Steamboat Rock State Park -Recreation Area is located twelve miles south of Grand Coulee on State Highway 155 in the northern corner of Grant County. Steamboat Rock State Park, Steamboat Rock Rest Area Boat Launch, Northrup Canyon, and Castle Rock Natural Area Preserve comprise the Steamboat Rock State Park Recreation Area. Crown Point Heritage Area and Banks Lake Agreement Area are satellites.

Acreage

3,522.8 acres with approximately 50,000 feet of freshwater shoreline.

Acquired

Steamboat Rock State Park and Steamboat Rock Rest Area were acquired from the Bureau of Reclamation in May 1953, via a fifty-year memorandum of agreement. On July 9, 1956, the area was officially designated as Steamboat Rock State Park. The park lies on a rolling peninsula which extends southwesterly, towards the north end of Steamboat Rock, into Banks Lake. The Boat Launch is 52 miles north of the main park on Highway 155.

Northrup Canyon was acquired in two parcels. The first parcel of 760.8 acres was obtained from the Bureau of Land Management in June 1976 under a twenty-five year lease. The second parcel of 1,862 acres was a donation by the Bullit Foundation in July 1976. Castle Rock Natural Area Preserve is a large flat-top butte on the north side at the mouth to Northrup Canyon. It was officially designated as a Natural Area Preserve at the December 1984 Commission meeting. The Canyon runs in a northeasterly direction across from the turnoff to Steamboat Rock Rest Area Boat Launch.

Historical Background

The predominant feature in the area is Steamboat Rock, a butte rising 800 feet above Banks Lake on the northern tip of the peninsula. This columnar basalt rock, which dominates the main park, was once an island in the ancient Columbia River bed. When the Columbia returned to its original course it left behind a massive landmark. Steamboat Rock has long been used as a natural landmark, first by nomadic Indian tribes, later by pioneers and, most recently, by military aircraft flying training missions.

The remains of a well-engineered road can still be found in Northrup Canyon. The road was constructed up the south side of the canyon in the late 1800s. Stage coach and freight wagons between Almira and Bridgeport used the road. The Canyon is rich in history and was named for one of the original homesteaders.

Facilities

A bathhouse and concession, 3 comfort stations, 2 solar vault toilets, contact station, 100 utility sites, 26 standard sites (2 are ADA), a group camp. There are 56 picnic sites, 264 parking spaces, a Big Toy play structure, swim beach, 34 miles of trails, 12 boat-access campsites,

4 boat ramps, handling docks, 6 mooring buoys, 2 fish cleaning stations. Public phones are at each camp area in the main park. 3 residences (1 in each area), a 3-bay shop, and 2 sewer lagoon systems. The park is on the campsite reservation program.

Activities

Boating, fishing, swimming, sun bathing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, sightseeing, waterskiing, scuba diving, windsurfing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, kite flying, metal detecting, and relaxing. Shotgun-only hunting is available on adjacent lands administered by Washington State Game Department and Parks, jointly.

Of Special Interest

Castle Rock Natural Area Preserve, flora and fauna on top of Steamboat Rock, eagle roosts and nesting sites, Steamboat Rock Historic Landmark, original Northrup Homestead, and the natural basalt formations and geological features of the area. Only natural forest in Grant County.