North Gorge Campground - Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

North Gorge Campground is a small, popular campground set in a grove of pines located at the North end of Lake Roosevelt NRA near China Bend.

North Gorge Campground - Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

Lake Roosevelt is actually just a wide spot along the Columbia River, created when Grand Coulee Dam was completed in 1942.

The 130-mile-long Lake Roosevelt is the key feature of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, which Congress created in 1946.

The park was dedicated to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who authorized the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in 1934.

Water from the mighty Columbia River originates in the high Canadian Rockies from its glaciers and snowmelt, which occurs each year.

You will want to make sure you have bug spray with you while camping here. We found a lot of mosquitos during our visit.

Nearby attractions/ activities for campers at North Gorge Campground

• St. Paul's Mission and Kettle Falls Historical Center (Kettle Falls Area). There is also the Fort Colville and Hudson Bay Company Post on the Upper Columbia. Sherman Drive is a nice scenic drive.
• Evans Day Use area is located South of the campground next to Evans Campground and has a boat launch, a nice grassy play area with picnic tables, barbecue grills, a Gazebo, water access, an outdoor cold shower, potable water (in the summer), and flush toilets(in the summer) and vault toilets.
• The North Gorge Campground lies on the edge of the lake with a small boat launch and dock on the North side of the main loop.
• Auto Vue Drive-in Theater is open seasonally and is close to the Kettle Falls Area Campgrounds.
• For those in the Kettle Falls Area who enjoy wine, there is a nice organic winery across the river named China Bend Winery. You can even use your boat and stop in and pick up a nice bottle of wine to end the perfect evening at your campsite.
• For a fun, unique experience, check out the Bull Hill Guest Ranch. It is just across the river from the North Gorge Campground.
• Don't forget your binoculars and cameras, as Wildlife is abundant in the area, including Deer, Elk, Moose, Black Bears, Bobcats, Mountain Lions, Beavers, Squirrels, Marmots, Bald Eagles, and more!
• The park's main attraction is everything that is a water-based activity, like boating and fishing.
• Water sports, including canoeing/kayaking.
• Fishermen will enjoy the dozens of species of fish to fish for.
  • Common species include Rainbow Trout, White Sturgeon, Yellow Perch, Lake Whitefish, Kokanee (a non-migrating form of Sockeye Salmon), and Burbot.
  • Less common fish include Cutthroat Trout, Bass, Walleye, Sunfish, Carp, Perch, Pike, and Bullhead.

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area  Does Not Have A Entrance Fee

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days  -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.

North Gorge Campground nightly rate/Camping Fees

Individual Campsites Cost: 

Standard Camping Fee ( May 1 - September 30) - $23.00

Standard Camping Fee  (October 1 – April 30) - $11.50

Senior/Access Discount Camping Fee: 

Senior / Access Rate (May 1 - September 30) - $11.50

Senior / Access Rate (October 1 – April 30)  - $5.75

Campground Reservations

Reservations: Yes, North Gorge Campground is a Reservation-only campground. 

Are Campground Reservations Available? Yes

Phone Number?  877-444-6777

Online? Recreation.gov

How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Individual sites at this campground operate on a 6-month rolling basis.

North Gorge Campground Map

General Information about North Gorge Campground

Number of Sites:  12

Season: This campground is open seasonally. The opening date is depending on the weather.

Location in the park: the northeast edge of the park

Elevation: 1,279 ft

Accessible Sites: Campsite 1 is a designated ADA site with paved parking space and even ground. The closest pit toilet to Campsite 1 has a paved sidewalk pathway.

Campground Amenities

Potable Water? No

Bear Box in site/area? No

Flush Toilets: No, CXT/ Vault Toilets only

Laundry/Showers available: No

Is Wi-Fi available? No

Payphone: No

Is Cellular Phone Service Available? No

Is firewood available for purchase? No

Is a camp host available on-site? unknown

Amenities at each campsite:

Campfire Rings/Fire pit in the site? Yes

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

RV Camping at North Gorge Campground

RVs and trailers are allowed at North Gorge; six campsites allow for RV parking. There is no designated boat/ trailer parking. Vehicles, trailers, or RVs cannot be parked on the grass or anywhere except the designated parking spot for each site. 

Hookups: There are no electricity, water, or sewer site hookups

RV Length: RVs and trailers are allowed at North Gorge; six campsites allow for RV parking.

Maximum lengths are: site 2 – 20 feet; site 3 – 18 feet; site 5 – 26 feet; site 6 – 36 feet; site 7 – 28 feet.

Dump Station: no, Evans Campground has a seasonal Dump Station if you need one.

Generators: Generators may only be used from 6 am to 10 pm.

For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!

Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando

How to get to Campground

Take Washington State Highway 395 north of Spokane. Travel 70.3 miles to the town of Kettle Falls.

