Sullivan Lake

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Sullivan Lake Ranger District

Sullivan Lake Ranger District is located south-east of Metaline Falls on road 9345. We're in the extreme northeast corner of Washington State. It is bordered to the north by British Columbia, Canada, to the east by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, and the the south and west by the Newport and Colville Ranger Districts, respectively, of the Colville National Forest. The Sullivan Lake District office is located on the north shore of Sullivan Lake. The majority of the District lies within Pend Oreille (pronounced Ponderay) County with the remainder within Steven's County. The nearest communities are: Metaline Falls (pop. 260), nine miles from the Ranger Station; Metaline (Pop. 170), ten miles from the Ranger Station; and Ione (Pop. 500), 15 miles from the Ranger Station.

Sullivan Lake Ranger district covers a total of 271,959 acres, within the proclaimed Colville National Forest boundary, and of this 238,142 acres are under Forest Service administration.

The elevation of the district ranges from 1,725 feet where the Pend Oreille River enters Canada, to 7,318 feet at Gypsy Peak (the highest in eastern Washington). Topography ranges from moderate to precipitous with characteristically narrow valleys rising to steep, high ridges.

Sullivan Lake Ranger Station is located on the north end of Sullivan Lake. Sullivan Lake is a natural lake that was enlarged by a dam built across Outlet Creek in 1931. The lake is 3.6 miles long and averages 0.6 miles in width. Sullivan Lake drains to Sullivan Creek which then flows into the Pend Oreille River. Each year the lake level is drawn down from October 1 to April 15 to add water to the Pend Oreille River for hydroelectric use. Some number related to the lake are:

Vegetation over the Sullivan Lake Ranger District is dominated by general forest zones, which the wildfires of the 1920s and 30s left in various stages of succession. Low elevation south and west slopes support many areas of browse suitable for wildlife winter range.

Sullivan Lake Ranger District provides habitat for a variety of wildlife ranging from the common whitetail deer to the endangered woodland caribou and threatened grizzly bear. Other wildlife species of interest are: bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, mountain lion, black bear, bald eagle, gray wolf, osprey, and common loon. The District offers numerous opportunities for recreation. There are seven developed campgrounds and a variety of dispersed campsites. There are numerous hiking trails on the District, the majority of which are located within the Salmo-Priest Wilderness. The Mill Pond Historic Site provides a barrier-free trail with interpretation of a bit of local history. Huckleberries become plentiful around July and August. Sullivan Lake, Mill Pond, Crescent Lake, and the Pend Oreille River, as well as many streams, are all fishable. Sullivan Lake is open for fishing year round. Fishing is slow, but the patient are rewarded with record size rainbow, brown trout and ling cod. The Metalines Chamber of Commerce has been stocking the Pend Oreille River with net pen raised rainbow trout in an effort to enhance fishing opportunities.

Boat launches for the Pend Oreille River are located at the Ione City Park and Edgewater Campground (National Forest) for the stretch of river above the Box Canyon Dam. Launches are located at Metaline City Park and above Boundary Dam for the stretch of river between Box Canyon and Boundary Dams. There are boat launches located at both the north and south ends of Sullivan Lake. Boat access at Crescent Lake and Mill Pond is restricted to small water craft without internal combustion motors.

If you have any more questions fell free to call 509-446-7500 between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday - Friday. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Colville National Forest on the Sullivan Lake Ranger District. If we can be of further assistance, please let us know.

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