Steamboat Rock stands out

Steamboat Rock sticks out like a sore thumb.

You can see it for miles away mostly out your front window as you traverse Central Washington's lengthy Grand Coulee from south to north, or mostly out the back window from north to south.

The basaltic butte stands out so much that it has been used as a navigational reference point for everything from covered wagons to modern fighter jets.

It is also pretty enough as it towers above Banks Lake to warrant its own state park.

It is situated on a peninsula jutting out into the 25-mile long lake created by water from the Grand Coulee Dam, with the connecting piece of land south of the rock offering ample parking, camping, boating, restrooms, showers and other facilities.

Steamboat Rock can be viewed up close from there, or from pullouts across the water on Highway 155 to the east.

The 5,043-acre state park has 50,000 feet of freshwater shoreline, with the 800-foot tall rock itself covering 600 acres.

Hiking and biking is available on 13.1 miles of trails including onto the top of the rock, where wildflowers abound in favorable months.  There are 10 miles of horse trails.

Individual campsites can be reserved for use from April 1 to Oct. 31 and are first-come, first-served from Nov. 1 to March 31.  There are 26 standard campsites and 164 full hookup sites plus three cabins.

Discover passes are required for use of the park at $30 per year good for all Washington state parks.  One day passes are also available at $10 per vehicle.

How to get there:

Turn north onto Highway 155 off of Highway 2 just east of Coulee City and the Dry Falls Dam and drive until you come to the state park to your left.

You can also get there from Highway 174 and the Grand Coulee Dam area to the north by heading south on Highway 155.

From Interstate 90 and Moses Lake, head north on Highway 17 until you come to Highway 2, taking a right and heading east before taking a left onto Highway 155 after Coulee City.

A short cut is available heading east on Interstate 90 before Moses Lake, turning northeast onto Highway 283 until it joins Highway 17 at Soap Lake, where you take a left.

The Steamboat Rock State Park address is 51052 WA-155, Electric City, WA 99123.

Call (509) 633-1304 for more information on the state park, or (888) 226-7688 for camping.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.