North Gorge is located off of WA-25. From Kettle Falls, drive north on US-395. Turn right onto WA-25 North. Follow WA-25 North for approximately 16.4 miles. Turn left at the North Gorge Campground sign.

The maximum number of people in a campsite: no more than ten people at each campsite

The number of cars per campsite: no more than two vehicles

Checkout time: 12 noon

Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.

Maximum Stay: Camping is limited to 14 consecutive nights per campground within a 30 day period and not more than 60 total nights per calendar year

Pets Allowed:  Yes, Pets must be leashed at all times.

Lake Roosevelt Campgrounds

Lake Roosevelt covers a large area along Lake Roosevelt and has 16 developed frontcountry campgrounds.

Below is a complete list of all campgrounds, starting from the far Northeast corner of the park and ending at the furthest-lying campground.

If one campground is full, chances are there is availability in another nearby.

There are no glamping tents, cabins, or National Park Lodges available at Lake Roosevelt National Park.

If you want hotel options, the weather turns bad, or you keep running into sold-out campgrounds, here is a list of hotels in the main areas of Lake Roosevelt NRA.

Kettle Falls Hotels - Click here for options in Kettle Falls and the surrounding area.

Colville Hotels - Click here for hotels and vacation rentals in Colville.

Davenport Hotels - Click here to find hotels and vacation rentals near Davenport.

North - Kettle Falls Area Campgrounds

Snag Cove Campground - Snag Cove is a small 9-site campground on the Northwest side of the park North of Kettle Falls, WA.

Kettle River Campground - The Kettle River Campground is a shady 13-site campground on the banks of the Kettle River. It is also on the Northwest side of the park north of Kettle Falls, WA.

Kamloops Island Campground - Kamloops Island Campground is a small and shady 17-site campground North of Kettle Falls, WA.

Haag Cove Campground - Haag Cove is a quiet 18-campsite campground on Lake Roosevelt's West side, past Colville and Kettle Falls, WA.

North Gorge Campground - North Gorge Campground is a small 12-site campground that is very popular. It is on the Northeast edge of the park and mostly built for tent camping.

Evans Campground - Evans Campground is a busy summer campground with 43 campsites located on the West end of Lake Roosevelt, north of Kettle Falls, WA.

Marcus Island Campground- Marcus Island Campground is located North of Kettle Falls, WA. on the park's west side.

Kettle Falls Campground - Kettle Falls Campground is a Year-Round 74 site campground just South of Kettle Falls, WA. on Hwy 25.

Cloverleaf Campground - Cloverleaf Campground is a small 7-site campground that is open from May 1 through September 30. The campground is approximately 34 miles from the Fort Spokane Visitor Center, heading North towards Kettle Falls, WA.

Gifford Campground - Gifford Campground is a 42-site campground with most sites having views of Lake Roosevelt. The campground is approximately 33 miles from the Fort Spokane Visitor Center, heading North towards Kettle Falls, WA.

Hunters Campground - Hunters Campground is a 37-site campground 21 miles north of the Fort Spokane Visitor Center.

Central - Fort Spokane Area Campgrounds

Fort Spokane Campground - Fort Spokane Campground has 67 sites with a visitor center, boat launch, and day-use area within walking distance.

Porcupine Bay Campground - Porcupine Bay Campground is a small 20-site campground tucked up against the wall of a coulee with beautiful views of the lake. Campground near the Fort Spokane Area heading back towards Davenport, WA.

Hawk Creek Campground - Hawk Creek Campground is a small, unique, 20-site campground. What makes this campground unique is that instead of being on Lake Roosevelt, it is tucked back from the lake on Hawk Creek and, for a surprise, is a small waterfall.

West - Grand Coulee Dam Area Campgrounds

Spring Canyon Campground—On the west end of the park near Grand Coulee, Washington, Spring Canyon has 68 campsites and sweeping views of Lake Roosevelt.

Jones Bay Campground - Jones Bay Campground is a small rustic 9-site campground on the west side of the park. The campground is mostly boat-in; however, you can drive there, but it may be difficult to find.

Additional National Park sites near Lake Roosevelt NRA

North Cascades National Park - Your complete guide to exploring North Cascades National Park

Mount Rainier National Park - Your complete guide to exploring Mount Raniner National Park

Olympic National Park - Your complete guide to exploring Olympic National Park

Glacier National Park - Your complete Guide to exploring Glacier National Park

Whitman Mission NHS—The Oregon Trail brought with it an influx of missionaries, disease, and more. The change brought on a single violent act that changed the fate of many nations.

Manhattan Project NHP - Discover the project that forever changed the world as it brought in the nuclear age and the world's first atomic bombs.

Ice Age Floods National Geological Trail - Learn about the great floods from the last Ice Age that forever shaped this region

Check out all of the National Parks in Washington, along with neighboring Oregon National Parks and Idaho National Parks.