The Banks Lake unit includes 44,700 BOR acres and 41 WDFW acres in the upper Grand Coulee on 27-mile-long Banks Lake. Banks Lake is a man-made impoundment for irrigation water in the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. It is formed by the North Dam near Grand Coulee and the Dry Falls Dam near Coulee City and is filled with water from Franklin D. Roosevelt Reservoir (Lake Roosevelt). Most of the shoreline is ringed with basalt cliffs and talus slopes, the dry uplands have shallow soils and rocky outcrops with shrub-steppe habitat. Willows and Russian olives grow on the fringes of some cattail and bulrush wetland areas. There are about 23 islands in the reservoir from one to several acres in size, including basalt and granite outcroppings, shrub-steppe and wetlands. Steamboat Rock, in the northern part of the lake, is the largest of several peninsulas and is designated a Research Natural Area. Unique wildlife use can include common loons, wintering bald eagles, mule deer and peregrine falcons.
Viewing Opportunities
Birds
Birds of Prey
Eagles
Shorebirds
Songbirds
Upland Birds
Waterfowl
Mammals
Deer
Small Mammals
Other
Butterflies
Reptiles/Amphibians
Wildflowers
How to Get
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Map and Driving Directions
Access Site #1
Driving Directions From Moses Lake take SR 17 north to the junction of SR 2 at the southwest corner of Banks Lake. Turn east (right) toward Coulee City and proceed across Dry Falls Dam. About 1/2 mile past Coulee City is the junction of Hwy.155 and SR 2. Take Hwy. 155 north along the east side of Banks Lake. Highway 155 connects to Hwy. 174 in the town of Grand Coulee at the north end of Banks Lake.
Parking/Restroom Information WDFW maintains public fishing parking areas with outhouses at the southwest corner of Banks Lake and north of Million Dollar Mile (where Hwy. 155 goes through and over the basalt cliffs). There is a parking area, without an outhouse, on Hwy. 155 at the south side of Million Dollar Mile. At Osborne Bay, a few miles north of Steamboat Rock State Park, WDFW maintains a primitive road that provides access and parking around the part of the Osborne Bay that is east of Hwy. 155.
Banks Lake is a man-made impoundment in a 27 mile portion of a natural coulee. Most of the 91 miles of shoreline are ringed with basalt clifs and talus slopes. There are about 23 islands in the reservoir.
Other Information
Public conduct rules for WDFW Lands restrict the discharge of firearms within 500 feet of the designated campgrounds for the Banks Lake Unit. See locations for all 21 WDFW designated campgrounds here.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Public conduct rules for WDFW Lands restrict the discharge of firearms within 500 feet of the designated campgrounds for the Banks Lake Unit. See locations for all 21 WDFW designated campgrounds here.
A Discover Pass or WDFW Vehicle Access Pass
is required on all WDFW lands. Learn more at DiscoverPass.wa.gov
The Banks Lake unit includes 44,700 BOR acres and 41 WDFW acres in the upper Grand Coulee on 27-mile-long Banks Lake. Banks Lake is a man-made impoundment for irrigation water in the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. It is formed by the North Dam near Grand Coulee and the Dry Falls Dam near Coulee City and is filled with water from Franklin D. Roosevelt Reservoir (Lake Roosevelt). Most of the shoreline is ringed with basalt cliffs and talus slopes, the dry uplands have shallow soils and rocky outcrops with shrub-steppe habitat. Willows and Russian olives grow on the fringes of some cattail and bulrush wetland areas. There are about 23 islands in the reservoir from one to several acres in size, including basalt and granite outcroppings, shrub-steppe and wetlands. Steamboat Rock, in the northern part of the lake, is the largest of several peninsulas and is designated a Research Natural Area. Unique wildlife use can include common loons, wintering bald eagles, mule deer and peregrine falcons.
OTHER INFORMATION
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