SCAB LAND LAKES

SPOKANE COUNTY SCAB LAND LAKES

There are many lakes in this area that are great for boating but some only appear during the spring and fall and evaporate in the summer. Other lakes are private or off limits due be to wildlife conservation efforts, etc. If you have any good info on lakes in this area please let us know. We have only listed those lakes we feel are truly year round lakes that are deep enough to at least kayak on. Bonnie Lake which is mostly in Spokane County is in the Whitman County section because the access point along with a part of the lake is in Whitman County.

Alkali Lake (119 acres) - Dinghies

Alkali Lake (not to be confused with Alkali Lake which is next to Fourth of July Lake both of which are in Lincoln county) is a totally private lake, surrounded by farm land. If one could access this lake it would be a nice size lake to boat and sail on due to it being very open to the wind. Some have asked the local farm owner to access the lake with no access granted so far. Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Alkali Lake, WA. then select #2 for the correct lake. CLICK HERE FOR PDF LAKE MAP!

Amber Lake (117) - Dinghies

Amber Lake is a nice sized lake for a fun day of sailing and relaxation. This lake is a popular fishing lake. No motors are allowed on this lake. This lake would be fine to sail your swing keel sailboat on however I think due to its size its more appropriate for dinghy boats. As with many of the lakes in the Scab Lands, the wind is good on this lake. The lake is about 1 mile long with an average depth of 5-15', and 40' at its deepest point. Amber is 11 miles southwest of Cheney on Mullinix Rd. ONLY Electric motors are allowed. Amber has a public access via a boat launch. There is a large upper parking lot with restrooms with NO running water. Directions: Merge onto I-90 w / US-395 s., take the WA-904 w Exit- Exit 270- toward Four Lakes / Cheney, stay straight to go onto WA-904 / lt Col Michael Anderson Memorial HWY., turn left onto S Mullinix Rd., turn right onto W Cordill LN (portions unpaved), go straight. Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Amber Lake, WA. CLICK HERE FOR PDF LAKE MAP!

Badger Lake (244 acres) - Mid Draft Boats

Badger Lake is a desert lake with cliffs predominately around its shores. This is a fine lake faboulous water sports lake to ski and fish on. Sailing on this lake on your swing keel sailboat or dinghy is appropriate, with consistent winds throughout the year. Depths on this lake average 5-20', with its deepest area of the lake about 60'. Badger Lake is twelve miles south of Cheney on the Cheney-Plaza Road. Badger has NO resorts but does have a very nice public access with a double lane boat launch, fishing platform that is wheelchair accessible, and restrooms. Directions: From Cheney, go south on Cheney Plaza Road to Williams Lake Road, then west on Williams Lake Road to Badger Lake Road, then north on Badger Lake road 1.5 miles to Public Fishing sign. Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Amber Lake, WA. CLICK HERE FOR PDF LAKE MAP!

Badger Pond - Kayaks

This pond has water in it all summer and does not dry up but does come close. A lot of water foul live on this pond with a lot of cattle along its shore line creating a muddy shoreline. You could kayak on this pond but I feel it would not be worth the effort and modell boating would not be good on this pond due to all the weeds. Maps: To view this lake via www.mapquest.com type in Badger Lake, WA. and slide all the way to the N. end of the lake. This pond is just E. about a half mile. Most maps will not show this pond so when in mapquest use the aerial view setting. Badger Pond is off of S. Cossalman Rd. from S. Cheney Plaza Rd.

