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Home > Recreation > Gillham
Lake > Recreation Activities
 Recreation
Activities
Whether
you enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, picnicking, or hiking
Gillham Lake has an activity for you. Gillham has 5 recreation areas
around the lake. There are 5 boat ramps, 3 campgrounds, 1 picnic
shelter, and 1 designated swim area. Please remember whatever your
recreational interest – play it safe at the lake.
Boating
Gillham
Lake includes 1,370 surface acres of the best bass fishing around.
Canoeing and Fly-fishing on the Cossatot River are also very popular
sports. The river can be canoed from a point below the dam to U.S.
Highway 71 South, a distance of about 16 miles. For shorter canoe
trips, there are access roads to the river at Mize Crossing and
Ladd Bridge. There are five launch ramps that require a day use
fee of $3.00 or you may purchase an Annual Day Use Pass for $30
that is valid for the entire year.
Boating
Safety:
·
Do not overload your boat.
· Boats must not approach closer to the
dam than indicated by warning signs or buoy lines.
· If your boat capsizes stay with it and
use it as a life preserver.
· Standing in a boat can lead to disaster.
· Head for shore if bad weather threatens.
· Slow down when approaching small boats,
docks, skiers, or fishermen.
· Help any boat in distress and if you need
help call for it.
· Each boat is required to have an approved
personal flotation device for each passenger.
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 Fishing
Fishing
provides many hours of enjoyment at Gillham Lake. The species most
actively sought are smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass, crappie,
channel and flathead catfish, and various species of sunfish. In
addition, white bass and walleye have been introduced in an effort
to provide an improved fishery. Most of the species found in the
lake are also present in the downstream areas.
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Hiking
Gillham
Lake has the Coon Creek Walking Trail which is located on the entry
road to Big Coon Creek Park. The trail is approximately 2 miles
and makes it way through rolling hills and views of Gillham Lake.
The best time to enjoy the Coon Creek Walking Trail is during the
spring when dogwood and redbud trees bloom or in the fall when the
autumn colors are at their peak.
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Hunting
All
project lands except the developed public use areas and land around
the dam and other project structures, are open to public hunting.
Principal game species found in the area are whitetail deer, bobwhite
quail, turkey, mourning dove, grey and fox squirrel, and cottontail
rabbits. Due to the absence of public roads, access to some areas
is difficult. For the most part, direct access is afforded by the
public use area roads and timber roads that are open to the public.
Some of the more remote areas are accessible only by boat.
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Picnicking
Picnicking
areas are available at many of the sites on Gillham. There are 2
designated picnicking areas and 1 picnicking shelter, which is great
for family reunions. The picnic shelter is lighted and equipped
with a barbeque grill and electricity. It is also very close to
the lake. Picnic areas and shelters are located at Cossatot Point,
Little Coon Creek, and Cossatot Reefs. These shelters may be rented
by contacting the Gillham Gate House at 870-386-2141.
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Swimming
Although
Gillham Lake is known mostly for it’s fishing there is one
designated swimming area located at Big Coon Creek. Users must pay
a daily fee of $1 per person or $4 per car or they may purchase
an annual pass for $30.
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Updated/Reviewed:
1
May 2009
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