Posted in Washington Nature June 03, 2022 by

Visit Lake Campbell, One Of Washington’s Most Underrated Lakes And A Great Summer Destination

Lake Campbell is located in Skagit County’s Anacortes. The city is best known for being a gateway to both the San Juan Islands and Whidbey Island. And if you’ve ever gone over the Deception Pass Bridge to get to Whidbey, you’ve probably driven by one of the best lakes in WA for swimming. This summer, come visit this wildly underrated lake and you’ll truly appreciate the rugged beauty of the area.

Lake Campbell is located about five miles south of the city of Anacortes.
tinyfroglet / Flickr
Highway 20 spans part of the lakeshore, so you may have passed this WA lake without even realizing it.
Lake Campbell is open all year long for fishing -- and you never know quite what you'll catch.
aeroking80 / YouTube
The waters are home to largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead catfish, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout.
There's a boat launch here, but you might see people fishing from the shoreline or from the docks on this WA lake.
aeroking80 / YouTube
And plenty of people simply enjoy a day of boating here as well.
This WA lake gets pretty warm during the summer and it's one of the best lakes in WA for swimming.
Kent Wells / Google
You'll also see people wakeboarding, waterskiing, and tubing.
For some of the best views of Lake Campbell, you'll have to head to the top of Mount Erie.
Brian Holsclaw / Flickr
As you can see, it's well worth it.
Ready to visit Lake Campbell? You're welcome to stay across the street at the charming roadside motel, Lake Campbell Lodging.
Vishwa Neelakandan / Google
You can also go camping at Deception Pass State Park, but you'll definitely want to get there early in the morning to snag a good spot at this lake in WA.

This YouTube video captures some of the inviting beauty of Lake Campbell. Have you ever heard of this gem? Tell us about it in the comments!

Looking for more? Check out these WA lakes too!

Address: Lake Campbell, Washington 98221, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

Lake Campbell

June 08, 2022
Rachel Raimondi

What are the best beaches in Washington?

Considering that there are 157 miles of shoreline (and much more than that if you count rivers and lakes in WA and the Puget Sound), there are certainly quite a few beaches to visit here. Olympic National Park’s Ruby Beach is chock full of gorgeous landscapes to take in what with its sea stacks and ample driftwood dotting the rocky shore. While you can swim and sunbathe here, for many, it’s more about the scenery. In Olalla, you’ll find Anderson Point, where you can take in the views of Vashon Island. Just be aware that there is a three-quarter-mile hike to get there. However, that’s what makes this place less crowded than other WA beaches.

What are the most beautiful lakes in Washington? 

When it comes to lakes in WA, aside from Lake Campbell, there’s about 8,000 to choose from across the state. Located within Olympic National Park, you’ll find Lake Crescent. Here, you can hike over half a dozen trails, camp, and picnic around the lake. Lake Chelan is over 50 miles long and located within North Cascades National Park. It’s the third-deepest lake in America at 1,485 feet, making it ideal for fishing. Surrounding it, you’ll find a ton of recreation, such as boating, fishing, swimming, and scuba diving.

What is the hottest month of the year in Washington?

Although there are certainly some exceptions, a majority of Washington is a temperate Mediterranean climate, meaning it gets hot summers and cold winters, with the east feeling the heat a bit more. The hottest month of all is July, with temperatures averaging 89 degrees. Although the current highest temperature on record is 120 degrees, recorded on June 29 in Hanford. Fortunately, there are plenty of lakes in WA, like Lake Campbell, to dip into, in addition to ocean beaches.

Address: Lake Campbell, Washington 98221, USA