Chapman Lake (146) - Dinghies

Access to Chapman lake, a bent hourglass shaped lake, is only through the Chapman Lake Resort. The lake is mostly uninhabited, an awesome fishing lake, and also boasts plenty of visible wildlife. This lake has a 5 mph speed limit for any boat type including sailboats. If you break the 5 mph speed limit the resort manager will ask you to leave and not allow you back on the lake. Swimming and cliff diving is also not allowed. So fishing and sight seeing are the only activities allowed on this lake, but you can sail but must watch your speed at 5 mph. Rock Creek stretches through Chapman, and onto Bonnie and Rock lakes. The resort is open at night via a convenient payment box. This lake is 1.5 miles long and 160' at its deepest making it the deepest lake in Spokane County. There are also lava vents at the bottom of the lake that are reported to be over 1000' deep or more. The Chapman Lake Resort rents fishing boats and there is a $5 launch fee. They only allow RV's to camp overnight so I recommend if you are tent camping to go to Williams lake and tent camp at any of the 2 resorts, then you can drive a short distance to Chapman Lake. Directions: In Cheney WA. On W. 1^st St. take S. Rock Rd. Take a Left on S. Cheney Plaza Rd., & a Left on Chapman Lake Resort Rd. Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Bonnie Lake, WA., select #1 for the correct Bonnie Lake, then slide up (N.) above Bonnie Lake to find the lake. Chapman Lake is only visible on mapquest via aerial view off of S. Cheney Plaza Rd. INFO: Boat launch $5.00, Boat rental $10.00/day, cabin rental $20.00/night per family. CLICK HERE FOR PDF LAKE MAP!

Clear Lake (1 acres) – Kayaks

Clear lake is right up the road (East) from Fishtrap Lake before you cross the bridge over the railroad tracks. This lake is more of a pond than a lake and is best suited for kayaks if anything, however it's even small for kayaks. This is a nice lake to take pictures of some beautiful water foul at but that is about it. Directions/Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Downs Lake, WA. and then slide straight above Downs Lake new HWY 90 and you will see Fishtrap lake on the map, then at the top of Fishtrap lake you will see a road; follow this road East and before you get to the railroad tracks you will see Clear Lake. Make sure you are on the aerial view setting as mapquest will not label this lake. You will need to pan in a little also. Info: From Spokane, go west on I-90 to Fishtrap Exit 254, then south 2 miles on Old State Highway to Fishtrap Rd. Follow the road East right after you pass the lake and up the hills. Once you go over several rolling hills keep an eye out to the left and you will see it just off the road.

Downs Lake (225 acres) - Dinghies

Downs Lake is a very weedy lake (lots of lily pads as well) which is great for fishing but not so great for other water sport activities. Still in Spring and early summer there is a good amount of open water near the resort, and also via one open channel through the lily pads to the east and there is a big space of open water to the west of the boat launch. The lake is 2.2 miles long with a water depth of 5-30'. Downs warms up earlier than other area lakes because it's located in the southwest corner of Spokane county (partially in Lincoln County). There are very few trees around this lake and so the wind can really rip across it for some fun sailing. There is Downs Lake Resort with a small boat launch (only boat launch on the lake) with a $5 fee. There is a power line near the boat launch so if you come to sail on this lake you will need to step your mast near or on the water. The resort has RV & Tent sites, plus fishing boat rentals with or without electric motors. Directions: You can access Downs Lake Resort via Martin Rd from Sprague (exit 245) on Old State Hwy, and then turn on road with sign to the resort. Downs Lake Resort (509) 235-2314, 28605 W Martin Rd, Cheney, WA. 99004. Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Downs Lake, WA. CLICK HERE FOR PDF LAKE MAP!

Feustal Lake - (105 acres) Dinghies

This lake is located right in the Southwest Corner of Spokane county and high on a desert plain with good wind. There is no public access to this lake as it is totally surrounded by private farm land. Downs Lake is just 2 miles North of this lake. This is a beautiful lake, which is would be great for almost any water sport. It is very open to the wind from any direction, even though there is a good size hill and small cliffs on its W. shore its still very open to the wind so it would be a nice sailing lake. Feustal Lake is a half mile long and is 5-15' deep. Directions: Go toward Downs Lake via the Old State HWY from HWY 90 (exit 245). Turn off of the Old HWY East to Martin Rd, then turn right onto Cree Rd. follow this road and you will come to the only big farm house to your right (South). Once you pass this farm house while on the paved road you will see an area where farm equipment is parked and a road which leads to the lake. Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Feustal Lake, WA. Info: You MUST stop at the farm to get permission to access this lake.

