The description in the hiking book does not do this hike
justice. It is an easy/moderate hike
that provides stunning views of cliffs and coulees, most of the time totally
away from anything resembling civilization yet only a short ways from our
campsite.
It supposedly follows an old jeep trail that travels up and
along the south side of the coulee rim.
Sometimes it was difficult to pick up the trail, especially as we got
farther into the hike. But no matter,
with minimal taking of bearings from the high cliffs it is impossible to get
lost.
There are no trail markers, no official trailhead. It doesn’t really appear to be one of the
official park hikes, although the jeep trail is on the trail map we were given,
and a description of the hike is in the hiking book for Eastern Washington that
we have.
The trail has a total elevation gain of only 600 feet, yet
you climb to high meadows flanked on all sides by cliffs. It is clear that cattle were here at one
time, probably not too long ago, but other than that, no signs of civilization
except for the jeep road.
We went out 3.3 miles and then came back, not wanting to do
too much during our three hiking days this week so we would be fresh for our
long bike ride on Saturday.
It was beautiful, and we agreed that it was one of our very
favorites. Nothing like we had ever seen
before. We’ll be back here some
year.
Saw another rattlesnake today. A baby one.
Shaking its baby rattle at us.
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