The waters of Boundary Reservoir back up behind Boundary Dam on the Pend Oreille River in the very northeast corner of Washington State. The area offers 3 water-access-only small recreation sites on BLM lands, all along the reservoir’s west bank, which provide primitive amenities. The BLM sites are Everett Slough, Ledbetter Cove, and Grandview. U.S. Forest Service lands on the other side of the reservoir offer additional primitive developed and dispersed recreation opportunities. Due to predominating dense forest and steep canyon slopes, Everett Slough is the only one of these sites that offers a hiking opportunity. There, hikers can travel through forest along the old +1-mile-long no-public-vehicle-access dirt road grade, that ends at the recreation site. Otherwise, activities at Boundary Reservoir include motorized and non-motorized boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and nature viewing. The 3 recreation sites each provide basic sanitary facilities with privacy fence. Additionally: Everett Slough has 3 primitive campsites, each with tent site, picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof storage container. Ledbetter Cove has 4 tent sites, 2 picnic tables, 2 fire rings, and 2 bear-proof containers. Grandview has 2 primitive campsites, each with tent site, picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof container.
Know Before You Go
Access is by boat only, typically via the boat launch at Seattle City Light’s Forebay Recreation Area, located at Boundary Dam.
The primary recreation season is Memorial Day through Labor Day.
No services are available. Cell phone service is not available on the reservoir.
Outside of the Primary Recreation Season, contact Boundary Dam to check on Forebay Recreation Area site conditions and/or if seasonally closed.
Boaters should be aware that water levels and flows are subject to extreme and unexpected change. Dangerous currents and rapids may exist. Be alert for debris, obstructions, or partially submerged objects.
When recreating on public lands, practice Leave-No-Trace Principles.
Point of Interest
Seattle City Light manages recreational use on BLM public lands along Boundary Reservoir, at developed sites and on dispersed lands. Seattle City Light manages this recreational use under the terms and responsibilities established in their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for Boundary Dam. Please contact Seattle City Light directly regarding public recreational use on these BLM lands, by email at [email protected] , or call Boundary Dam at 509-446-3083 (option #9).
The description, directions and fees are the Bureau of Land Management’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
US Forest Service (USFS)
National Park Service (NPS)
US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
Department Of Defense (DOD)
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Other Federal
State
Local
Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
Alaska Native Allotment
Road
Primitive Road
Road
Primitive Road
Trail
Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong
Roads open to all Vehicles, Seasonal
Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Yearlong
Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Seasonal
Special Designation, Yearlong
Special Designation, Seasonal
Trails open to all vehicles, Yearlong
Trails open to all vehicles, Seasonal
Trails open to vehicles 50" or less in width, Yearlong
Trails open to vehicles 50" or less in width, Seasonal
Trails open to motorcycles, Yearlong
Trails open to motorcycles, Seasonal
Special Designation, Seasonal
Trails Open to Wheeled Vehicles Only < 50" in Width, Yearlong
Trails Open to Wheeled Vehicles Only < 50" or Less in Width, Seasonal
Wilderness Area
Wilderness Study Area