Looking for a great park destination off the beaten path? Curlew Lake State Park is a jewel in the countryside. This 123-acre park, with its green lawns and shade trees offers beautiful lake vistas of pine-covered hills. Water sports activities abound in summer, and snow sports, like ice fishing are popular in winter. The park has two miles of hiking and biking trails and is a great home base for bicycle tour groups. Bald eagles, ospreys, and herons live in the neighboring trees and can be seen flying in to pluck a meal from the lake. A heron rookery with active nests is also visible from the park.
Boating and water sports
Curlew Lake State Park offers one, no-fee boat ramp and an 80-foot dock. Fishing is a popular activity at Curlew Lake. Anglers often catch trout, bass, yellow perch, and for the more adventurous, tiger muskies. There is also a designated area for swimming.
Camping
The park has standard, partial and full-hookup sites, including six pull through sites. There is one dump station. There is a no-fee mooring dock for sites 73-80, ADA restrooms and showers. The maximum site length is 45 feet. Most campsites are reservable, with a few first come, first served sites. All campers must register at the ranger station.
Day use facilities
There are ten unsheltered picnic tables throughout park that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are three barbecue braziers by the swimming area.
Interpretive opportunities
Ranald MacDonald's Grave, a State Park Heritage Site, is not far away. One of the foremost cultural and business ambassadors between the Northwest United States and Japan in the mid-1800s, MacDonald helped shaped the policies that opened relations between the two countries. The gravesite is on the roadside of a 25-mile scenic drive along the Kettle River near the Canadian border.