Cooks Lake

Area Status: Open

Cooks Lake is a small, shallow 11.1 acre lake which lies northeast of Usk, WA. It offers rainbow trout fishing opportunities. During dry summer months the lake level can significantly recede. There is easy access for launching a small boat. Several campsites and a concrete vault toilet are located at the southeast end of the lake.

Title:	Cooks Lake View Looking East
Caption:	Cooks Lake View Looking East
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Title:	Cooks Lake Hillshade View
Caption:	Cooks Lake Hillshade View
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Title:	Cooks Lake Google Earth View
Caption:	Google Earth image of Cooks Lake
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Photo of a dispersed campsite at Cooks Lake

Title:	Cooks Lake Dispersed Campsite
Caption:	Cooks Lake Dispersed Campsite
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Photo of the boat launch turn around at Cooks Lake

Title:	Cooks Lake Boat Launch Turn Around
Caption:	Cooks Lake Boat Launch Turn Around
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At a Glance

Current Conditions:	Site is open, but maintenance has ceased for the season.
Reservations:	Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Area Amenities:	Boat ramp, Tent camping, Camping trailer, Toilets, Drinking water, Parking
Fees:	No Fee
Open Season:	Memorial Day Weekend - October 30
Restrictions:	Washington state fishing license required. See Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at http://wdfw.wa.gov/ for more information. Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campfires in developed fire ring only Fireworks are prohibited Pets must be on leash OHV prohibited in the campground Maximum length of stay: 14 days Food and wildlife attractants must be properly stored at all times Motorized boats prohibited

General Information

Directions:

From Newport, WA: Follow US-2 E for 0.5 miles. Turn left onto Le Clerc Rd continue for 2.7 miles. Turn right onto Bead Lake Rd continue for 7 miles. Turn left to stay on Bead Lake Rd continue for 2 miles. Turn right to stay on Bead lake Rd continue for 1.7 miles. Continue onto NF-5015 for 1.6 miles.Turn left into Cooks Lake.

Google map directions from Newport, WA

General Notes:

Cooks Lake has several dispersed camping spots, making this one of the most popular sites in the Newport District. There are approximately 10 sites with a vault toilet available. Garbage disposal and potable water are not provided here. Skookum Lake and Bead Lake are nearby.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife plants catchable sized rainbow trout as well as a few broodstock rainbows. Anglers can fish from shoreline or from small non-motorized vessels. Fishing methods include: fly, spin and bait. Two-pole fishing is allowed. There is a non-maintained, user made trail that goes through the shoreline along the entire perimeter of the lake. There is easy access to the boat launch area but can be very muddy depending on water levels. Water levels recede significantly during summer/fall months making fishing and boating access difficult. A boat launch is located on the east end of the lake near the campground.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Campground Camping

Fee Free Campground available at Cooks Lake.

Lake and Pond Fishing

Fish Species: Rainbow Trout
Fishing Access: Shoreline fishing and boat fishing.
Fishing Methods: Fly, spin, and bait.
Angling Season: Spring, summer and fall.
Depth and Size: Shallow - 11.1 acres

Fishing License

Washington state fishing license required. See Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at http://wdfw.wa.gov/ for more information.

Boating - Non-Motorized

Non-Motorized boating only.

Amenities

Camping trailer:	Fee free campground
Tent camping:	Fee free campground
Parking:	No Day Use Fee
Toilets:	Vault
Boat ramp:	Located at the east end of the lake - Unimproved
Drinking water:	Not available. Surface water should be treated.