Okanogan County¹

Okanogan Country is part of the North American Pacific Flyway for migrating birds making bird watching opportunities for song birds, game birds, water birds and raptors legion.

Birders of all levels from novices to the professional can find a truly delightful experience in Okanogan Country. We have a wide diversity in landscape and climate that attracts birds to our area. Our numerous lakes and rivers attract waterfowl and shorebirds. The high deserts and alpine meadows attract a variety of songbirds and upland birds. So whatever type of birding you like, Okanogan Country has it for you. With hundreds of species of indigenous and migratory birds, bird watching can be very rewarding. To learn more about Washington birdwatching opportunities, take a look at some of the locations below.

(1) Text from https://okanogancountry.com/birdwatching–wildlife-viewing”

Colville National Forest²

During President Theodore Roosevelt’s two terms in office, he set aside millions of acres of forest reserves. Roosevelt proclaimed sixteen million acres of new reserves, sometimes referred to as midnight reserves, before signing an appropriations bill from Congress that would prohibit the President from creating any new forest preserves in those states. The Colville Forest Reserve, created on 1 March, 1907, was thus created.

The Forest boundary, a part of the Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6), included 700,000 acres of lands north of the Colville Indian Reservation to the Canadian Border, and was bounded east and west by the Columbia and Okanogan rivers, respectively. The first headquarters office was on Main Street in Republic, WA with W.W. Cryder as the Forest Supervisor.

Presently, the Colville National Forest has 1.5 million acres in north eastern Washington and includes the Kettle River, Selkirk mountain ranges, and the upper reaches of the Columbia River. The forest has four ranger stations and a supervisor’s office that govern the forest’s five districts: Three Rivers Ranger Station in Kettle Falls, Republic Ranger Station in Republic, Tonasket Ranger Station in Tonasket, Newport-Sullivan Lake’s Station in Newport, and Newport-Sullivan Lake’s Station in Metaline Falls.

The greater populated areas close to the Colville National Forest and within the US perimeter are Ferry, Stevens, Okanogan and Pend Oreille Counties, the Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation.

Residents and visitors enjoy the Colville National Forest’s wild huckleberries, camping, hiking trails (486 miles), OHV trails, mountain biking, horse trails, lakes, rivers, and streams. The forest also boasts exciting wildlife such as the grizzly and black bears, cougars, bald eagles and the last remaining herd of caribou in the U.S.

Nearby attractions also include Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge and the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.

(2) Text from https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/colville/about-forest

Tonasket Ranger District ³

Tonasket Ranger District’s 415,000 acre landscape covers five distinct blocks, or areas, across the eastern half of Okanogan County in North Central Washington; bordered on the north by Canada and the southwest by The Colville Indian Reservation.  The largest contiguous block is west of the Okanogan River.  It includes the northeast corner of the Pasayten Wilderness and shares a boundary with the Methow Valley Ranger District.  The Buckhorn, Mount Hull, Bonaparte and Aeneas blocks make up the east side of the District.

Grass and shrubs dot the lower elevations, climbing to beautiful ponderosa pine forests at mid-elevations, then Douglas-fir/western larch, and the subalpine and alpine forest at elevations above 6,000 feet.

More than 180 miles of trail are maintained for hikers, horseback riders and motorized recreationists.  There are several developed campgrounds as well as a lot of opportunity for dispersed recreation.

With fairly long travel distances from major northwest population centers, the District is considered a bit of a well kept secret by those who make the journey.  Whether it is June when the colorfull hillsides of Horseshoe Basin are a riot of color with wildflowers in bloom or in January when the glittering snow at Highlands snow park sparkles in the sunshine, the National Forest lands managed by Tonasket Ranger District offer a chance to stop, take a deep breath and feast on the Natures Glory.

(3) Text from https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/colville/recarea/?recid=83245