Category Archives: Day Trips

Side Trips to interesting places you can visit for a day

Boating, swimming and fishing, Day Trips

Popular fishing spot at base of dam reopens

You can now fish along the east side of the Columbia River near the Third Powerhouse of Grand Coulee Dam from sunrise until sunset.

Closed after the September 11 terrorist attack in 2001, the spot is being reopened nearly 17 years later and will be patrolled by Colville Tribal Enforcement, a Colville Confederated Tribes Fish & Wildlife press release stated Friday.

Boats are not allowed past the SR-155 bridge in Coulee Dam, but anglers on foot can walk on a trail above the riprap rocks all the way to a popular rock formation right near the Third Powerhouse.

“Fishermen must take the Lone Pine exit from Highway 155 to the Down River Trail Road and park in the designated parking area,” the tribal press release stated. “Non-tribal members must have a tribal fishing permit in order to fish in this location. Colville tribal members must possess a Colville tribal identification card, which is a legal permit to fish. If safety issues are observed, security will re-evaluate the boundaries for access. For safety reasons, we would like the public to be aware that water flows will pick up during the spring run-off season, so please be careful.”

For regulations and permits, interested persons should visit https://www.cct-fnw.com/regulations-permits.

For more information, contact the Resident Fisheries Manager, Bret Nine, at 509-209-2419 or the Fish and Wildlife office at 509-634-2110.

A map showing the fishing spot and how to access it
Day Trips, Hikes, Places to See, To Dos

Volunteers restore rock work along Candy Point Trail

A solid piece of local history got cleaned up and clarified last weekend so people can enjoy and use it more in the present as volunteers from across the state continued work on the Candy Point Trail in Coulee Dam.

The trail has historical significance, having been built by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in 1937.

Contacted by Coulee Dam’s Parks and Natural Resources Board, last year the Washington Trails Association cleared brush along the 2.25-mile trail. It extends from behind Coulee Dam City Hall up to Candy Point, a hilltop with a great view of the Grand Coulee Dam and more, passes near Crown Point Vista, with the option to cut over to it, then down to a residential yard on Columbia Avenue through which public access is granted.

This year, with an OK from the Bureau of Reclamationafter it conducted an archaeological survey, around 20 volunteers for the WTA did “tread work” on the trail, helping steady and repair the many stone steps that span lengths of the trail, as well as widening and defining it, clearing rocks, and more.

“It’s one of the best trails I’ve ever seen,” said Alan Carter Mortimer, the WTA crew leader on the project. “I’ve been doing this for 21 years, and … I was just amazed! It blew me away.”

Read the full article here.

Day Trips, Events, Hikes, Soon, To Dos, Uncategorized

Guided hikes in the upper Grand Coulee this weekend

The Ice Age Floods Institute is offering guided hikes in the Upper Grand Coulee area this weekend to the Castle Lake Basin and the Giant Cave Arch in the Barker Canyon area. The hikes are led by geologist Gene Kiver and Bruce Bjornstad. Hikers aged 12 and up must register and pay a fee to participate. Visit the IAFI website by clicking here to read more about it or to register.

Day Trips, Entertainment, Events, Soon, To Dos, Uncategorized

“Run the Dam” during Harvest Festival

As fall approaches, minds turn to “back to school” time and the area’s big Harvest Festival, Sept. 15-17.

One of the more popular features of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce’s Harvest Festival may be the “Run the Dam” event, which will take place during the fall festival for the second time this year, Saturday, Sept. 16.

Read the full article here.

Day Trips, Entertainment, Events, Soon, To Dos, Uncategorized

Beer & football at Harvest Fest

Want a place to have a refreshment and possibly watch a little football during the upcoming Harvest Festival, Sept. 15-17?

The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce is providing such a place in its “Beer Garden” at North Dam Park.

The tent will be open Friday, Sept. 15, from 6 to 10 p.m .; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m .; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Spend $5 on a possibly winning ticket and you could even win the raffle for the 55-inch TV you are watching. The TV was purchased at cost by the chamber from Loepp Furniture.

Read more about it here.