Pearrygin Lake State Park is a beautiful spot with 11,000 feet of shoreline, a plethora of watersports, superb hiking, and 163 campsites including 77 campsites for RVs with full hookups or partial hookups. Located two miles from Winthrop, Washington, Pearrygin Lake State Park is situated within the serene Methow Valley along the shoreline of Pearrygin Lake. Originally founded in 1959 by the purchase of an orchard, the 1,200-acre state park was last expanded in 2011 with the addition of the historic Old Graves Homestead.
The Methow Valley was the ancestral homeland of the Methow Indian Tribe. The small tribe of 800 people flourished in the 18th century, but by 1870 there were only 300 members of the tribe still alive. Now, the tribe is part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and their endangered Colville-Okanagan language is spoken only by elders of the tribe. The first European settlers to Methow Valley were fur trappers until 1883 when three men settled while searching for gold. The lake is named after Ben Pearrygin who was one of the first to search for gold near the Chewuch and Methow Rivers.
Today, you can enjoy a splendid time next to the lake in your RV or motorhome in a shaded campground that boasts plenty of activities in the area. Fun things to do in the state park include boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, and kayaking. Other options for recreation are hiking and biking. The fun continues in the winter months when fat tire biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing reign along groomed trails.
Pearrygin Lake State Park provides gorgeous weather in the summer months from May to September with temperatures in the 70s and mid-80s with little rain. The winter months bring a winter wonderland along with temperatures in the 10s and up to 15 inches of snow per month from December through February.
RVers can access Pearrygin Lake State Park off of Bear Creek Road. Reaching Bear Creek road is a driving adventure for motorhomes, trailers, and other large vehicles. From Winthrop you need to drive north on Bluff Street until you reach East Chewuch Road. The driving will be challenging with many curves and steep inclines as you travel through the Cascade Mountain Range. You will head east on Bear Creek Road where you will encounter several curves. Larger vehicles are encouraged to use the turnouts to keep traffic flowing.
There are two access points for the campgrounds at the park off of Bear Creek Road. Once inside the campground driving may be difficult. Roads are narrow and curvy with several day use areas that will be congested. Watch for boat trailers, larger motorhomes, and trailers. The roads that connect the campground, day use areas, boat dock and boat launches are also narrow and tight to navigate.
The best way to travel within the park is by a second smaller car or by bicycle. When inside the park please adhere to all posted speed limits. Be cautious of pedestrians, bicyclists, and children whom you will share the roads with when you are driving.
The Pearrygin Lake State Park East Campground is situated along two separate loops connected by one road and contains 83 campsites. The campground offers privacy and shade provided by numerous trees like ash, maple, and Douglas fir. There are 30 campsites for RVs and trailers with either partial or full hookups. Motorhomes and trailers are restricted to 60 feet in length and not all sites can accommodate larger rigs. There are pull-through as well as back-in campsites available.
Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and a gravel parking pad which may require some type of leveling device. There is a dump station located near the entrance of the East Campground. Please do not dump full holding tanks at your campsite. Other amenities within the campground include a general store, horseshoe pit, fresh water drinking stations, flush toilets, and showers. There is a bathhouse at the east swimming beach. Generators are allowed from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Pets must be restrained by a six-foot leash at all times.
The Pearrygin Lake State Park West Campground is situated along one loop and contains 80 campsites including 47 campsites for RVS and trailers with either partial or full hookups. The campground offers privacy and shade provided by numerous trees like ash, maple and Douglas fir. RVs and trailers are restricted to 60 feet in length and not all sites can accommodate larger rigs. There are pull-through as well as back-in campsites available.
Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and a gravel parking pad which may require some type of leveling device. There is a dump station located near the entrance of the West Campground. Please do not dump full holding tanks at your campsite. Other amenities within the campground include a general store, horseshoe pit, fresh water drinking stations, flush toilets, and showers. There is a bathhouse at the swimming beach which is connected by a foot trail. Generators are allowed from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Pets must be restrained by a six-foot leash at all times.
During the summer months, this state park is a bastion for watersport enthusiasts. There are multiple options for water fun with activities like kayaking and canoeing which you can launch from the 11,000 feet of shoreline of Pearrygin Lake. There are two swimming areas that are marked but there are no lifeguards on duty. Boating is popular with two boat launches available for watercraft.
Hiking is an excellent thing to do in Pearrygin Lake State Park for everyone including families. You will find six miles of trail within the park for your hiking pleasure. The three-mile Rex Derr Trail is the most popular where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the lake, the surrounding Cascade Mountain Range and the historic Old Graves Homestead. There are also plenty of marked trails that lead around the lake for a relaxing hike families can enjoy.
Mountain biking within the state park is perfect for single track riders. The terrain along the seven-mile Pearrygin Lake Loop Trail is ideal for intermediate single track riders looking for adventure. Along the trail single track riders can relish the wild flowers, wildlife, and scenic views of the lake. Other biking opportunities are along the park roads which offer perfect conditions for all types of riders looking to enjoy a nice summer day with a swim in the lake after you finish riding.
Take a second fishing rod because the fishing is superb at Pearrygin Lake State Park. You can decide if you want to try your luck around the 11,000 feet of shoreline or you can take your boat out on the lake for fishing fun. The best time of year is early spring and late summer. You can expect to catch a plethora of trout species like rainbow, brown, and cutthroat. Before you dip your line, check with state regulations for bag and size limits as well as licensing requirements.
Springtime is perfect for wildlife and wild flowers. You can expect to see bird species like red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, grouse, herons and several species of hawks. Other interesting birds you see are bald eagles, owls, ospreys, and swans. Wildlife includes coyotes, bobcats, otters, rabbits, and squirrels. There will be plenty of opportunities to take photographs of deer and elk too. Wildflowers are plentiful too with wild lupines, Indian paintbrush, yarrow, lady slippers, and avalanche lilies.
Winter time at Pearrygin Lake State Park is fabulous for snow enthusiasts. There are plenty of opportunities to snowshoe on the open terrain surrounding the lake and the Rex Derr Trail. Cross-country skiing is superb with groomed trails along the campground and park roads. Fat tire biking is also popular with a portion of one of the campgrounds turned into a race track for fat tire biking. Bring some hot chocolate and anything else you might need to stay warm because there are no services in the park after November 1st.