Fishtrap Lake (196 acres) - Deep Draft Boats/Keelboats

Fishtrap lake was named after the willow fish traps that the Indians used to catch Red Horse Suckers at its outlet creek. The lake is known for its great trout fishing. This popular Lake is great for boating and swimming. As with all the lakes in the Scab Lands the lake gets a lot of wind throughout the year so it would be a great sailing lake even though because its narrow you will be doing a lot of tacking. It is long and narrow at 2.2 miles long and 30' deep at its deepest. In the Fishtrap Lake area there are extensive wetlands. There are numerous trails crisscrossing the area, offering several loop hikes and access to Fishtrap lake and Hog Canyon, wildlife viewing areas. Fishtrap Lake Resort has been on this lake since 1902. It has a nice primitive boat launch that is great to launch powerboats or kayaks from but due to a low hanging cable from a dock to a cliff (clearance from the water is about 8-10 ft) there is no way a sailboat would be able to leave this launch into open water. Luckily there is a public launch ramp right next to this resort that one could launch a deep draft boat or keelboat from. This launch is on an incline so sailors should plan accordingly to step your mast. If you want to use the restroom and docks at the resort you will have to pay to do so. This small resort is privately owned and so paying to use their facilities is a great way to support such a historic resort. If your kids like Buffalo ask the resort manager about it and they may allow you to go see them. Directions: Fishtrap Lake Resort 509-235-2284. From Spokane, go west on I-90 to Fishtrap Exit 254, then south 2 miles on Old State Highway to Fishtrap Rd. There is both a resort launch and public access launch. Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Downs Lake, WA. and then slide straight above Downs Lake near HWY 95 and you will see Fishtrap lake on the map. You will need to pan in a little also. INFO: Fishtrap lake info http://www.spokaneoutdoors.com/fishtrp.htm . CLICK HERE FOR PDF LAKE MAP!

Hansen Lake (10)

This lake lies South West of Spokane. This is a totally private lake with no trespassing signs posted. This lake is home to Canadian Geese in Spring and early summer. By late summer the lake is almost if not totally dried up. Nice lake for geese but no good for sailing or kayaking. Directions: To view this lake from the public road take HWY 195 S. from I90 (& Spokane) to W. Paradise Rd. for this road West and turn left (S.) onto S. Keeney Rd. stay on this road until you come to a big E. curve in the road (a little past W. Dynamite Ln.) and there to your right you can see Hansen Lake.

Hog Lake (53 acres) - Dinghies

Hog Lake (or Hog Canyon Lake as some call it) is 5-50' deep and .7 miles long. I could not imagine trying to trailer a heavy boat down the step road to the lake so its best to take a light weight boat to this lake only. The boat launch is very primitive but well defined to launch from. This would be a nice lake to hit the first part of the day and then in the same day go boat on Fishtrap Lake. At the launch site there are restrooms. Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Downs Lake, WA. and then slide straight above Downs Lake new HWY 95 and you will see Fishtrap lake on the map, then just up a little and to the right (Northeast) you will see a lake only on aerial view. You will need to pan in a little. CLICK HERE FOR PDF LAKE MAP!

Johnson Lake (1 acre in spring) - Kayaks

This lake is just NE of Bonnie lake. Its a small lake and does not totally evaporates by mid summer. It may be fun to kayak on for an hour or so. Wind generally comes from the West in the summer and out of the N. or S. the rest of the year. This is a private lake with a housing development on its West shore. It tends to have a fair amount of water foul on it. Directions/Maps: Type in Cheney WA. on www.mapquest.com and via the follow directions locate this lake via aerial view setting (many maps do not show this lake and so the only way to view it is via aerial view on mapquest). From Cheney WA. follow S. Cheney Plaza Rd., then straight onto S. Rock Lake Rd., then left (S.E.) onto Long Rd. About 2 miles down this road to the East there is a private road within a new housing development that gives access to this Lake. Again this is a private lake so using the directions provided in mapquest via aerial setting will help you find it on a map.

