Pateros is just minutes from over 3,000 miles of mountain trails, close to 200 high mountain lakes, and 400 lowland lakes, over 200 water and wildlife access areas, has 2 wilderness areas close by, and 3 million acres of public lands! All of this besides 2 beautiful rivers right at our doorstep!
Water Sports
In Pateros, we have everything you need for fun in the sun! With over 30 miles of Lake (Columbia River) to play on. Boating, rafting, water-skiing ,wake boarding, and jet skiing, are great options, and no competition! The docks and launches make it fast and easy to get out on the water. The two waterfront parks only add to the outdoor experience. With lots of shade, picnic sites, kids playground equipment and room to romp. Pull up a tree and sit a spell.
Newly renovated swim beach and play area at Peninsula Park.
Golfing and Horseback Riding
Alta Lake Golf Resort is only 5 miles up the road. An 18 hole course with beautiful greens, comfortable lodging and breath-taking views, nestled up next to mile high Goat Mountain, and beside beautiful Alta Lake State Park.
Horseback riding is available on the far end of Alta Lake.
Wildlife Viewing & Hiking
Lower Okanogan County is a paradise for bird-watchers. Large numbers of neo-tropical migrants move through 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, Pelican, Canadian Geese, Crane and Kestrels. The Hills house Chukar, Grouse and an abundance of Quail. Wintering populations of everything from Lapland Longspurs to Gyrfalcons occur here.Pateros is also home to local herds of Mule Deer and Whitetail. Some live right in town, and are known to wander the streets after dark. The parks are home to the Marmet, or Groundhogs as some would call them. They live in the rip rap along the river bank and come out during the day to munch on grass and other vegetation. They are abundant in city limits, but remember, they are still wild animals. Look but don't touch!
There are hundreds of miles of trails for hiking 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 through pristine shrub-steppe and riparian habitats.