AHSAHKA, Idaho – Enjoy springtime in picturesque north Idaho at outdoor recreation facilities operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Dworshak Dam and Reservoir.
The boat ramp at Big Eddy is open. Other recreation facilities include a playground, picnic shelters, barbecue grills and a swim beach (water level permitting). The Big Eddy hiking trail is open all the way to Dworshak State Park.
Visitors hiking along the Big Eddy trail may want to pack a snack and picnic at one of several minicamps along the way, recommended Dworshak Park Ranger Connie Grant-Howell.
The Merry’s Bay day-use area opens April 1 and offers secluded picnicking and fishing opportunities. Also on April 1, Dam View and Canyon Creek campgrounds open for primitive camping, available on a first-come, first-served basis, at no charge.
Although the Dent Acres boat ramp is closed until water levels rise, early season camping begins on April 7 at the Dent Acres Campground. Boaters who wish to camp at Dent Acres will find plenty of vehicle parking space at the Big Eddy boat ramp, where they can launch vessels onto the reservboir. Please, remember to allow plenty of line when tying-off your boat along the shoreline at Dent Acres to allow for water-level fluctuations. Dent Acres campsite fees are $10 per day by self-deposit registration. Regular-season camping will start May 19, with full hook-up sites available for $18 per night. Reservations for the regular season can be made by calling (877) 444-6777, or by reserving online at www.recreation.gov.
Idaho’s turkey hunting season starts April 15 – specific dates for controlled hunts are listed in Idaho Fish and Game’s hunting regulations guide. Hunting during season dates is allowed on all Corps property around the reservoir, except in developed recreation areas. Off-road vehicles are prohibited off of designated roads, and behind gates or fences. Please, follow all safety precautions while walking in the forest during the hunting season.
Water discharged from Dworshak Dam is being increased to accommodate the predicted run-off as warmer springtime conditions melt snowpack. Corps officials advise boaters and others using waterways, both in Dworshak Reservoir and below the dam, on the Clearwater River to be alert to changes in water elevation and volume of flow. The weather may be warming up, but the water in Dworshak Reservoir is still very cold from the spring snowmelt and runoff. Always be aware of hypothermia, and wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Boat operators should also keep the fluctuating reservoir levels in mind when anchoring or tying-off their vessels.
Until water levels rise, Big Eddy boat ramp is the only boat ramp accessible at Dworshak.
For updated water level and boat ramp information, call (800) 321-3198. For more information regarding facilities access and current conditions, call (208) 476-1261, or stop by the Dworshak Dam Visitor Center, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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