Recreation
Summer & Sun
Water Sports
Here in Pateros, you have everything you need for boating, rafting, water-skiing, wakeboarding, and jetskiing. There are two boat launches, eight docks and two waterfront parks.
Golfing
Alta Lake Golf Resort has beautiful greens, comfortable lodging and breath-taking views!
Birdwatching & Hiking
Lower Okanogan county is a paradise for bird-watchers. Large numbers of neo-tropical migrants move thru this area spring and fall and large numbers of hawks work the ridge line between Lake Chelan and the Methow valley, just above Pateros. A Hawk-Watch station operates on this ridge yearly doing counts and banding. Broad-winged hawks have been seen here, as well as Hawk-owls, but most of the migration is Coopers and Sharp-shinned hawks. The area has nesting Ospreys, Bald Eagles, Golden eagles, Swainson hawks and Kestrels. Wintering populations of everything from Lapland Longspurs to Gyrfalcons occur here.
There are hundreds of miles of trails for hiking are available on the Okanogan National Forest, within a few miles of Pateros. There are also several thousand acres of Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife managed public lands within 4 miles of Pateros that allow hiking thru pristine shrub-steppe and riparian habitats.
Winter & Snow
Snowmobiling
Not only can you snowmobile on the streets of Pateros, you can also reach the Black Canyon(8mi.) and Gold Creek(16mi.) Sno-Parks with just a short drive from Pateros. Both sno-parks give you access to literally hundreds of miles of trails. If thats not enough, there's many more parks and trail systems that can be reached easily in less than an hour from Pateros.
Pateros is also the central location of the Tri-River Snowmobile Club, one of the most active clubs in Washington.
Sportsman's Guide
Resources
Washington State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Hunting Regulations
Wildlife Areas & Access Points- Wells Unit (surrounding Pateros)
Wildlife Areas & Access Points-Methow Unit
Washington State Parks Accessible Recreation Guide
Fishing
The upper Columbia River and the Methow River are once again open for Steelheading. The opening date changes yearly (typically mid-Sept. through Early Oct.). Salmon fishing has been open seasonally a short distance from Pateros. The Columbia River produces a variety of fish including, Walleye, Trout and Bass. Check with the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife for all opening dates and regulations. There are other lakes close to Pateros such as Alta and Rat Lakes which are stocked with Rainbow Trout.
Hunting - Bird & Deer
More than 80% of Okanogan county is public land and open to hunting during the open seasons, Lake Pateros has excellent hunting for ducks and geese and Dept. of Fish and Wildlife lands (over 7,000 acres) nearby on the Columbia river are managed for upland birds (pheasant, valley quail, chukar, and huns).
Okanogan and Douglas counties are home to the biggest Mule deer population in the state of Washington. More than 80% of Okanogan county is public land and open to hunting during the open seasons.
Hunting - Cougar & Bear
The area is home to large populations of black bear and cougar and there are long seasons available for hunting. See your hunting pamphlet for details, or visit the link below:
Washington State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Hunting Regulations