State Parks and National Parks

Secluded Chopaka Lake sits high in a mountain basin near the Canadian border. The lake’s northern portion is within a 5,518-acre Wilderness Study Area (WSA) that protects the wilderness qualities and wildlife habitat while allowing seasonal livestock grazing.

Aspen groves and sagebrush line the lake shores, providing a scenic backdrop to lakeside activities. Visitors may glimpse a mountain goat high on the surrounding mountainsides. Eight campsites with fire rings and a vault outhouse provide camping facilities at the lake.

Try fly-fishing for trout, or take a peaceful hike in the wilderness. Hike or boat-in camping is also allowed in the WSA, but there are no developed campsites. Motorized vehicles and bikes are not permitted in the WSA.

The slopes of Chopaka Mountain are vibrant with colorful wildflowers in the spring and early summer. At these higher elevations, the wildflower season extends into June and July, when the alpine meadows seem carpeted with flowers. In non-forested areas, members of the buckwheat family color sagebrush slopes in delicate yellow hues. Other wildflowers include the brilliant red, trumpet-shaped flowers of scarlet gilia and the cat ear-shaped petals of cats-ear mariposa lily.

While in the forest, look for the bumblebee-pollinated, purple monkshood flowers and the bold yellow flowers and heart-shaped leaves of heart leaf arnica. A bit harder to find is baneberry, with its many small white flowers and shiny red berries.

Remote Chopaka Lake and its surrounding hillsides are excellent places for viewing wildlife. Take a hike around the lakeshore and the surrounding hillsides, and you may hear the song of redwing blackbirds, nesting sage thrasher, Brewer’s sparrow, lark sparrow and long-billed curlew.

A healthy population of rainbow trout challenges flyfishing anglers adrift on the pristine lake waters. Visitors can also view bald and golden eagles, and even peregrine falcons, high in the sky above the mountain cliffs. Bighorn sheep, mule or white-tailed deer, black bear, moose and mountain goats also live in this area.

From Hwy. 97 at Tonasket, take the Loomis-Oroville Highway west through Loomis. Two miles past Loomis, turn left onto the Chopaka Mountain Road. Keep to the right and drive the steep grade up the mountain. After 3.5 miles, take the road to the right for two more miles to reach Chopaka Lake. The BLM camping area is north of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources campground.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Bureau of Land Management.