The Kettle River begins its journey to the Columbia River at Holmes Lake in British Columbia. It first enters the U.S. at Midway in Ferry County, Washington. It then loops down, south east, to Curlew, WA.; then heads north east to Danville, where it crosses back into Canada. The Kettle River then re-enters the U.S. at Laurier in Stevens County, where it proceeds south to join with the Columbia River, near Boyds, Washington. While on its journey through Ferry County, it provides residents and vacationers with opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, bird-watching, and photography.

Most of the river’s shoreline is privately owned. There are a few places where you can fly fish, swim the river, and hand launch flotation devices (e.g., inner tubes) without trespassing. Refer to the WDFW site for a map and directions to where you can access the river.