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Fort Spokane Group Campground is a great destination for history buffs, birders and boaters and the perfect location for groups who like to experience a combination of history and recreation. The facility lies on the shoreline of Lake Roosevelt next to the grounds of a former military fort constructed to keep the peace between early settlers and the American Indians.
Visitors can spend a few hours learning about the fort and Indian boarding school by taking a stroll to the museum across the street. Visitors can also enjoy boating, fishing, birding or taking in the scenery around the lake.
Lake Roosevelt is a 130-mile lake of the Columbia River created by the Grand Coulee Dam. Named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it is part of the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and managed by the National Park Service.
Fort Spokane boasts some of the best bird habitats in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. The prime viewing spot is Hawk Creek, only a few miles away. Birders often see peregrine falcons, blue herons, finches, bald eagles, osprey and even the occasional golden eagle.
The former guard house of the fort is still standing and has been converted to a visitor center and museum directly across the street from the campground. The center is open from June through Labor Day, during which visitors can learn about the military history and Indian boarding school through interpretive programs and exhibits. For a self-guided tour, there is an interpretive trail.
The lake is abundant with walleye, bass, rainbow trout and salmon, making it a popular place for fishing throughout the year; the shoreline along Fort Spokane does not typically freeze in winter and the campground's boat launch is open all year.
Fort Spokane Group Site represents the two group areas within the general Fort Spokane Campground that can be reserved March through November; the group and general campsites are separated by the boat launch. Each group site can hold up to 45 people. The campground is open year-round, however drinking water is shut off in winter. There are no hookups. A convenience store and gas station are nearby for campers to replenish basic goods.
Fort Spokane lies on the water amidst ponderosa pine trees and shrubs. It is near the confluence of the Spokane River and the Columbia River. The lake has comfortable temperatures during summer, even though much of the water originates from glaciers and snowmelt in the cold, high Canadian Rockies. The lake area is abundant with wildlife, including moose, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, birds and fish.
The reservation of the Spokane Tribe of Indians is near the campground at the confluence of the Spokane and Columbia Rivers. There is a restaurant on the reservation.
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (509) 754-7889.
All changes and cancellations must got through recreation.gov
Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
Take State Highway 2 west of Spokane for 32 miles. Turn north on State Highway 25 at the town of Davenport and travel 24 miles. Follow the signs to the campground.
FORT SPOKANE GROUP SITE:
1-25 people: $55/night
26-45 People: $80/night
Visitor center closed, no staffing. Fort grounds mostly bug empty fields. Sparse info displays. Disappointing.
Two trips to Fort Spokane have both been far less than favorable. My first trip in July was ruined by a rude group who were up all night screaming and yelling not in a nice way all night. Like most I assumed this was an isolated insident. Came back in August now the rangers are hassling everyone accusing them of having a fire because the absent camp host had put out the restriction cards on the fire pits but not cleaned out the pits. OMG Will NOT Be Back. Two miserable trips is enough for me.
Absolutely horrible. We booked two nights and set up camp...the wasps were EVERYWHERE! My kids were getting stung and they were in/on all food as we were trying to eat.
There is no grass, it is a dust bowl. We felt filthy after only minutes of being there. We looked for somewhere else to stay even before nightfall, but with no joy.
We then got SO sick and vomited through the whole night and next day. As time went on we got sicker. We read online that the water shouldn't be consumed...within 30 minutes of drinking only bottled water we started to get better. It took almost two days to recover!
Never ever again will I set foot near this place.
I pass this historic place when I’m going through to visit my grandparents. Very nicely kept and don’t listen to the people leaving reviews about the camp ground on this site because it’s not the same. It’s the trails and historical buildings NOT the Fort Spokane Campground.
I love historical sites. I love riding my motorcycle. Covid shut it all down. But I'll be back (just like Arnold 😝)
