Kettle Falls lies along a section of Lake Roosevelt, a 150-mile-long reservoir on the Columbia River. Scenic waterfront viewpoints, trails, and historic sites give your stay a range of focal points. If you’re looking for a hotel in Kettle Falls, you can start by considering whether water, hiking, or cultural history will shape your trip.
Trails of varying lengths
The Mission Point Trail is a relatively flat, unpaved half-mile loop. It leads to a viewpoint above the former Kettle Falls. Interpretive signs along the trail cover the history of the falls and the mission, as well as the Hudson’s Bay Company’s influence on the area. This short loop lets you pair a view of the regional history with a walk.
The Kettle Falls Trail offers a different choice of distance: its three sections total just under five miles and are suitable for relatively flat walking. In the northern section, you cross three wooden footbridges; the trail passes through forests, meadows, waterfront areas, and historic sites. Another section runs 0.75 miles to the Colville River, near its confluence with Lake Roosevelt. The half-mile Mission Point Trail and the Kettle Falls Trail’s just-under-five-mile total offer distinctly different distances.
To reach the Mission Point Trail parking lot, drive north from Kettle Falls on US Highway 395 for about three miles. Turn onto St. Paul’s Mission Road, then follow an unpaved road for half a mile to the parking lot.
The mission, local history, and visible traces
St. Paul’s Mission was built in 1847 and reconstructed to its original appearance in 1939. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is the oldest surviving church building of any denomination in Washington State. On the Mission Point Trail, you’ll encounter the history of the mission and the landscape described by the interpretive signs along the trail.
The town’s history can also be read in its tangible remains. The entire town of Kettle Falls was relocated before the dam was completed in 1942. The remains of old Kettle Falls are visible year-round at Locust Grove. These include concrete steps, walkways, and slabs visible among the grass and trees. The Kettle Falls Historical Center is located on the banks of the historic Columbia River in Kettle Falls and adds to these insights into the town’s history.
Lake Roosevelt, boat launch, and scenic byway
At the Kettle Falls Boat Launch on Lake Roosevelt, there is a paved boat ramp and docking facilities. A launching ramp is available for canoes, kayaks, and small boats. Along with the hiking trails, activities on the water offer another distinct focus for your stay.
For a drive through the region, the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway follows State Route 20 between Republic and Kettle Falls. The route is typically open year-round. Lake Roosevelt and the route over Sherman Pass offer different perspectives on the area: Kettle Falls has waterfront viewpoints, while the byway connects the two towns of Republic and Kettle Falls.
You can plan your stay around whether history, hiking, or Lake Roosevelt will be its main focus by considering these specific differences. The trails range from a relatively flat half-mile loop to three trail sections totaling just under five miles; historic sites, waterfront views, and the boat launch on the lake round out the options.
Discover more destinations: Valley, Loon Lake, Northport.
See the regional travel overview: Stevens County.
