Outdoor fun awaits
Cheryl Schweizer/The Chronicle
A precision mop team cleans up during the Bridgeport Daze parade. found in the river and nearby lakes. The Columbia is home to dozens of watchable birds, mammals and reptiles, ranging from eagles and hawks to otters and beavers. There are lots of back roads for horseback riding, motorbikes and ATVs in the summer and snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the winter. For those who like their water in a pool, Berryman Park offers an outdoor pool, plus picnic spots and a playground. Military history buffs
Norm Williams
Balsamroot shines in the spring sunshine — the hills are dotted with the bright flowers. www.OkanoganVacation.com
can peruse the exhibit of vintage military equipment dating from World War II and the 1950s. On the way into town on Foster Creek Avenue, check out the sculptures carved from tree trunks. They celebrate Bridgeport’s history and landscape, from fur trappers to raptors. Downtown Bridgeport offers cafes, grocery stores, a laundry, liquor stores and a couple of businesses whose owners and employees are happy to provide free fishing advice. The annual town celebration, Bridgeport Daze, takes place the first weekend in June with a parade, softball, music and plenty of visiting. Visitors can’t miss the fruit orchards and wheat fields that dominate the landscape and provide the basis of the town’s economy. Bridgeport was incorporated 101 years ago and grew up along the riverbank about 20 years before that. Originally it was named Westfield, but that changed when a group of investors from Bridgeport, Conn., bought the townsite.
Bridgeport
Whether the goal is fishing, hiking, wildlife watching or other outdoor fun, Bridgeport is the place. The city sits at the base of Chief Joseph Dam, one of the largest hydropower projects in the world; a visitor center details the region’s history and explains how the hydropower system works. Lake Rufus Woods stretches for about 40 miles behind the dam, and it’s home to great fishing and boating opportunities. Hiking trails, many of them paved, offer views of the dam and Columbia River. For those who like to golf, the privately owned, nine-hole Lake Woods Golf Course is about 10 minutes from town. Bridgeport State Park is located at the end of the road behind the dam; the park boasts camping sites, picnic areas, a boat ramp and swimming beach. There’s a boat ramp across the lake as well, on the same road as the administration offices about three miles from town, along with fishing spots from shore. For campers who prefer to stay in town, Marina Park has spots for RVs, tent camping, plus picnicking, swimming and a boat launch. Anglers know Bridgeport, whether they’re fishing on Lake Rufus Woods or in the Columbia River below the dam. Salmon, trout, steelhead, sturgeon and other sport fish can be
Website: bridgeportwashington.net Incorporated: 1910 Elevation: 829 feet Population: 2,095 Location: On state Highway 17, 13 miles southeast of Brewster
Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012 – Page 3