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Skookumchuck Reservoir

Rainier, Washington — Thurston County.

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552Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 129463042).

Location & fast facts

Where Skookumchuck Reservoir is in Washington

The red circle marks Skookumchuck Reservoir.

Fast facts

About Skookumchuck Reservoir

  • County: Thurston
  • Nearest city: Rainier (about 4.2 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 2197 mi from Pensacola and 2279 mi from Panama City, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Washington: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Washington

Official WDFW pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Camping. 9 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Skookumchuck Reservoir shoreline, boat launches & beaches

WDFW Boat Launch (Boat launch)11 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1WDFW Boat Launch
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 129463042), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: WDFW water access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Skookumchuck Reservoir

We found 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Skookumchuck Reservoir. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

3 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Washington

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (46.7866, -122.6915). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Skookumchuck Reservoir. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Skookumchuck Reservoir

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in PT (America/Los_Angeles), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    WDFW Boat Launch——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.7883, -122.7097

    WDFW water access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Skookumchuck Reservoir

    How big is Skookumchuck Reservoir?

    Skookumchuck Reservoir covers about 552 acres in Rainier, Washington (Thurston County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Skookumchuck Reservoir?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: WDFW Boat Launch. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Skookumchuck Reservoir?

    Yes. We list 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Skookumchuck Reservoir?

    Skookumchuck Reservoir touches Rainier in Thurston County, Washington.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Skookumchuck Reservoir? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Washington lakes & ponds · All waters in Rainier