RV Spotlight: LePage Park

RV spot: LePage Park

Location/distance from Vancouver: Exit 114 off Interstate 84 near Wasco, Ore., about 120 miles east of Vancouver.

Cost/reservations: $30-$35/night for RV sites, includes water and 50-amp electric, but not sewer. There is a dump station. Reserve online at recreation.gov or call 541-739-1135.

Why go: Fishing, boating, water skiing and swimming are the highlights of this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park, tucked back from the freeway at the junction of the John Day and Columbia rivers. Admire the sagebrush hills and the dry part of the Columbia River Gorge at sunset.

But know: Our stay here in August 2022 was uncomfortably warm. Sites near the vault toilets stank, but the waterfront sites were beautiful. Signs warn that rattlesnakes may be present.

Personal observations: If you’re into water sports and fishing, this place is a real find, but otherwise it is more suited for a quick getaway or as an overnight to and from another destination. A shaded grass lawn welcomes picnics and tents. The RV campground is rugged, with less shade, but farther away from the railroad and freeway noise.