The base is an active naval air station, so there will be airplane noise - perhaps more than some people might like. But they tend not to fly very much on the weekends. We saw/heard a grand total of two departures near midday on Saturday, and heard just one arrival a couple hours later.

We enjoyed popping in to the Upriver Grill and Taproom one afternoon. One of the front desk staff also told us about Ladder Creek Falls, about 20 minutes further up the road (toward the mountains) next to Newhalem (just east of the small company town, theres a small parking lot next to a transformer yard and across the driver from a hydroelectric powerhouse...

If you go to twin lakes, theres no swimming and you have to use one of their boats - which arent expensive, but dont bother bringing your own kayaks or standup paddleboards.