Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area · Washington

Bluff Trail

0.5 mi of trail, end to end · about 250 ft of climbing · 1,413 ft–1,653 ft · hiking

1,413 ft 1,653 ft · 0.5 mi high 1,653 ft

Hike the Mission Point Trail the Park Service's write-up

0-1 Hours · dogs allowed

Start St. Paul's Mission, Kettle Falls

A dirt path winds through pine trees.
The trail is relatively flat and winds through groves of pine trees. Photo: NPS

This short, half-mile (0.8 kilometer) walking loop takes you on a relatively flat, unpaved hike to the bluff overlooking the site of the former Kettle Falls. Signs explain the history of the falls, the mission, and the Hudson’s Bay Company’s influence on the area. The view of the river is rivaled only by the abundance of plants along the way. Take your time and enjoy the ponderosa pine forest and immerse yourself in both nature and history.

This area was used for millenia by the local tribes as a seasonal encampment for salmon fishing. On the point, there is a massive black stone with polishing facets used to hone tools.

The Mission Point Trail is open year-round, though snowfall can make access tricky. Afterwards, explore St. Paul’s Mission , originally built in 1847 and reconstructed in 1939.

Accessibility This is a relatively flat dirt trail. Pine needles or leaves may be on the ground, but otherwise is clear.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 7 trails in Lake Roosevelt National Recreation AreaFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.