Steamboat Rock State Park

[Jeff in Ferndale WA]

I'm looking for place to camp in Eastern Washington for a few days in April,and make a few day rides from there
Anyone ever stayed at Steamboat Rock State Park?
Online it looks like a decent place.
I looked at the review for Sun Lakes,so that may be an option as well.

We plan to stay a few days there,then a few days with friends at an RV park in Prosser

[Papa Ritch]

Last year I camp at Sun Lake had nice camp spot & trees, but the tent can't be on the grass and I don't know why. Ritch :tent7:

[Dusty Boots]

Although I didn't stay at SBR, I rode in to check out the campground area, but didn't get past the 'booth'. You have to watch out for the killer 'speed bumps', on the way in and I heard that biting insects are pretty healthy there.
You could also look at some of the campgrounds along Lake Roosevelt Rec Area, like Spring Canyon Campground (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=47.933252,-118.939018&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=47.92405,-118.945713&sspn=0.039341,0.076132&ie=UTF8&ll=47.950616,-118.94949&spn=0.078642,0.152264&z=13) if you want/need to be close to The Grand Coulee Dam area.
Have you looked around the Lake Chelan area? There are a few State Parks and some National Forest campsites(rustic) in the area and there is good riding/weather there, as well.

Dusty

[bigTom]

Both are good, though it's been 10 years since I camped at either place.

City of Coulee City has a pretty neat park right on the lake, I used to be right there three days a week. I don't think it is too expensive, either. I don't know how it is now, but 10 years ago the Tavern in town served a serious good burger, and up the road at Heartline was even better!!

[Jeff in Ferndale WA]

I was leaning away from Sun Lakes because of the high wind warning on the web page.I know it can be pretty breezy in Eastern Washington at times,especially along the Columbia.
Steamboat Rock looks like it has lots of trees that can block the wind.

[Dusty Boots]

Here's a view from above, of Dry Falls Campground(treed area in the foreground) .....

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4465262827_2d895348d2_o.jpg

and here's a view looking up the Coulee, towards Steamboat Rock .....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2753/4465262893_ef0fba8d5c_o.jpg

and here's Steamboat Rock and as you can see, not a whole lot of trees, although there is some 'scrub' around .....

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4466039406_8a801c4fca_o.jpg

Now, ..... having a breeze is not such a bad thing in this area in the summer, as temps can top out over 110* , but it can be coolish in early - mid April, so you would want some kind of a wind break if the wind is blowing.

Here is what Lake Chelan State Park looks like, which is usually a little more protected from the wind and still on the 'Dry Side' of the Cascades ....

Up lake shot .....


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4465284421_0926266bee_o.jpg

views across the lake .....

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4466061604_8f60d40054_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4465284731_d18a050ac5_o.jpg


view along the lake shore


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4466061790_b786088ff4_o.jpg

view of the rather small tent site, but if you are trailering, their sites are nicer/larger ....


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4466061526_2331f6d125_o.jpg


You might want to check out 25 Mile Creek State Park (http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Twenty-Five%20Mile%20Creek), which is located further on up the shoreline, as it is located in a bit of a valley.

Dusty

[Timmer]

Jeff,

The campground at Ephrata (South End of Town) is pretty nice (but a bit close to civilization. We stayed there for Victoria Days for years. Another couple of my favorites are the Indian Nations in Toppenish and the KOA in Winthrop. Then there's the one at the confluence of the Snake and Palouse Rivers or Sullivan Lake or Lake Curlew. :D

[Quadzilla]

I camped out at SBR in the first part of Apr. Every night was very windy even though there were several trees between my campsite and the lake, it seems like the wind was channeled right through my location, totally missing the trees. The wind would be very welcome in the summer but not during the time I was there. Enjoyed the park even with the wind. If you camp there, make sure to hike to the top of the "rock" and don't forget a camera, you'll surely be rewarded. I hiked up 3 times and enjoyed it more each time.