Washington State is one of the prettiest states in the country, with plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities for RV travelers. What you might not know, is that the state doesn’t all look like you probably are picturing your head. When you think of Washington state, do you picture lush green terrain with countless evergreen trees? That is accurate – in the western half of the state. However, if you head east of the Cascade Mountains, you get an entirely different scene. For the most part, the trees are gone and you will encounter a landscape that looks more like a desert than anything else.
It doesn’t rain nearly as much in Eastern Washington as on the western side of the state, but water still plays a prominent role in what you will find when you visit. Specifically, the Columbia River is one of the great rivers in the country, and recreational opportunities exist up and down the river – all the way out to the coast where it meets the Pacific Ocean. The river enters the United States in the northeastern corner of Washington, and it winds its way throughout Eastern Washington before forming the border with Oregon and heading out to the coast.
Memorable Fishing
If you like using your RV to go to beautiful places for fishing trips, the Columbia River offers plenty of those opportunities. The river is far too big and complex to list all of the fishing opportunities here, so you will need to do a little research in order to locate the perfect spot for the kind of fishing that you like to do. Of course, before you head out on a trip, be sure to acquire all of the necessary licenses that you will need to fish legally in the state of Washington.
Plenty of RV Options
RV travel is popular in the Pacific Northwest, meaning you will find many great RV parks – both public and private – that you can consider for your stay. In some places these RV parks will be right along the banks of the river, so you can enjoy great views from right outside your RV window. Since there are numerous dams along the length of the Columbia – many of which provide power to the residents of the state – the river more closely resembles a series of lakes or reservoirs than it does an actual, free-flowing river.
Cold Winters
Don’t be fooled by the desert-like appearance of the Eastern Washington landscape – this area is still very cold in the winter months. For the most part, you will want to plan any trip to see the Columbia River for the spring, summer, or early fall. From November through to February you will find that most of Eastern Washington is extremely cold and often covered in snow.
The Columbia River is one of those destinations that you certainly aren’t going to see all at once. However, once you take that initial trip to stay along the shores of the river and perhaps do a little fishing or boating, you might find yourself wanting to come back again and again.