We traveled to Central Washington in a spring trip to hike routes and trails in the dry eroded hills on the east side of the Coast Ranges.   We drove a loop route and camped in State Parks along the route – Osoyoos > Highway 97 South > Highway 17 East > Grand Coulee > Steamboat Rock State Park.    We camped at Banks Lake and hiked two hikes in the area.    Steamboat Rock was our first hike.

Steamboat Rock is a massive island of rock surrounded by the lake created by the Grand Coulee Dam water diversion.   It is really a butte with a relatively flat top and open views in every direction.

The trail winds up a series of cracks and gullies to the top and a series of trails go up and down and around the rim.   From the southwestern corner we had long views down Banks Lake.   The surrounding lands have been described as “scablands”, dry, eroded lands scoured by the release of the Columbia River from a glacial dam at the end of the last Ice Age.    This area is classified as semi-desert, with few trees.

Banks Lake is 50 km long.   At the south end is Dry Falls, the location for two more hikes on our trip.

We arrived in April to the spring bloom of wildflowers in these dry lands.    The trails were dry, rugged, rocky, and rugged.   The coulees area was a bit of a revelation for us.   All of the hikes would be hot in summer, but in spring all of the hikes were at their best.   A recommended hike, among others in the Washington State Desert Lands.

More Information:

• Steamboat Rock State Park