BURBANK, Wash. – Outdoors enthusiasts can enjoy spring at recreation facilities managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near Ice Harbor Lock and Dam.
Corps recreation planners invite the public to "play it safe" while having some warm-weather fun. Although above-water temperatures are becoming warmer, springtime water temperatures can be cold enough to cause swimmers to develop hypothermia – a severe lowering of core body temperature. State boating, hunting and fishing regulations apply to visitors at Corps sites. Hunting is allowed in designated areas only. Boaters should ensure personal floatation devices are on board for each person – children 12 and younger are required to wear PFDs when in a vessel less than 19 foot in length. Recreation information is available on our Web site: www.nww.usace.army.mil/corpsoutdoors.
Recreation areas associated with Ice Harbor Dam near Burbank on the lower Snake River are listed as follows:
Hood Park Boat Basin – Open year round. Facilities: day-use area, vault toilet, boat ramp, fishing and wildlife viewing. Getting there: travel 3 miles south of Pasco, Wash., on U.S. Highway 12, after crossing Snake River bridge, turn west at junction of Highway 124, located at Snake River Mile 2 on the south bank.
Hood Park – May 1 through Sept. 30 park gates are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Facilities: restrooms, showers, camping, group shelters, playground, swimming beach, day-use, picnicking, fishing, boat ramp, nature trail, fishing and wildlife viewing. The trail and the boat ramp are open to the public year round. Monday through Thursday outdoor lovers can camp for 50 percent off regular camping fees. Some campsites at Hood Park are designated reservable, and some available on a non-reservable, first-come, first-served basis. Getting there: travel 3 miles south of Pasco, Wash., on U.S. Highway 12, turn east at junction of Highway 124, park is immediately on the left; located at Snake River Mile 2.5, on the south riverbank of Lake Wallula.
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam – April 1 through Oct. 31 – Visitor Center/Fish Viewing Room is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Facilities (year round): day-use, boat ramp on the north shore, and Ice Harbor Dam Trailhead for the Columbia Plateau Trail following the old railway on the north shore. Visitor Center is on the south shore, parking is located outside the complex, and visitors must pass the guard station to enter. Visitors will not be allowed to bring the following items inside the visitor center: backpacks, purses or bags of any sort (including diaper bags), cameras, cell phones and other electronic devices. All adults must carry photo identification and will be required to wear a visitor pass that is easily visible while in the center. There is no visitor access to other areas of the dam. Getting there: travel 5.5 miles east of Burbank, Wash., on Highway 124, then 2.5 miles north on Monument Drive; located at Snake River Mile 9.7 on Lake Wallula.
Charbonneau Park – May 1 through Sept. 31, park gates open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Facilities: restrooms, showers, camping, day-use, fishing, swimming beach, playgrounds, picnicking, group shelter, boat ramp and marina. Campsites at Charbonneau Park are 100 percent reservable. Starting Oct 1, the park reverts to primitive camping, and the park closes at on Oct. 31. (Primitive camping means no hook-ups or flush toilets and showers, just portable ). Getting there: travel 8.3 miles east of Burbank, Wash., on Highway 124, then 2 miles north on Sun Harbor Drive; located at Snake River Mile 11, on the south riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Levey Park – May 20 through Sept. 7, open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Facilities: restrooms, swimming beach, picnicking, fishing and boat ramp. Getting there: travel 10.5 miles east of Pasco, Wash., on Pasco-Kahlotus Road, then 1 mile south on Levey Road; located at Snake River Mile 13, on the north riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Big Flat – Open year round; no specific hours of operation. Facilities: day-use area, fishing, hiking, hunting, primitive camping sites, wildlife viewing and boat ramp. Getting there: travel 11.1 miles east of Pasco, Wash., on Pasco-Kahlotus Road, then one-half mile south on Dalton Lake Road; located at Snake River Mile 15, on the north riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Fishhook Park – May 20 through Sept. 7, open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Facilities: restrooms, showers, swimming beach, camping, picnicking, playground, group shelter, fishing and boat ramp. Some campsites at Fish Hook Park are designated reservable, and some available on a non-reservable, first-come, first-served basis. Getting there: travel 18 miles east of Burbank, Wash., on Highway 124, then 4 miles north on Fishhook Park Road; located at Snake River Mile 18, on the south riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Lake Emma – Open year round. Facilities: day-use area, fishing, primitive camping sites. Getting there: from Pasco-Kahlotus Highway West, take Murphy Road for 3 miles, then south on Page Road for 1 mile; located at Snake River Mile 19, on the north riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Lost Island (Votaw) Habitat Management Unit – Open year round – pedestrian access only – parking lot located outside fence. Facilities: day-use, hunting, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. Getting there: travel 18.5 miles east of Pasco, Wash., on Pasco-Kahlotus Road, then 3 miles south on McClenny Road and 2 miles south on Votaw Road; located at Snake River Mile 23, on the north riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Hollebeke Habitat Management Unit – Open year round – pedestrian access only – parking lot located outside fence. Facilities: day-use, hunting, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. Getting there: travel 19 miles east of Burbank, Wash., on Highway 124, then 6 miles north on Rice Road; located at Snake River Mile 25, on the south riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Walker Habitat Management Unit – Open year round - pedestrian access only – parking lot located outside fence. Facilities: day-use, hunting, fishing, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. Getting there: travel 26 miles east of Burbank, Wash., on Highway 124, then 8.6 miles on Lyons Ferry Road to Clyde, Wash., left turn and travel 4 miles northwest on Lower Monumental Road, and 9.2 miles west on Wooden Road; located at Snake River Mile 30, on the south riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Snake River Junction Habitat Management Unit – Open year round. Facilities: day-use area, fishing, primitive camping sites and Snake River Junction Trailhead for the Columbia Plateau Trail. Getting there: from Pasco-Kahlotus Highway, travel 21 miles east of Pasco, turn on Snake River Road follow down to river about 4 miles of Lake Sacajawea.
Windust Park – May 20 to Sept.7. Facilities: camping (no hook-ups, or showers), restrooms, day-use, swimming beach, fishing, picnicking and boat ramp. Getting there: travel 30 miles northeast of Pasco, Wash., on Pasco-Kahlotus Road, and 5.2 miles southeast on Burr Canyon Road; located at Snake River Mile 39, on the north riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Matthews Day-use Area – Open year round. Facilities: vault toilet, day-use, boat ramp and fishing. Getting there: travel 26 miles east of Burbank, Wash., on Highway 124, then 8.6 miles north on Lyons Ferry Road to Clyde, Wash., take a left turn on Lower Monumental Road and travel 15.2 miles north, then turn left 1 mile before the dam, and go 1 mile east to Matthews; located at Snake River Mile 41, on the south riverbank of Lake Sacajawea.
Contact information unless stated otherwise: Ice Harbor Natural Resources Management. Telephone: (509) 547-2048. Email: IceHarborParks&Recreation@usace.army.mil. If wanting to reserve a campsite go online to www.recreation.gov. For non-reserveable sites (first-come, first-served). Find a Walla Walla District outdoor recreation opportunity near you – www.nww.usace.army.mil/corpsoutdoors.
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