Williams Lake Trout Fishing is Stellar this Year (2025) Word is it will be for several years to come. Our property is one of the TOP-RATED homes by VRBO in the Spokane Region out of over 500 homes. Please note our reviews, we take pride in our renters experiences with us. In today’s world we especially take pride on how we maintain and keep our home clean. (A big part of why we have become a top property in the area, is because our cleaning person rocks, and her backups rock as well) We hire only the Best cleaning people and our renters have noticed and appreciated it over the years. Our property is on the Premier location on Williams Lake, a top-rated fishing spot that’s also great for boating, swimming, and fun of all kinds. The home offers 110 feet of lakefront and includes a dock, kayaks and paddleboard, hot tub, fire pit, all amenities and a magnificent view. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway or the ultimate family vacation, this is it!
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is just minutes away, so you will have deer in the back yard bald eagles and osprey overhead. The lake is an escape from city life, yet only 15 minutes from shopping and dining in Cheney, and 35 minutes from downtown Spokane. The lake has one small resort (Bunkers) that offers a great restaurant (restaurant is being renovated currently and won’t open until July 2025) and small store during fishing season (Mid April - September).
The house has an open floor plan, with two bedrooms and a loft. The master bedroom has a king size bed (can be separated into two twins if you prefer) and a wall-mounted HDTV. The upstairs bedroom sleeps 4, we put a new bunk bed that has queen on bottom and twin on top. Plus two twin beds. The living room has a futon and the loft has two futons. Plus we have mattresses up there if the need arises. We provide all the linens, towels, paper towels, TP and a fully-equipped kitchen with updated appliances. Gas for the grill is provided also. High Speed Wifi/ internet (approx. 40 Mbps download), Dish TV (3 TV’s) and phone (local calls) included.
Williams Lake is 80-85% surrounded by cliffs and protected land, so the natural beauty is untouched and the lake is never over-populated. The house is perched on a large rock overlooking the lake and offering terrific sunset views.
This is a turn-key destination home. Every year we continue to have more and more return guests, so booking early is recommended. If we are booked for the dates you desire, please let us know, and we’ll let you know if it opens up. We accept bookings up to 2 years out.
Safety and Cleaning:
Having a clean place to stay has been priority #1 sense we started renting our home in 2011. Under the current circumstances this has become vital for everyone. Our main cleaning person has been with us sense the beginning and she is a clean freak. You’ll see in our reviews quite often people comment on how clean the place is. So rest assured when you stay with us we take cleaning and your safety seriously. We always have.
Wildlife:
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is a five-minute drive away, and open year-round from 6AM until 6PM with many walking and biking paths, but you don't have to go there to enjoy God's creatures. From the property you will enjoy ospreys, turkey vultures, geese, swans, cranes, hawks, mallard ducks, hummingbirds and even the occasional bald or golden eagles. Over 200 kinds of feathery friends are known to frequent the lake. Deer, elk, and moose are commonly seen; coyotes are seldom seen, but often heard. Check out the Turnbull Wildlife Website to find more info on our neighbors.
Watercraft:
The lake offers fantastic water recreation, with small to mid-size boats (under 25’) the ideal. If you raft, canoe, kayak, row, sail, fish or ski, this lake will give you hours and hours of enjoyment. (We even get the occasional floatplane.) Use of a paddleboard and two kayaks comes with the house, and our neighbors and/or Bunkers resort will rent kayaks, canoes, and fishing boats with motors for a modest fee. Williams Lake is annually rated one of the best trout fishing lakes in the region; even if you don't have a boat, the fishing right off the dock is terrific. Please note that gasoline is not available anywhere on Williams Lake. We do have several 5 gallon cans for your use, and will even go to town and save you the trip if we’re able.
Public access to launch your boat is open from dawn to dusk (you will need a Discovery Pass or Fish license pass) or you can pay a small fee at the local resort for their launching facilities.
Bicycling:
With level but gently rolling terrain, biking is a popular activity in the area. The Columbia Plateau Trail passes within a couple miles of the house, and several nearby roads provide access. The CPT runs 150 miles between Spokane and Pasco, WA on a converted railroad bed, and connects to the Palouse to Cascades trail.
