Burkett Lake Recreation Area•Washington

00:00     Title
00:15     Horseshoe Cove
02:04     Clear Creek Falls
03:58     Dog Lake Campground
04:46     Wild Rose Day Use Site
06:35     Burkett Lake Recreation Area
08:19     Wild Horses Monument
10:22     Fin

​The Burkett Lake Recreation Area is a local park that covers a private man made lake that was created along Lower Crab Creek, which is a Columbia River tributary. This region is composed of high desert grassy hills and mountain peaks, so the setting of this lake certainly is picturesque. Upon arrival, I was surprised to see modern facilities and ample parking, along with newly constructed boardwalks and fishing piers. This recreation area is across the river from Yakima, which is where the Highway 12 tourism corridor to Mt Rainier begins. 

Burkett Lake is surrounded by cattail reeds, so it does attract migrating waterfowl and song birds. My original intention was to do some birding, but the high winds from earlier in the day put a damper on this prospect. It was getting toward the evening hours and several carloads of families with fishing poles arrived, so it was easy to see what this local park was all about. The Burkett Lake Recreation Area definitely is a nice day use area for family fishing fun, especially if fresh caught trout and panfish are planned for the dinner menu! Better still, there is a second destination on the far end of the lake that also attracts local sportsmen. The Beverly Sand Dunes is a haven for four wheelers and motocross bikes. These two lesser known destinations are very easy to access and the signage is well marked, so be sure to keep these two spots in mind when touring the Columbia River Region in central Washington on the way to Mt Rainier!