Riffe Lake, Washington, USA

Also known as:  Riffe Reservoir, Mossyrock Lake, Davisson Lake

Riffe Lake by any other name would still be a fantastic recreational spot. The name confusion for this man-made reservoir in the Seattle and Puget Sound region is because since opening in 1968, it has had two name changes. Originally named Mossyrock Lake because it formed behind Mossyrock Dam, the name was changed at one point to Davisson Lake. In 1976, the lake’s name was changed to…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Riffe Lake! Article topics include:

Looking for Riffe Lake cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure.

Explore Area Hotels

Nearby offer more hotel accommodations:

  • Check TripAdvisor
  • Check Expedia
  • Check Hotels.com
  • Check Booking.com

    • All About Riffe Lake, WA

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Washington - Seattle & Puget Sound Region, WA -

    Riffe Lake by any other name would still be a fantastic recreational spot. The name confusion for this man-made reservoir in the Seattle and Puget Sound region is because since opening in 1968, it has had two name changes. Originally named Mossyrock Lake because it formed behind Mossyrock Dam, the name was changed at one point to Davisson Lake. In 1976, the lake’s name was changed to Riffe Lake in honor of a small pioneer village that now lies beneath the lake’s waters. Some will likely call it Mossyrock Lake forever.

    Riffe Lake had its beginnings when Mossyrock Dam was built across the Cowlitz River for hydroelectric power production. Part of the Cowlitz River Project, the dam is owned by Tacoma Power Company, and the project includes nearby Mayfield Lake downstream. In keeping with industry best practices, recreation, flood control and wildlife habitat are built into the design and operating plans. Water releases are timed to keep the river depths optimal for fish. The reservoir is open for camping and fishing year-round, with two utility-operated parks offering a large number of well-appointed campsites, swim areas, playground, picnic areas and boat ramps. Although there are no private homes directly on the shoreline, several are located nearby in the hills with great views of the lake. The lakeshore is heavily wooded and imparts a wilderness feeling once out of sight of the boat ramps.

    The two main campgrounds are located at Mossyrock Park at the west end south of the dam and at Taidnapam Park on the east end near the Cowlitz inlet. Mossyrock has 152 campsites, 76 of them with electric and water hook-ups, a separate group camping area, and an area dedicated to walk-in primitive group tent camping. The camping areas are spread out under the trees, and all have fire rings and picnic tables. Coin-operated showers and laundry facilities are on-site, and a store/concession stand sells snacks and supplies seasonally. Taidnapam Park has 139 campsites, all with electric and water hook-ups. Ninety-six sites also have sewer connections for RVs. Another 24 walk-in sites serve those with a desire for solitude. The small swim areas are open when water levels permit, and a very popular ‘fishing bridge’ is wheelchair-accessible. Both parks have day-use areas also. An interpretive exhibit near the entrance to Taidnapam Park relays the history of the area’s Native American residents more than 4,600 years ago. Other commercial campgrounds are located nearby. A few free campsites are located near the dam on a first-come basis.

    Fishing is always a big attraction at Riffe Lake. The lake holds coho salmon, coastal cutthroat trout, chinook salmon, brown trout, crappie, smallmouth bass and bluegill. Because the dams interrupted natural salmon migration on the river, salmon are raised at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery downstream and, together with migrating salmon netted below the dams, trucked upstream to be stocked in the river above Riffe Lake. The altered life cycles of these artificially-transported salmon are the focus of several on-going studies aimed toward improving the fishery.

    At least five boat ramps are located on Riffe Lake, mostly in or near the two parks. Most have floating docks to accommodate varying water levels. There appear to be no restrictions on motor size, but special fishing regulations may be in place. A Washington fishing license is required. Nearby, small Swofford Pond also offers fishing, but no motors are allowed on this lake. Swofford Pond holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, channel catfish, crappie and yellow perch.

    Those looking for hiking opportunities and wildlife viewing are in for a treat. The Cowlitz Wildlife Area’s Peterman Ridge Unit sprawls along the northern shore of Riffe Lake. Over 10 miles of multi-use trails cross the area, mostly on single-track forest roads. The 6,855-acre unit Wildlife Area also offers trout fishing in streams and big game hunting in season including bear, deer and elk. The wildlife area includes much of the Riffe Lake shoreline and serves to protect such birds of prey as bald eagles and osprey, shorebirds, waterfowl, songbirds and wading birds. Small mammals thrive in the near-shore undergrowth. Other wildlife protection areas surround nearby Mayfield Lake. No campfires are allowed in the wildlife area.

    Although there are no towns on Riffe Lake, several small communities nearby offer supplies, fast food and some types of lodgings. The town of Mossyrock down river has grocery stores, general services, gas stations and the like. Nearby, the small City of Morton provides an unusual collection of arts-related shops and theater productions. From its old logging history comes tales of unique characters and historic buildings. Traveling along US 12, the White Pass Scenic Byway, one can see Mount St. Helens to the south and Mount Rainier to the north. The best way to get to Riffe Lake is to take US 12 east off I-5 south of Chehalis-a distance of about 60 miles.

    Because this is scenic vacation area, a number of lodgings can be found nearby. Several small resorts, guest cabins and bed & breakfasts can be located near US 12, with small motels found near the towns and major intersections. Following US 12 east past Riffe Lake leads travelers into Mount Rainier National Park. Not all access routes into the national park are open in winter, and drivers through this scenic area should plan for winter mountain driving and heed all warning signs. Many roads are closed from November to May. Riffe Lake makes for the ideal home base for sightseeing this scenic area.

    Things to Do at Riffe Lake

    These are some activities in the Riffe Lake, WA area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • National Park
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Riffe Lake?

    Riffe Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Brown Trout
    • Catfish
    • Channel Catfish
    • Chinook Salmon
    • Coho Salmon
    • Crappie
    • Cutthroat Trout
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Salmon
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
    • Yellow Perch
    divider

    Find Places to Stay at Riffe Lake

    If you’re considering a Riffe Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Riffe Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Riffe Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

    Check TripAdvisor
    Check Expedia
    Find a Campspot
    All Travel Resources

    Riffe Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

    divider

    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Tacoma Power Company

    Surface Area: 11,830 acres

    Shoreline Length: 52 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 778 feet

    Water Volume: 1,686,000 acre-feet

    Drainage Area: 1,042 sq. miles

    Riffe Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

    More local lakes to explore in this area:

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Lake Quinault, WA

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Silver Lake Cowlitz County, WA

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Keechelus Lake, WA

    We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

    Shop Riffe Lake Gifts

    Custom Lake Tumblers

    Create Your Own Captain / First Mate Custom 20oz Tumbler

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake T Shirt

    Create Your Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

    Create a Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

    ORDER HERE
    VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

    More Riffe Lake news from LakeLubbers.com

    • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
    • The Riffe Lake forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
    • New Riffe Lake photos coming soon!
    • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
    • Share this Riffe Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers: