Republic’s downtown is charming, with shops, restaurants, and historical buildings.

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After our lunch break in Republic, we continued our drive through the forests where Bigfoot (or Sasquatch) has been spotted in the past. And although we didn’t see this magical creature, we saw some beautiful shy, wild horses. The group allowed me to take a picture before they ran off. 

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The Coulee Dam and The Columbia River

The landscape changed from shaded forests to barren deserts. Near the Columbia River, we saw in the distance the immense manmade Coulee Dam, one of the largest concrete structures in the world. The dam was built in the 1930s as part of the New Deal to provide hydroelectric power, provide irrigation water. and prevent massive flooding.

Date

Friday, July 14, 2023

Distances

Three Short Walks
2.73 miles

Moving Time

about 1 hour
in total

WEATHER

77-95 °F
sunny