On the Lake:
Williams Lake is truly one of the best lakes in all of Eastern Washington.
1. Quiet overall especially during week days even in peak season. Most of the lake is surrounded by cliffs so 85% the lake is just natural beauty.
2. The lake is big enough to do every activity you would do on a lake, Jetski, waterski, fish, sailboard, even big enough to land your plane.
3. Because the lake is big the water never gets filled with algae. But it’s small enough the water warms up to pool like temperatures during peak season. All properties surrounding the lake are on sewer districts so you are swimming in clean water.
4. Department of Fish and Game treats Williams Lake as one of their premier trout lakes so they keep it well stocked with trout.
Xanny's at Bunker’s resort is a great place to eat. The staff are super friendly and everything on the menu is fantastic. It’s just a five minutes away via boat or by car. Bunkers has a small store.
Klink’s is no longer a resort. Currently the restaurant has not reopened.
Cheney (15 Minutes):
Cheney is home of Eastern Washington University and is a small town which provides grocery stores, bars, eateries, and all essential services. Many of our rentals are family members of students at EWU.
Spokane (35 Minutes):
The Lilac City is a major metro area, with museums, pro sports, nightlife and more. Riverfront Park, site of 1974 World's Fair, is a terrific, family-friendly day trip. Spokane Falls are a must-see, especially in springtime, and can be enjoyed from bridges, gondolas, riverside or from several fine dining restaurants. Annual events draw people from the surrounding area, including the Japan Week in March, the Lilac Festival in May, and Hoopfest in June.
Pullman (80 minutes):
We have hosted many WSU graduations.
Day trips
Within a two hour drive are dozens of golf courses, 11 wineries, five ski resorts, five major national parks, Steptoe Butte, Washington’s apple country, the Columbia and Snake Rivers, and the Grand Coulee Dam. Downtown Seattle can be reached in four hours.
Weather:
We have four distinct seasons.
Summer – Unlike western Washington, Spokane is warm, sunny and dry during the summer. Daytime temperatures from June to mid-September generally are between 80-90 degrees, with overnight lows around 60 degrees, perfect for pitching a tent and sleeping outside. (Just let us know if you do, so we shut off the sprinklers!) Summer rain is rare. Lake temperature during the summer hovers between 70 -82 degrees, perfect for swimming.
Fall – Most locals will tell you we love this time of year. Fall is dry, with temps during the day between 65-75 degrees and overnight lows in the 50s. September is especially a great month; the lake is still warm, fishing season is still open, and the lake is super quiet because the kids are back in school. By October the leaves are turning, and the sunsets are terrific, and the wildlife is abundant.
Winter – This is when the lake is most peaceful. Days are not bitterly cold or windy, but the nights can be long and frigid. That’s why we have a hot tub! No better place to be on a cold night than in hot water looking up at the stars. We receive our share of snow and the lake will generally be frozen by the first of the year. The ice in January and February most often is thick enough for ice-skating perhaps snowmobiles but not recommended. The roads are well maintained, and snowplows will keep on top of it so access to town isn’t a chore.
Spring – Usually by mid-March the ice is gone. March and April are unpredictable; temperatures can range between 50-70 degrees, and it can be rainy. Wildflowers are abundant, the trees are beginning to bloom, and the birds that left for winter are coming home. May is often summerlike, with highs up to 80, but still unpredictable.
Pet Policy:
Pets are family! We do charge a pet fee, and we ask if your breed sheds more than average to please help with picking up hair or fur. All pets need to be housetrained and listen to your commands. The yard is securely enclosed on three sides, but if they are a water lover they will have free access to lake so be mindful of that. Do not treat the house as a kennel, we mention this only because we have had one couple who did.
Property Manager Kelly Fischer lives in addition next door. We respect your privacy while staying with us, but if questions, needs, or issues arise you have Kelly available to help.
We have been renting our home since 2011 when there was only about 30 -40 vacation rentals available in the Spokane region. We love offering our home to you. Currently there are many great options out there, over 500 . So if you choose to stay with us, we appreciate it, and we’ll never take you for granted.
