Crunch, crunch, crunch, swoosh crrr… run, jump, slip and slide down the twisty, turny, steep green slide — hoping not to shoot off the edge. And back around to the balance beam, hop onto the frog, over to the swings and back up the steps shaped like leaves and turtle backs before racing down the double slide!
Have you ever driven across the state on U.S. Route 2?
If you start on the west side of the state it begins in Everett and takes you through Wenatchee and over to Spokane before making its way across Idaho, Montana and a few other states before going all the way up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where there is a separate segment that takes a traveler through New York and into Maine. But somewhere in between Wenatchee and Spokane are a few small cities such as Orondo, Waterville and Coulee City to name a few. As a driver encounters the small town of Coulee City, a vast lake, called Banks Lake will be to the north. Just as you are passing the lake, on the north side of the road is the Coulee City Community Park.
We Have To!
We have to stop at this spot every time we go through. My family and I have stopped at this park for three years in a row on our way to and from visiting family on the west side of the state. I think we have skipped it once or twice due to kids sleeping and not wanting to wake them, getting as close to our destination as we can with sleeping kids is a must! We moved to northeastern Washington, well, three years ago and we miss our family so every other month or so we jump in the car and make the trek back — usually taking State Route 20, the North Cascades Highway — but it’s closed from about Thanksgiving time until mid May, most years.
So when we travel back, between December and May, we take Interstate 90 and this park is the perfect spot to stop for a break. It is right off the highway and usually, no one is ever there. It is a giant park with many platforms at different levels. It has multiple slides, one sketchy one (maybe ages 5 and up unless with an adult), a pile of swings, two sets of monkey bars, balance beams, rock walls, large animals to hump on and a lot of space to walk and move your legs. There are usually many ducks and geese followed by endless rocks for skipping in the lake. This stop is perfect for our furry pal as well and gives our dog a chance to move around before many more hours in the back of the car.
The Park
Kid or adult, it is a fun park. Who doesn’t like to release their inner child for a period of time and run around like crazy people who barely fit into the slide openings, or better yet, down the slides without your feet and legs hitting an edge and slowing you down?! Or to jump on that twisting turny thing that is like a wheel laid down on a post that just spins? Or to run up the stairs, jump from step to step and down one of the many ladders and walls or off the edge chasing a buddy or loved one? You may be able to tell, we like parks. Our kids like parks and most of the vacations end up playing at parks.
This park in particular though is a special one. It has a variety of different pieces of equipment that allows for so many different uses and bounds to make someone happy.
It has one large and steep slide. My wife and I have a pretty free game attitude to play on most things, but if your kiddo is under 5, even a beast, maybe stand nearby. I haven’t seen anyone launch over the side but it is a quick turny one and has low sides. The park also doubles with an additional double slide, great for racing!
The first platform quickly splits off and has two different sets of monkey bars that go out the sides of the main heart of the play set. If you step past them though, the double slide shoots off the left and a creative path of turtle shells and leaves to the right. Level 3 includes three different ways up or down the playground. Two different ladders to the left, and on the right, a steering wheel accompanied by a rock wall not like most. The rock wall is as if someone took a 8-10 foot piece of bedrock out of a stream, soft, weathered and rounded stones and set them against the metal play set. Finally, the peak of everything is the steep and sketchy, but fun slide along with a twisty, turny ladder and a traditional rock wall that stretches high. It is a pretty epic playground, it is a big treasure in a little town. And that is not even everything. It has the swings, the balance beams and the beach right there. It even has the black rubber mats for traction at the ends of the slides and bottoms of the slides.
This park has something for everyone, it has it all. Perfect to stop and play on when on a big road trip or if looking for a destination campground for a family with critters. If you are ever in the area, make sure to stop by!
Perhaps you want to get out and stretch your legs more? A side trip to Steamboat Rock may just be the thing.
[…] is available at the base of the rock at Steamboat Rock State Park, only 20 miles from Coulee City. The park itself is beautiful, with a bike trail that weaves throughout the three separate camping […]