Box Canyon Dam
Box Canyon Dam. Photo credit: Sam Judy.
Tucked up in the northeast corner of Washington State in a narrow valley between cliffs of the Selkirk Mountain Range, you can find the Box Canyon Dam. This dam, on the clear waters of the Pend Oreille River, is noted both for its spectacular setting and for the fact that it is owned by the people of Pend Oreille County.
Constructed between 1952 and1956, this 62-by-160-foot dam opened in late 1956. Operated by Pend Oreille Public Utility District (PUD), it was the first dam in the state to be built by a PUD with no local, state, or federal funds. Unlike most of the hydroelectric dams in the state, Box Canyon operates in a “run of the river” mode, meaning that it does not store water for later release but, instead, uses the water as it flows down the river. The dam, which has four Kaplan turbines, was upgraded in 2015 to a capacity of 90 MW from the initial 69 MW, provides more than half of the power needed by the county. Behind the dam, the Box Canyon Reservoir covers almost 9,000 acres and extends 55 miles upstream from the dam to Albeni Falls Dam near the Idaho border. The financial success of the dam made it possible for the Pend Oreille PUD to invest funds to improve and preserve the environment and wildlife habitat near the dam, including the purchase of over 750 acres of land, and conservation projects such as planting trees, cleaning up debris, and maintaining the lands for all to enjoy.
Just above the dam is an Idaho and Washington Northern Railroad Bridge that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This bridge, built in 1916, uses an unusual cantilevered construction that was necessitated by the rugged terrain. Unlike most bridges, that are built from the sides and meet in the middle, this bridge was constructed from one side to the other. More information at RE->WA.
You can enjoy the view of the dam from above at the Box Canyon Dam Overlook, where an interpretive sign provides history of the dam, or from below at the gorgeous Campbell Park, which offers 8 free camp sites and the Box Canyon boat launch. This is a favorite destination for locals and a good place for boating, swimming, and kayaking. If you want to camp on the reservoir, the USFS’s Edgewater Campground is just south of the dam on the reservoir or you can camp at the Sasquatch Crossing RV Park near Ione, which is close to (but not on) the water but is open year round. For fishing and boating, there are launches at Campbell Park, Edgewater Campground, and the Ione City Park, and the lake is stocked with largemouth and smallmouth bass, abundant panfish, and some large brown trout.
While you are in the area make sure to check out the Ione Market or the Tiger Store and Museum. If you want a hike with waterfalls, head up the road to the Sweet Creek Rest Stop, which has several trails that take you to a two-story flowing waterfall.
