CampgroundsDB

Cooks Lake

Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), camping is free, and it is open from Memorial Day weekend to October 30. Cooks Lake is a National Forest campground near Usk, Washington.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Usk, Washington

Managed by
National Forest

Cooks Lake sits inside Colville National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Cooks Lake: A shallow 11.1-acre lake planted with rainbow trout; non-motorized boats only, and the level drops a lot in summer and fall. (fs.usda.gov)

Getting a site

Managed by
National Forest
Reservations
None, first-come
Fee
Free

Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-28

What's there

  • ✓ Toilets
  • ✓ Fire rings
  • ✓ Pets allowed
  • ✕ Potable water

On site: Toilets, fire rings, and pets allowed. No potable water.

Rules

Stay limit
14 days
Quiet hours
10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Pets
Allowed

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30

Access and cell service

Elevation
3,075 ft

Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)

AT&T
No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE and 5G mapped about 0.3 mi away
T-Mobile
No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE and 5G mapped about 0.3 mi away
Verizon
No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.3 mi away
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, data as of December 31, 2025

Outdoor coverage each carrier reports to the FCC at this campground's map point, and the nearest mapped coverage within about half a mile. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it. These are carrier predictions, not measurements, and can be wrong either way: real service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle is often weaker. 5G speeds are the FCC's 7/1 and 35/3 Mbps tiers. This product uses the FCC Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

48.3436, -117.1685 in Pend Oreille. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

Cooks Lake is open from Memorial Day weekend to October 30 , at 3,075 ft.

Sources: epqs.nationalmap.gov, accessed 2026-09-28; fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Cooks Lake?
No. Cooks Lake is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
How much does it cost to camp at Cooks Lake?
Camping at Cooks Lake is free.
Is there drinking water at Cooks Lake?
No. Cooks Lake has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.
Are dogs allowed at Cooks Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cooks Lake.
When is Cooks Lake open?
Cooks Lake is open from Memorial Day weekend to October 30.
How long can you stay at Cooks Lake?
The stay limit at Cooks Lake is 14 days.
Is there cell service at Cooks Lake?
Not at the campground on the FCC map, but AT&T shows 4G LTE and 5G about 0.3 mi away, T-Mobile shows 4G LTE and 5G about 0.3 mi away, and Verizon shows 4G LTE about 0.3 mi away. The FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows no 4G LTE or 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon at Cooks Lake itself. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it.
Who manages Cooks Lake?
Cooks Lake is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Cooks Lake

fishypedia.com · 0.2 miles

Cooks Lake sits on Cooks Lake, 0.2 miles from the lake's mapped center point. Stocking record and species: Cooks Lake fishing on fishypedia.com.

First-come Mystic Lake Newport · National Forest Season Not on record Fee Free Reservable South Skookum Lake Newport · National Forest Season Not on record Fee Single Site: $31 per night First-come No Name Lake Newport · National Forest Season Not on record Fee Free First-come Skookum Creek Campground Cusick · State Forest Season Not on record Fee No camping fee (first come, with a Discover Pass)

More campgrounds: camping near Usk and campgrounds in Pend Oreille.

Sources

First-come, first-served Free
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