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Bureau of Land Management

LAKEVIEW Recreation Area
Hike or bike winding trails through this flood-carved landscape indented with coulees, basalt rock columns, and distinctive lake shores.

Welcome to Lakeview
This eastern Washington oasis located in the heart of Lincoln County offers more than 10,000 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This area is managed for its wildlife habitat, seasonal livestock grazing, as well as for recreational opportunities.

Getting There
Located 8 miles north of Odessa, Washington. Take Highway 21 north from Odessa, go 2 miles to Lakeview Ranch Road, turn left and travel 5 miles on a gravel road to Lakeview Ranch. Plan for a drive of one to two hours from Spokane.

Geology
This unique area sits at the confluence of the Lake Creek and Crab Creek coulees. This is part of the vast Channeled Scablands of eastern Washington, named for the coulees, buttes, and potholes carved by the Missoula Floods over 12,000 years ago. Today, you see evidence of these floods in the outcrops of ragged and scarred Columbia River Basalt bedrock stripped of topsoil. The floods also formed small pothole lakes, canyons and wet meadows. The wheat fields seen today are on higher ground that was not affected by raging flood waters.

Recreational Activities
You'll find quiet picnic and camping areas with views of Pacific and Walter Lakes. Corrals at the ranch are usually available for trail horses overnight. There's a boat launch and fishing dock east of the ranch along the Pacific Lake shoreline. Pacific Lake is stocked annually with Rainbow trout. For season regulations about fishing or hunting on public lands in the Lakeview area, contact the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Odessa to Pacific Lake trail winds for 12.5 miles through shrub-steppe uplands and the Lake Creek Canyon between the small town of Odessa and Pacific Lake/Lakeview Ranch. Signs in downtown Odessa will direct you to the trailhead. Nearly 3.5 miles of the trail's north section are open for motorized vehicle use.

The geologically unique Odessa Craters site is 5 miles north of Odessa, off Highway 21. Stroll along a one-quarter mile barrier-free trail and look into Cache Crater, or hike a 1.5-mile trail loop passing by Rock Rose, Wild Garden, and Amphitheater Craters.

Wildflowers
At first glance, Lakeview's sagebrush slopes may look parched and barren, but with a closer look you'll see that wildflowers flourish here. One of the most vivid spring flowers is daggerpod, featuring showy lavender blossoms succeeded by long pointy fruit. Early spring visitors may also spot several species of desert-parsley in bloom, with their ball-like clusters of tiny white or yellow flowers. Bitterroot is scattered across the shallow soil areas, its tufts of green fleshy leaves appearing early in spring and vanishing before its pink flowers open in May. Over the summer, several wild buckwheat shrubs add color to the Lakeview landscape.

Wildlife
Lakes and springs that dot the area are ideal places to watch wildlife. American Coot, as well as Redhead and Ruddy ducks, frequent wetlands. In the grasslands, you might see or hear the noisy Killdeer as it nests and rears its young throughout the summer. You may spot a Ferruginous hawk, sage grouse, or an American white pelican. As you walk along the lakes or springs, watch for painted turtles and tiger salamanders. Check along the ground for badger burrows. Mule deer often browse along the uplands and sometimes you can catch a glimpse of a coyote. Look upon the rocks and you may spy a short-horned lizard. Be careful where you walk...rattlesnakes have been seen in the area.

Cultural
Native people relied on the land for thousands of years. They traveled spring and summer to rivers to catch fish, to wetlands and dry hillsides to dig roots, and to mountains for berries and deer meat. In the winter, they lived in the lowlands in mat-covered houses. Many roots, berries, and other resources used those many years ago are still found here and continue to be used today by descendants of these "First Peoples."

[Reverse of brochure show a map of Lakeview Recreation Area.]


For more information contact:
Spokane BLM District
1103 N. Fancher o Spokane, WA 99212
Phone: 509/536-1200

Check our website for other recreational opportunities and periodic updates:
www.or.blm.gov/spokane

BLM/OR/WA/GI-03/015-1122

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Digital version created: October 15, 2003
URL: http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/ebooks/records/eew1641.html
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