Hit the city’s water park and get to know this unique eastern Washington lake.
An hour and a half west of Spokane in the arid Columbia Basin, the City of Moses Lake offers some great ways to play in the water and enjoy the massive 6,800-acre lake by the same name.
Top on the list is a visit to the city’s Surf ‘n Slide Water Park (open Memorial Day through Labor Day Weekend). This handicap-accessible water park is home to a 300-foot lazy river, a children’s splash pad, two 200-foot water slides, two sand volleyball courts, an Olympic-sized competitive pool, and the Flowrider, an artificial surfing simulator.
The 18-mile-long Moses Lake is a watersports playground that can be explored by motor boat, kayak, paddleboard, sailboat, or canoe. Setting out on the Moses Lake Water Trail is an awesome way to get to know the lake. Start your paddle from Connelly Park, Peninsula Park, or the popular Blue Heron Park. Camp and launch from Cascade Park in the second full week of August and you’ll be able to walk to the Grant County Fair. Other lake access points include Neppel Landing, Montlake Park, the downtown McCosh Park, and the Bureau Irrigation Dams launch site, which connects to Potholes Reservoir.
Moses Lake and the nearby Potholes Reservoir and Crab Creek offer excellent fishing opportunities for a variety of species, including bluegill, sunfish, walleye, smallmouth bass (some in the 5-lb.-plus size range), largemouth bass, rainbow trout, black crappie, and yellow perch. While a boat is an ideal way to bounce around the lake in search of fish, anglers can find success as well from the shore. Find boat launch info and other fishing tips at Tourmoseslake.com/fishing.
The best way to fully experience the water park, lake, and town is to spend a couple of days exploring, and the city offers plenty of amenities to occupy your evenings. Check out craft beer and wine tasting rooms, eat at one of the family-owned restaurants like Michael’s on the Lake, visit Ten Pin Brewing for craft beer in the local bowling alley, or take a stroll through the city’s Japanese Peace Garden. Moses Lake offers a variety of comfortable lodging options, as well as camping at the lakeside Cascade Campground. Learn more and plan your trip at Tourmoseslake.com.
