FISHING -- Motor vehicle access to Yocum Lake from Forest Service Road 1900096 (Coachman Road) will be closed beginning Tuesday in an effort to curb the abuses to the land and lake in recent years.

Vehicle access to Yocum lake will still be available via the Yocum Lake County Road on the south end of the lake (see map).

This decision to close the road was made in 2010 as a part of the Hanlon Vegetation Environmental Assessment.

According to the Colville National Forest release:

The purpose of the vehicle access closure is to reduce sediment input and human waste issues at Yocum Lake.  Approximately a half-mile of the eastern end of Forest Road 190096 (known as Coachman Road) will be obliterated and no longer accessible by vehicle on the north end of the lake.  Access to Yocum Lake and the boat launch on the south end of the lake will still be accessible via the county road.

Dispersed campsites on the west and north end of the lake are still available and are approximately a half-mile walk from the south end of the lake. 

Info: Newport-Sullivan Lake Ranger District, Newport Office, (509) 447-7300.