A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service campground

East Sullivan

Forest Service campground in Colville National Forest, Pend Oreille County, Washington. 3,353 feet. 4.1 miles from Metaline Falls.

Managed by
Forest Service Colville National Forest
Elevation
3,353 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
46 38 standard non-electric, 7 walk to, 1 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
55 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

East Sullivan Campground is located at the north end of Sullivan Lake about five miles east of Metaline Falls, Washington. The campground provides a unique environment where campers can enjoy many recreational opportunities.

Recreation

The Sullivan Lake Basin provides campers with opportunities for swimming, biking, fishing, boating and hiking. Canoeing , kayaking, paddle boarding and power boating are among the water sports popular on the lake.

Campers can walk directly from their campsite to a short nature trail, as well as the Lakeshore Trail, a National Scenic Trail that runs along the eastern shore of the lake. This 4.2 mile trail offers viewpoint of the lake and is a popular day-hike for all ages. Biking along local trails and roads is also popular.

Common fish species include burbot and Kokanee salmon. Fishing in this deep mountain lake is most successful from a boat.

Facilities

Campsites do not have a view of the lake, but they are all a short walk away. Along the lake is a day-use area, walking trail, boat ramp, picnic tables and swimming area. The group campground is located near the boat ramp and can accommodate up to 40 people. A small airstrip adjacent to the campground is used by some campers who fly in with their small aircraft, or via a chartered plane.

Natural Features

Sullivan Lake covers 1291 acres and has a depth of 320 feet. Hall Mountain rises abruptly from the eastern shore of the lake to a height of over 6000 feet. The densely wooded nature of the campground provides privacy at each campsite, and plenty of shade for warm summer days. Wildlife such as elk, moose, white-tailed deer, and black bears can be spotted in the area. In the fall, the surrounding forests are ablaze with the yellow foliage of western larch and aspen.

Nearby Attractions

The trail to the top of nearby Hall Mountain offers great views of the lake basin and surrounding mountains. Wildflowers canb abundant on this popular trail. A 20 mile drive will take you to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness area, which offers excellent hikes and rugged mountain scenery.

Sullivan Lake is about four miles southeast of Metaline Falls, a quaint town with historic buildings. Crawford State Park is located on the west side of the Pend Oreille River near the U.S.- Canada border. In the summer, a park ranger conducts under-ground tours of Gardiner Cave, the main attraction at this park. Seattle City Light offers tours of their Boundary Hydroelectric Project, on the main-stem Pend Oreille River one mile from the international border.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • beachcombing
  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • kayaking
  • motor boat
  • mountain biking
  • non-motorized boating
  • paddle boating
  • paddling
  • photography
  • sailing
  • snorkeling
  • swimming site
  • water access

The land around East Sullivan

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • 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

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated August 20, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.