Other Recreational Facilities
- Lake Cushman
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Lake Cushman is a 4,010-acre reservoir located on the southwestern border of Olympic National Park. The lake has kokanee and cutthroat trout, making it a popular destination for anglers. It is formed by Cushman No. 1 Dam, which generates clean, renewable hydropower. Recreation facilities include:
- Six day-use recreation sites along Staircase Road near the northern end of Lake Cushman. They are owned by Tacoma Power and operated by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
- Big Creek Campground in the Olympic National Forest along SR 119. It is owned and operated by the USFS.
- Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman, formerly known as Camp Cushman, is accessed from SR 119. The Skokomish Indian Tribe owns the park and Tacoma Power maintains the boat launch. It is the only boat launch on the lake available to the general public. Please check their website for availability.
- Staircase Campground in Olympic National Park has 49 campsites, trails and an interpretive center. It is located about 3 miles upstream from Lake Cushman via Staircase Road.
- Lake Kokanee
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Located a few miles downstream from Lake Cushman is the 150-acre Lake Kokanee. It is formed by Cushman No. 2 Dam, which generates clean, renewable hydropower. Considered prime fishing territory for catching kokanee and rainbow trout, there is a free public boat launch at the south end of the lake near the dam.
To get to the boat launch at Lake Kokanee, take SR 119 from Hoodsport. Drive about 2.5 miles and turn left onto Potlatch-Cushman Road. Turn right onto Lower Lake Road; the boat launch is located at the bottom of the hill. Parking is available at the launch and across the street.
All internal combustion-powered motorboats on Lake Kokanee are restricted to 7.5-horsepower engines maximum. No personal watercraft are allowed.
- Skokomish Park at Potlatch
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Formerly known as Saltwater Park, Skokomish Park at Potlatch is on Hood Canal on Highway 101 across from Cushman No. 2 Powerhouse. The Skokomish Indian Tribe owns the park and Tacoma Power maintains the boat launch. The Skokomish Indian Tribe has the ability to close the facility to the public due to pandemics such as COVID-19. Please check their website for availability.
The park features:
- Boat launch with three lanes
- Picnic tables and fire pits
- Restrooms
- Ike Kinswa State Park
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Located on the shoreline of Mayfield Lake, Ike Kinswa State Park offers a boat launch, campground and day-use facility. There are also two privately run facilities nearby: Harmony Lakeside RV Park and Lake Mayfield Resort and Marina.
- Wynoochee Lake Recreation
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Wynoochee Lake is the 1,140-acre reservoir behind Wynoochee Dam, which generates clean, renewable hydropower. It offers a variety of recreational opportunities including:
- Picnicking and swimming along the west bank of the lake near the project administration building.
- Hiking and mountain biking along the 12-mile-long Wynoochee Lake Shore Trail. The trail includes the educational Working Forest Nature Trail beginning at Loop B at Coho Campground.
- Campsites at Coho Campground, next to Wynoochee Lake, are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is operated by the U.S. Forest Service and offers 46 sites for tents and trailers, 8 walk-in sites for tents only, a group camp and 3 yurts. The campground includes a boat launch, picnic area and RV dump station near the entrance.
- Recorded information about flows on the Wynoochee River and the elevation of Wynoochee Lake are available from our Fishing and Recreation Line at (888) 502-8690 or visit MyTPU.org/lakelevels.
- More information about nearby U.S. Forest Service recreational facilities is available from the Olympic National Forest.