Camper submitted image from Cooks Lake - 1

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Roads

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Animals

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Water

Dispersed Camping

Cooks Lake

3 Reviews

About

USDA Forest Service

Cooks LakeCooks Lake is a small 11 acre lake which lies northeast of Usk, WA. It offers rainbow trout fishing opportunities. During dry summer months the lake level can significantly recede. There is easy access for launching a small boat. Several dispersed campsites and a concrete vault toilet are located at the southeast end of the lake.

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Location

Cooks Lake is located in Washington

Directions

From Newport, WA : Follow US-2 E for 0.5 miles. Turn left onto Le Clerc Rd continue for 2.7 miles. Trun right onto Bead Lake Rd continue for 7 miles. Trun left to stay on Bead Lake Rd continue for 2 miles. Turn right to stay on Bead lake Rd continue for 1.7 miles. Continue onto NF-5015 for 1.6 miles. Turn left into Cooks Lake. Google map directions from Newport, WA From Usk, WA : Head northeast on 5th St toward Front Ave for 0.3 miles. Continue onto Kings Lake Rd for 1.5 miles. Take a slight left to stay on Kings Lake Rd for 0.8 miles Turn right onto Best Chance Rd for 2.2 miles. Take slight left to stay on Best Chance Rd for 2.9 miles. Continue onto NF-5015 for 3.4 miles. Take sharp right destination will be approximately 0.3 miles on the right. Google map directions from Newport, WA

Coordinates

48.34333701 N
117.17259636 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Reservable
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

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Nate

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 22, 2021

Beware of mud!

Neat little spot that worked good for a last minute place to camp. Was headed from Montana and got up there right at dark. Decided to drive down to the water (that was hardly there) and found myself barely on the edge of lake bottom mud. Didn't get out till the next morning, it was a great time.

Month of VisitNovember

(4) View All

Jennifer R.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 28, 2021

Great quiet place

Cute little dispersed campground approx 6 sites. At least 2 of them are good for me trailer although I wouldn't try if you're not experienced with towing. The road to get there was approx six miles of gravel winding single lane road. But so worth the drive for the beautiful shaded sites and the open Lakeview sites. Not alot of traffic comes through during the week. Has one vault toilet that was pretty clean but bring your own tp. Also it is bear county so be sure to bring bear proof containers although it was so hot when we went that the wildlife was hiding out...lol

Sitefirst site on the right

Month of VisitAugust

(12) View All

Allyson A.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 29, 2020

Primitive & secluded

We camped at Cooks Lake for two nights, this past Friday and Saturday. There were 4-5 camp sites at the main campground, well-separated and each with a fire pit. There is a vault toilet that was disgusting, beware. Swimming/small boat access is through the main campground.

Hop out onto the road and keep heading the same direction and you'll come to a couple of other little pods of sites, most had fire pits, and they were fairly level and well-separated as well.

We turned around and went back and past the main campground, and took the next downhill driveway toward the lake. The driveway ends at a decent raised fire pit with a ledge for a pan or pot. There is a small level area there for chairs. Past the fire pit, it slopes down to the lake. The beach is dirt and sharp rock, and mostly sloped, probably 150 feet long? and narrow. There is another steep entrance to this beach at the other end, from a pullout on the road above. We decided to stay there because it felt pretty secluded, and there was one spot that was level enough for a tent…there was 12" of beach between the tent and the water!

We were 'invaded' by groups of fishermen/women/families both mornings pretty early, one was rude, one was quiet. But, the early mornings on the lake were worth it. The mist rising and the vast, green mountains, right in front of you! Birds everywhere, woodpeckers in the birch trees and killdeer darting down to the water. Chipmunks and rabbits. Tadpoles and turtles and little water snakes. The water was warm and we swam all day. Bats at night, and the stars!!

Excellent camping experience.

SiteGravel beach

Month of VisitAugust

(5) View All