Mason Lake (151 acres) - Dinghies

Mason Lake is a beautiful lake but is totally surrounded by PRIVATE farm land. Its .3 miles long and averages 10' deep with 20' being its deepest point. This lake is actually big enough for mid draft boats lake a ski boat but the road to this lake would not allow one to get such a boat to the lake. Access to this lake on the South end of the road via a dirt road. Part of the road goes through a small marsh so one could only drive to the lake in mid summer when it dries up. There is also an old cable gate on this road so you MUST get the land owners approval to access it. Current info indicates the farmer is not giving access to the lake even though he has granted access in the past. Directions: See directions to Amber Lake, and the follow W. Pine Spring Road, continue on W. Harris Rd., turn right (N.) onto Scroggle Rd. and after crossing the creek take the first right on a cravel road. This is as close as you are going to get via road access. More info to follow! Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Mason Lake, WA. and then pan in.

Moore Lake (1 acres) - Kayaks

Moore Lake is right up the road (West) from Amber Lake as you head toward Mason and Fishtrap Lakes. This lake is more of a pond than a lake and all info on this small lake indicates it is privately owned. It might be a nice kayak lake but is kind of small even for that activity. It has a small cliff and hill along its North shore. Directions: See MAP, to Amber Lake, then follow W. Pine Spring Road; continue on W. Harris Rd. and you will soon see the lake to your right (North). Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Amber Lake, WA. and then move the screen to the west via aerial view and you will see it a short distance from Amber Lake.

Philleo Lake (110) - Dinghies

This lake lies just West of the city of Spangle, WA. off of HWY 195 and is a pretty good size lake. There is a road that runs along the Southeast side of the lake but there is NO public access along this road to the lake or via any other road. With permission you could access this lake via the land owners on the East end of the lake as I have done. Part of this lake is within Turnbull National Wildlife land but the East end of the lake is not, so one can boat on this lake from there (with permission). No motors are allowed on this lake. Mid summer the lake level goes down but the lake is never empty of water. This lake is big enough to sail a dinghy on with great winds coming off the desert throughout the year. Directions: From Spokane merge onto I-90 W / US-2 W / US-395 S., merge onto US-195 s via exit 279 toward Colfax / Pullman, turn right onto E. Watt RD., turn left onto S. Parker RD., S. Parker RD. becomes W Jennings RD., turn right onto S. Philleo Lake RD. Maps: To view a map click on www.mapquest.com and type in Philleo Lake, WA. then pan in.

Williams Lake (320 acres) THE RESORT LAKE of the Scab Lands – Mid Draft Boats

This lake has an average depth of 37’ with max depth of 120' and 5.3 miles of shoreline (elevation 2052). It’s a great lake to do any type of water sports. Its also a great sailing lake with great winds throughout the year. The shallow water during drought years may limit access for larger boats at the public access site but generally it's deep enough for most mid draft boats. This public launch site is the only suitable site to launch a sailboat from due to the lack of trees and power lines, and there is a nice restroom facility at this site as well. There are two resorts on this lake one on each end. Klinks Williams Lake Resort on the West end of the lake is the largest of the resorts with boat launch, RV & tents sites, cabins, restaurant, store, and small boat rentals. The boat launch is not suitable for launch sailboats due to the over hanging tree branches and the near by power lines. Bunkers Resort is on the West end of the lake with all the same accommodations and services of Klinks Resort. If you are camping over night the nice thing about this resort is the camping area is on a hill with a beautiful view of the lake. The boat launch site at this resort is also not suitable for sailboats due to a low hanging power line. A fun thing to do on this lake is sail to one end of the lake and have breakfast at the resort and then sail to the other end and have lunch or dinner at the other resort. Directions: Located 11.5 miles southwest of Cheney and 12.5 miles east of Sprague Located 12 miles southwest of Cheney via Mullinex Road, it has public access on the northwest shore and several resorts. From Cheney, go south on Millinex Road to Williams Lake Road, then east on Williams Lake Road 1 mile to Public Fishing sign. Klink's Williams Lake Resort, 509-235-2391: 18617 W Williams Lake Rd, Cheney, WA. 99004. http://www.klinksresort.com. Bunker's Resort, (509) 235-5212: 36402 S, Bunkers Landing Rd, Cheney, WA 99004. CLICK HERE FOR PDF LAKE MAP!