Featured Rivers and Streams on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Entiat River above Entiat Falls

The Entiat River above Entiat Falls is approximately 40 feet wide and is paralleled by FS road 5100 within a U-shaped valley. The valley floor is between 100 and 300 feet wide and the adjacent valley walls are fairly steep. The river is dominated by relatively shallow riffles interspersed with pools, plunge pools and glides where the trout fishing is quite good.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4
Barrier Free Access:
Hiking: Yes
Driving Directions: From Hwy 97A follow the Entiat River Road for approximately 35 miles to Entiat Falls. The Entiat River above the falls is open to fishing.
Fish Species: Rainbow trout, Cutthroat trout, Eastern brook trout
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
Angling Season: Summer, Fall
Campgrounds: North Fork campground (user fee required), Three Creeks campground and Cottonwood campground. Facilities include tent sites, trailer sites (Cottonwood and North Fork), restrooms, drinking water, fishing and leashed pets. Three Creek has only 4 sites and requires reservations.

North Fork of the Entiat River

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4
Barrier Free Access:
Hiking: Yes
Driving Directions: From Hwy 97A follow the Entiat River Road (FS 5100) to Entiat Falls and the junction of FS 5606.
Fish Species: Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
Angling Season: Summer, Fall
Campgrounds: North Fork campground has 8 sites and requires a user fee. Both tent and trailer sites are available, restrooms, drinking water, leashed pets, and fishing. 

 

 

 

Upper Cle Elum River

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4, Boat
Barrier Free Access:
Hiking:
Driving Directions: Follow Forest road 46 north along the east shore of Cle Elum Lake.
Fish Species:
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin
Angling Season: Spring, Summer
Campgrounds: Red Mountain (11 sites) and Salmon La Sac (127 sites, user fee required) are both high use areas. Salmon La Sac provides fully accessible campsites, picnic area, restrooms, drinking water and parking. Other facilities include trailer stes, group camp sites (reservations required), sheltered picnic areas, leashed pet area, boating, fishing, trailhead, hiking, horse trails, bicycle trails and motorcycle trails. Check individual campsite for facilities provided.

Upper Yakima River

Kecheluss Lake flows into the Yakima River on the Wenatchee National Forest for a few miles before leaving the forest boundaries.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4, 4 X 4
Barrier Free Access:
Hiking:
Driving Directions: Off of Interstate 90 south of Lake Kecheluss.
Fish Species:
Fishing Methods:
Angling Season: Spring, Summer
Campgrounds: Crystal Springs (25 sites, user fee required) provides tent and trailer sites, group campsites, with reservations, sheltered picnic area and leashed pet area. 

North Fork Salmon Creek

North Fork Salmon Creek is a favorite with puddle jumpers on hot summer days. Rainbow, Eastern Brook and in places cutthroat trout can be found. Several camping facilities are located on and around North Fork Salmon Creek.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4
Barrier Free Access: Yes
Hiking: Yes
Driving Directions: North Fork Salmon Creek flows into Conconully Lake. Access using Forest Rd 38 from Conconully Lake.
Fish Species: Rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout. Only unscented artificial flies and lures with one barbless hook.
Fishing Methods: Fly
Angling Season: Summer, Fall
Campgrounds: Several campgrounds are found along the North Fork Salmon: Cottonwood and Oriole have 4 and 10 sites respectively. Both have tent sites, restrooms, drinking water, fishing and allow leashed pets. Kerr Campground has 13 sites for tents, restrooms, fishing, allows leashed pets as well as winter recreation and snowmobiles trails. Salmon Meadows has 7 tentsites, sheltered picnic area, restrooms, drinking water, hiking, horse trails and allows leashed pets.

West Fork Sanpoil River

West Fork Sanpoil River on USFS lands has good fishing in active beaver ponds for rainbow and Eastern Brook trout. It is a favorite among some fly-casters. Flows through the Okanogan National Forest and the Colville Indian Reservation. Contact the Colville Confederated Tribe for tribal permits and regulations 1-509-634-4711.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4
Barrier Free Access:
Hiking:
Driving Directions: Hwy 21 north from Franklin D Roosevelt Lake.
Fish Species: Rainbow trout, brook trout
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin
Angling Season: Summer, Fall
Campgrounds: West Fork Sanpoil Campground 

Middle Fork Toats Coulee Creek

A unique wilderness experience within minutes from the blacktop can be had on this stream. The small rainbows here can be finicky at times so you may plan this day hike with fishing as the secondary objective.

Vehicle/Fishing Access:
Barrier Free Access:
Hiking:
Driving Directions: County 39, southwest of Oroville, WA.
Fish Species: Trout : Release of Dolly Varden/Bulltrout and wild steelhead required.
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin
Angling Season: Summer
Campgrounds: Toats Coulee Campground is a state facility with 9 sites, picnic area and restrooms. 

Aeneas Creek

Like so many of the streams on the National Forest Aeneas Creek and many of its tributaries have small trout.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4
Barrier Free Access:
Hiking: Yes
Driving Directions: A few miles south of Tonasket on State Hwy 20 turn west on Forest Rd 4299.
Fish Species: Trout : Release of Dolly Varden/Bulltrout and wild steelhead required.
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin
Angling Season: Summer
Campgrounds: No developed campgrounds.