I have been wanting to checkout the
desert lakes south of Quincy for awhile, but was timing it for early May.
Fishing for trout is possible. Wet weather prompted us to go there now for reliable sunshine. Quite a bit of drive, so we camped out.
3/6, Saturday. Left Seattle ~9:30am. Made a rest area stop at exit-110, the last before our first hike. Filled a gallon of water.
We first stopped at Frenchman Coulee, a rock climbing destination. Climbers camp here for the weekend. Very scenic balsalt columns. Short walk here, to the edge with a view of Columbia River. Today was busy with rescue in process. A helicopter tried to land twice, made a lot of noise and dust. A girl fell, not sure why there were ~10 rescuers. She was able to walk, by leaning on someone. She was driven off in a park ranger's truck.
Quincy Lake and Burke Lake both have campground and boat launching. Quite a few boats out with kids and anglers. We parked at Quincy Lake, and walked in a wrong track following some younsters. It didn't lead to anywhere. Luckily it's easy to cross-country here over sage brush. It's better to park at Burke Lake if you want to do both Ancient and Dusty Lake. If just for Ancient Lakes and the waterfall, park at H Lake.
Once we are on the proper trail, it's very easy. Maybe only 0.5 mile down to this great view point over the Ancient Lakes basin. Super scenic. Plenty good tent sites. However, the water here may not be fit to drink. We walked between the lakes towards the waterfall. The east shore is a rock scramble. No trail here.
After crossing the bottom of the waterfall (the rocks here are slippery), we walked to the top of the waterfall, then followed the creek to another shorter waterfall, before returning to Ancient Lakes to continue our loop.
Heading west along the trail in this north alcove all the way to cross over to the south alcove, leaving most hikers/campers behind. On the way, saw this thin waterfall. The wind was blowing it out. I was hoping to see Columbia River. But we needed another mile or so. If we had time, may even go down to the river.
Less people here. Did see one famly on bikes coming from the north TH. Yes, the trail is very flat, which gets a bit boring.
Only one group, 2 tents by Dusty Lake. A large post of fishing regulation in 3 languages (English, Russian, Spanish). The trail along the northern shore is rocky.
The lake is large. Up to a bluff overlooking the lake. A tiny creek and a pond. A short waterfall too. The sun was setting, we got back to our car in the last bit of day light. Many cars and RVs at this trailhead. We decided to hike down to setup camp. The pond was more like marsh. We walked to below the little waterfall to wash. The night wasn't too cold.
3/7, Sunday. Packed up. The tent was dry. We drove to
Handford Reach National Monument's
White Bluffs north TH. It's an easy hike, very good view of the Columbia River bend. The farther you are on the trail, the less vegetation. Then you'd reach the first sand dune, in ~2 miles.
We didn't coninute. It was very windy. The sand is too soft to slide. Was fun though.
On the drive to Pothole State Park, we went along Crab Creek, through
Drumheller Channels of Columbia NWR. Gravel road, but wide and in good shape. We parked at Frog Lake and Marsh Loop TH. Interperation panels along the trail, the very first one at a couple of balsalt columns. Short scramble to the top of the "channel". Nice views. But we didn't see any migrating sandhill cranes.
We made another stop at the north end of Soda Lake. 2 picnic tables overlooking the lake/reservoir.
Back on hwy-262, along Pothole Reservoir. A flock of thousands of snowgeese congregated here, crackling non-stop. We waited for them to fly up, and it took awhile. What a delightful surprise. Afterwards, we checked out Pothole State Park. Nothing much to report, other than there are wood cabins for rent. From here, it's 3 hours back to wet Seattle.
I have been wanting to checkout the desert lakes south of Quincy for awhile, but was timing it for early May. Fishing for trout is possible. Wet weather prompted us to go there now for reliable sunshine. Quite a bit of drive, so we camped out.
3/6, Saturday. Left Seattle ~9:30am. Made a rest area stop at exit-110, the last before our first hike. Filled a gallon of water.
We first stopped at Frenchman Coulee, a rock climbing destination. Climbers camp here for the weekend. Very scenic balsalt columns. Short walk here, to the edge with a view of Columbia River. Today was busy with rescue in process. A helicopter tried to land twice, made a lot of noise and dust. A girl fell, not sure why there were ~10 rescuers. She was able to walk, by leaning on someone. She was driven off in a park ranger's truck.
Quincy Lake and Burke Lake both have campground and boat launching. Quite a few boats out with kids and anglers. We parked at Quincy Lake, and walked in a wrong track following some younsters. It didn't lead to anywhere. Luckily it's easy to cross-country here over sage brush. It's better to park at Burke Lake if you want to do both Ancient and Dusty Lake. If just for Ancient Lakes and the waterfall, park at H Lake.
Once we are on the proper trail, it's very easy. Maybe only 0.5 mile down to this great view point over the Ancient Lakes basin. Super scenic. Plenty good tent sites. However, the water here may not be fit to drink. We walked between the lakes towards the waterfall. The east shore is a rock scramble. No trail here.
After crossing the bottom of the waterfall (the rocks here are slippery), we walked to the top of the waterfall, then followed the creek to another shorter waterfall, before returning to Ancient Lakes to continue our loop.
Heading west along the trail in this north alcove all the way to cross over to the south alcove, leaving most hikers/campers behind. On the way, saw this thin waterfall. The wind was blowing it out. I was hoping to see Columbia River. But we needed another mile or so. If we had time, may even go down to the river.
Less people here. Did see one famly on bikes coming from the north TH. Yes, the trail is very flat, which gets a bit boring.
Only one group, 2 tents by Dusty Lake. A large post of fishing regulation in 3 languages (English, Russian, Spanish). The trail along the northern shore is rocky. 
The lake is large. Up to a bluff overlooking the lake. A tiny creek and a pond. A short waterfall too. The sun was setting, we got back to our car in the last bit of day light. Many cars and RVs at this trailhead. We decided to hike down to setup camp. The pond was more like marsh. We walked to below the little waterfall to wash. The night wasn't too cold.
3/7, Sunday. Packed up. The tent was dry. We drove to Handford Reach National Monument's White Bluffs north TH. It's an easy hike, very good view of the Columbia River bend. The farther you are on the trail, the less vegetation. Then you'd reach the first sand dune, in ~2 miles.
We didn't coninute. It was very windy. The sand is too soft to slide. Was fun though.
On the drive to Pothole State Park, we went along Crab Creek, through Drumheller Channels of Columbia NWR. Gravel road, but wide and in good shape. We parked at Frog Lake and Marsh Loop TH. Interperation panels along the trail, the very first one at a couple of balsalt columns. Short scramble to the top of the "channel". Nice views. But we didn't see any migrating sandhill cranes.
We made another stop at the north end of Soda Lake. 2 picnic tables overlooking the lake/reservoir.
Back on hwy-262, along Pothole Reservoir. A flock of thousands of snowgeese congregated here, crackling non-stop. We waited for them to fly up, and it took awhile. What a delightful surprise. Afterwards, we checked out Pothole State Park. Nothing much to report, other than there are wood cabins for rent. From here, it's 3 hours back to wet Seattle.
