Twin Lakes Recreation Area
RV Guide
Introduction
As part of the more than 25 square mile BLM-administered public land within the Channeled Scablands, Twin Lakes Recreation Area is a premier destination for water-based recreational activities, nature observation and study, as well as refreshing getaways. This Bureau of Land Management recreation area is about 12 miles northwest of Harrington in Washington, and can be easily accessed by vehicles and motorhomes, owing to the paved roads that lead to the area. So, on your next vacation, pack your bags and visit this park.
If you have your boat or canoe with you as you visit, rest assured you will enjoy exploring both lakes in the park. Boat launches and a small dock are provided. Angling enthusiasts catch fish species ranging from largemouth bass, rainbow trout, yellow perch, black crappie, to sunfish in the lower lake here. If your interest is wildflower viewing, you will see plenty of those to take photographs of. Wildlife enthusiasts get to see and hunt animals in the park and much more at the nearby wildlife refuges.
There are primitive campsites within this recreation area that offer camping opportunities to guests that wish to spend the night. No services are provided in the sites.
RV Rentals in Twin Lakes Recreation Area
Transportation
Driving
Twin Lakes Recreation Area lies about 12 miles northwest of Harrington, Washington. If you’re coming to this Bureau of Land Management area from Harrington, the access route to the park is along Coffeepot Road, off Washington Highway 28. Drive along the road for about 12 miles, then make a right turn on to Highland Road. Another 1.5-mile drive along Highland Road will bring you directly to the park entrance on the right. The recreation area is about two miles from the entrance.
As you drive to the park, look out for signs that indicate public land access. All the roads that lead to the recreation area from Highway 28 are paved so you should not have any challenges driving to the park. Notwithstanding, it’s still advisable to get updates on the weather and road conditions before you set out.
If you wish to rent travel and camping equipment, you’ll find rental services in Davenport and Spokane.
Parking
Several parking areas are provided so that guests that come around to the recreation area can park their vehicles and campers. Some of the parking areas are gravel and unpaved.
Public Transportation
Bus services operate to and within Harrington, but none of these provide public transportation services to Twin Lakes Recreation Area. Other forms of public transport to the park are also not available.
Campgrounds and parking in Twin Lakes Recreation Area
Campsites in Twin Lakes Recreation Area
First-come first-served
Twin Lakes Campground
As you pursue your outdoor recreational interests at this BLM recreation area, you can take advantage of the primitive campsites provided within the BLM campground here. As no services are available in the primitive campsites, you’ll have to come along with all you need if you wish to spend the night. You’ll find this campground at the south end of the Upper Twin Lake in a serene setting.
There are plenty of ways for you to stay active in the campsites, such as picnicking and sharing meals with family and friends; fishing; nature observation and photography; horseback riding; and hiking/backpacking.
The campground is open all year and accepts pets. You will be unable to make reservations for these primitive sites as they are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.
Coffeepot Lake Campground
Coffeepot Lake Campground is a free campground that sits at an elevation of about 1,830 feet on the shore of Coffeepot Lake. This campground is administered by the Bureau of Land Management and consists of six to 15 campsites that can accommodate tents and RVs. Campers of all ages are welcome.
Two parking areas are available in this BLM campground, and so are amenities such as potable water, picnic tables, restrooms, and trash cans. Adventures such as boating, canoeing, and fishing are popular among guests on the lake, while picnicking and horseback riding are commonly enjoyed too.
If you’re coming to spend the night here in your trailer or motorhome, ensure it isn’t longer than 35 feet or it won’t fit in the campsites.
Seasonal activities in Twin Lakes Recreation Area
Off-Season
Hunting
As hunting is a popular recreational pastime among vacationers, hunting enthusiasts who visit Twin Lakes Recreation Area pursue their interests outside the park areas. Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most popular places for such activities. Within the Refuge, hunting and trapping are encouraged as they don’t pose a threat to the wildlife populations there. Commonly hunted game in the Refuge are deer and pronghorn.
All who wish to hunt here are required to possess appropriate licenses and abide by regulations in force.
Fauna
Your desire to watch wildlife within their natural habitats and settings will be fulfilled while you’re enjoying your vacation at Twin Lakes Recreation Area. Nearby wildlife areas such as Swanson Lake Wildlife Area and Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge offer even more opportunities for wildlife viewing enthusiasts to have a memorable viewing experience. Best come along with your camera to keep mementoes of your sightings.
Common wildlife in this area include mule deer, pronghorn, cougar, Rocky mountain elk, and badgers.
Coffeepot Lake
Besides the fact that Coffeepot Lake is a reputable rainbow trout fishing site, the lake is also visited by fly anglers in spring and early summer for chironomid. This is not to say that only these two fish species swim within the lake’s waters, as largemouth bass, black crappie, and yellow perch are also present in the lake.
A boat launch is available to aid the lake fishing pursuits of anglers, and a campground is also provided for anglers to spend the night.
In-Season
Birding
The developed wetlands north of the Twin Lakes Recreation Area support numerous bird populations that attract guests from the region as well as overland hikers to come view and take photographs. What’s more, Swanson Lake Wildlife Area is another fantastic bird watching site, where upland game birds, songbirds, raptors, and many other birds are abundant.
Over 200 birds are found in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, including waterfowl, shorebirds, marshbirds, and songbirds.
If you’re an avid birder, you won’t run out of things to see!
Boating
As an area that’s surrounded by lakes, visitors who come to Twin Lakes Recreation Area with their boats attached to their vehicles get to explore the waters in the area. When you arrive, you can choose which of the Upper Twin Lake or Lower Twin Lake you wish to boat on. Both BLM lakes have primitive boat launches that you can use to kickstart your exploration. Additionally, the upper lake has a small dock.
Besides boating, there are opportunities for canoeing and paddling on the lakes too if you have the appropriate vessel.
Twin Lakes – Lower
The lower lake in this BLM park is well-known as a warm water fishery for large populations of fish species such as yellow perch, largemouth bass, black crappie, and pumpkinseed sunfish. As a result, anglers at the park set out to pursue their interests on this lake. The best time to fish here is in spring and early summer because weeds make accessing the lake for fishing more challenging at other times. Fishing regulations apply.
Other popular catches here are brown bullhead, rainbow trout. Two-pole fishing is allowed on the lake.
