Featured/ Fishing/ Lakes & Rivers

Curlew Lake

Curlew Lake's railroad trestle. Part of Washington State's rails to trails.
Curlew Lake’s railroad trestle. Part of Washington State’s rails to trails.
Map of Curlew Lake Lodging
Resorts and campgrounds at Curlew Lake, Washington. Map is illustration and is not to scale.

Swimming, boating, fishing, skiing…Curlew Lake has it all.
Curlew Lake, nestled in the glacier-carved hills north of Republic, Washington, is a spring- and stream-fed lake named for the birds that once frequented the area.

The serene, seven-mile-long lake provides visitors with wonderful opportunities for kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, canoeing, and sailing.

With 870 acres, the lake is home to an abundance of native trout and wide-mouthed bass, and is stocked yearly with legal-sized rainbow trout. A public boat ramp is available at Curlew Lake State Park. Lake resorts also provide their guests with boat rentals and ramps. Fishing permits and gear can be purchased at lake resorts or in the nearby town of Republic, WA. Night fishing is also permitted on the lake.

Spring through fall, the lake’s small islands play host to nesting Great Blue Herons and Osprey.

A ten minute drive to the south is the charming town of Republic, Washington, where you can find a good latte, groceries, restaurants; and fishing, hunting, and camping gear. Fossil hunters can spend a fascinating morning in search of fossils at the Boot Hill Fossil site (you’ll need to check in at the Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site, before you begin). Shoppers can still find reasonably-priced arts and crafts, as well as antiques and collectibles at the local shops.

Ten minutes to the north on Hwy. 21 is the tiny ghost town of Curlew, Washington, where you can visit the Ansorge Hotel Museum. Halfway along the way, be sure to visit the remarkable Malo Trading Post and the Car and Truck Museum.

Lake Resorts and State Park

Dotted along its shoreline are a handful of lake resorts, most with cabins over looking the lake. All have camping and RV facilities. Most welcome pets. On its eastern shore rests beautiful, with its public boat ramp, swimming and fishing areas, public restrooms, picnic sites, and fire pits

More Information

Visit the Curlew Lake Web site.

Read WashingtonLakes.com’s article about Curlew Lake.

Visit Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife page on Curlew Lake, WA for lake restrictions and conditions.

For a complete list of Colville National Forest hiking, biking, and riding trails contact:

Republic Ranger District
650 E Delaware
Republic WA 99166
(509) 775-7400

– or –

Colville Forest Information
755 South Main Street
755 South Main Street
Colville, WA 99114
509-684-7000

Happy fisherman displaying large trout, caught at Curlew Lake, WA.
Happy fisherman displaying large trout, caught at Curlew Lake, WA.
Sailboat glides across the calm afternoon waters of Curlew Lake, WA
Sailboat glides across the calm afternoon waters of Curlew Lake, WA
Still spring morning at Curlew Lake, WA.
Still spring morning at Curlew Lake, WA.
Bass boat zipping past Curlew Lake State Park, Washington.
Bass boat zipping past Curlew Lake State Park, Washington.
Beautiful sunny view of Curlew Lake, WA, and the old railroad trestle (which has been converted to a rails-to-trails). Located in Eastern Washington State, the lake is typically frozen over by the end of December, and will likely remain so through the end of March.
Beautiful sunny view of Curlew Lake, WA, and the old railroad trestle (which has been converted to a rails-to-trails). Located in Eastern Washington State, the lake is typically frozen over by the end of December, and will likely remain so through the end of March.

Fishing Map of Curlew Lake

View our Curlew Lake guide to better fishing: all the places to drop a hook or troll.